Fashion is always changing, and sometimes a little too quickly. Recently, fast fashion has been on the rise, with stores like Garage, Shein, Q, and Zara selling clothes that go with the ever-revolving trends. However, these clothes are made with polyester and cheap materials that aren’t meant to last more than a couple of wears. When the trend has passed and the internet has pushed it to the back of its closet, the clothing ends up in landfills.

Now, the major issue is that most people who buy new clothes, rather than using hand-me-downs or purchasing clothing second-hand, throw the clothes in the trash when they’re out of style or worn out. Oftentimes, this is because they tear, rip, and fall apart after a couple of wears. This is not sustainable, not only for humans, but the environment and economy are also suffering; discarded cloths end up in landfills and the ocean, harming marine and ocean life. Polyester takes 20-200 years to decompose, and microfibers and plastics are released into the environment with every piece of polyester clothing tossed out or made.

Clothing companies have gone from using materials that are meant to withstand everyday wear for years to using materials that lose quality after a few washes.

Many people prefer polyester because it holds its shape and stays wrinkle-free for longer, making it look more presentable without having to do much to it.

But, it is not environmentally friendly and is equally as bad for you to wear due to the microplastics and the fact polyester is unbreathable. Materials like cotton can be worn for a very long time and can decompose much quicker than polyester.

The question is why did brands stop making ecological clothing?

The answer is money. Polyester is cheap and easy to get a hold of, which turns a higher profit for companies.

People often jump from trend to trend and don’t stick to one distinct style. So, when buying clothing and accessories for multiple styles, it can get pricey, so people start buying from companies like Shein that promote fast fashion and reportedly use child labor. Brands like these sell different styles of clothing that are cheaply put together and don’t cost much too make. A lot of the time, online websites use product images from small businesses and then sell a bad quality rendition of a similar-looking shirt.

So instead of buying from companies known for child labor and stealing designs, or companies that mainly focus on making the most profit at the expense of the environment, consider thrifting or finding small businesses to support that will give you a chance to give clothing another life.