Fashion: The economic powerhouse

By Nathan Choe

The global fashion industry is a significant economic powerhouse, with a value exceeding 2.5 trillion USD and employing over 75 million people. This area of produce has experienced remarkable growth, doubling clothing production between 2000 and 2014, even though consumers now keep their garments for half as long as in previous years. Despite its economic success, the industry faces increasing criticism for its negative environmental impacts. Fashion production contributes to 10% of the world's carbon emissions, depletes water sources, and leads to river and stream pollution. Additionally, a concerning 85% of textiles are discarded in landfills annually (UNECE, 2018) showing resource wastage and waste management challenges.

Article Link: https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/sustainable-fashion/