{"id":1526,"date":"2023-04-25T15:26:26","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T14:26:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/student-views\/?p=1526"},"modified":"2023-09-21T08:27:19","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T07:27:19","slug":"how-veritys-research-is-reducing-the-impact-of-fast-fashion-on-people-and-the-planet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/student-views\/how-veritys-research-is-reducing-the-impact-of-fast-fashion-on-people-and-the-planet\/","title":{"rendered":"How Verity’s research is reducing the impact of fast fashion on people and the planet."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Verity, UWE Bristol Associate Professor.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Associate Professor, Verity, tells us how her research is tackling the environmental issues and social injustice caused by fast fashion. She\u2019s working to educate people on the positive changes they can make by supporting sustainable fashion. Keep reading to learn more about Verity\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How I found my passion for sustainable fashion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My name\u2019s Verity, and I\u2019m an Associate Professor at UWE Bristol, where my work involves researching sustainable solutions for the fashion industry. Fast fashion is a buzz word we\u2019re all hearing more frequently, whether it\u2019s in the news, on our social feeds or in TV advertising. For example, through advertising on the much famed \u2018Love Island\u2019, eBay boosted sales of pre-loved clothing. But what exactly does the term \u201cfast fashion\u201d mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a nutshell, fast fashion is inexpensive clothing that\u2019s quickly mass produced by retailers in response to the latest trends. This means that consumers can snap up affordable styles soon after they\u2019ve seen them on celebrities and catwalks. The problem is they don\u2019t get worn for long before they\u2019re discarded in favour of the next trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why fast fashion is a sustainability issue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UK is an epicentre of fast fashion in Europe \u2013 buying and discarding far more than any of our European neighbouring countries. This is fuelling a cycle of overproduction and overconsumption that\u2019s having a direct impact on the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fashion industry is responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes more energy than the aviation and shipping industries combined.  Its production techniques also demand vast quantities of water, which end up back in our waterways, polluted by dyes and chemicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201c<\/em>There are some shocking statistics revealing the impact the industry is having on the environment. In the UK alone, 13 million items of clothing end up in landfill every year.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

How my research is making a difference<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work I\u2019m doing at UWE Bristol aims to help transform the fashion industry. Through my research, I\u2019m tackling the environmental issues and social injustice caused by fast fashion.  This means looking at the impact our actions have on people and the planet and exploring what we can do to change things for the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, I deliver a free online course called \u2018Who Made My Clothes?\u2019<\/a>, which has attracted over 70,000 learners to date. This shows that people are interested in the issues around fast fashion and want to learn more about how they can make positive changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m also passionate about educating children to protect the environment for future generations. Eco anxiety is a huge problem for young people. In fact, 50% of children seen by counsellors and psychologists disclose it as a concern. To tackle this issue head on, we\u2019ve worked with Friends of the Earth to develop supportive resources that parents can access from their website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe statistics are alarming, but we need to also look for the good news stories and focus on the things we can feel positive and optimistic about.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Three ways we can make our fashion more sustainable<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My top 3 tips for supporting sustainable fashion are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n