The fashion industry is notorious for its massive waste problem; the big business is frequently called out for being one of the largest polluters globally. According to The New York Times, nearly three-fifths of all clothing ends up in incinerators or landfills within a year of being produced. Beyond this, the Environmental Protection Agency found in 2013 that there were 15.1 million tons of textile waste, of which 12.8 million were discarded completely, while the average American throws away 70 pounds of clothing and other textiles each year. For many consumers, these alarming numbers are only really just starting to sink in, but much of the fashion industry is still several years away from solving these issues.
Cécile Poignant, a trend forecaster who works alongside Li Edelkoort, says that as our collective awareness of the negative impacts of the fashion industry grows, it is causing more brands to find new solutions. „We no longer have a choice — brands must [get on board] if they want to keep their customers because it’s not only trendy but it’s necessary,“ she affirms.
