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Fast Fashion & The Illness of Earth

Tyson

The fashion industry is a major contributor to global waste and environmental issues. Each year, an estimated 150 billion garments are produced, and shockingly, between 15 and 45 billion of these garments go unsold. This staggering surplus is primarily due to the fashion industry’s business model, which requires retailers to make predictions about future sales, often resulting in excess inventory. The fear of financial losses further exacerbates this problem.

The consequences of this overproduction are severe for our planet. The fashion industry is responsible for as much as eight percent of global greenhouse emissions. Additionally, it contributes to other environmental problems such as biodiversity loss, water pollution, and deforestation.

Another alarming issue is the colossal waste generated by unsold clothing. Luxury brands, in the past, have been known to destroy surplus stock, a practice that persists despite bans in some regions like France. Most surplus garments are shipped to countries in the Global South, including Ghana, Kenya, and Chile, with the hope of resale. However, due to the sheer volume involved, a significant portion is either incinerated or dumped in landfills. This has devastating consequences for local communities and is exemplified by the massive clothing mountains in places like the Atacama Desert in Chile, visible even from space.

The fashion industry is a major contributor to global waste and environmental issues. Each year, an estimated 150 billion garments are produced, and shockingly, between 15 and 45 billion of these garments go unsold. This staggering surplus is primarily due to the fashion industry’s business model, which requires retailers to make predictions about future sales, often resulting in excess inventory. The fear of financial losses further exacerbates this problem. The consequences of this overproduction are severe for our planet. The fashion industry is responsible for as much as eight percent of global greenhouse emissions. Additionally, it contributes to other environmental problems such as biodiversity loss, water pollution, and deforestation. Another alarming issue is the colossal waste generated by unsold clothing. Luxury brands, in the past, have been known to destroy surplus stock, a practice that persists despite bans in some regions like France. Most surplus garments are shipped to countries in the Global South, including Ghana, Kenya, and Chile, with the hope of resale. However, due to the sheer volume involved, a significant portion is either incinerated or dumped in landfills. This has devastating consequences for local communities and is exemplified by the massive clothing mountains in places like the Atacama Desert in Chile, visible even from space. Fast-Fashion-&-The-Illness-of-Earth-Liana It is evident that the fashion industry must address its pressing issues urgently. By implementing more accurate forecasting, retailers have the potential to reduce overproduction by approximately 10 to 15 percent. This involves harnessing the power of data and in-depth analysis to gain insights into customers’ actual preferences. Here, AI tools, along with advanced 3D product development techniques like Marvelous Designer, are increasingly instrumental. Another key solution is to shorten production times, making them more responsive to consumer demand. The lengthy production process is one of the factors that forces retailers to make educated guesses about what customers will purchase, and addressing this bottleneck can lead to more efficient and sustainable practices in the fashion industry, according to experts in the field. Fast-Fashion-&-The-Illness-of-Earth-Liana Pakistan has become a significant destination for post-consumer textile waste, receiving a substantial influx of unwanted clothing annually from the EU. In the year 2022 alone, the EU exported used clothing with an export value of $48 million USD to Pakistan. Unfortunately, these used garments from EU high streets find their way into both resale markets and dumping sites within Pakistan. *Business Recorder The concerning issue at hand is the absence of efficient traceability criteria and waste hierarchy standards in both the EU and Pakistan. This absence fails to distinguish between textile waste and second-hand textile products, leading to the misleading importation of textile waste streams, often mislabeled as second-hand clothing. Consequently, a substantial portion of this imported material exacerbates the already challenging environmental issues facing Pakistan. Nevertheless, Pakistan possesses significant potential for the recycling and redesigning of used textiles. While some industries in the country engage in recycling imported used clothes, progress in this regard remains modest. A substantial proportion of these garments continues to bypass recycling efforts, ending up directly in resale markets or being disposed of in dumping sites. Fast-Fashion-&-The-Illness-of-Earth-Liana For independent brands like The Liana, adopting the pre-order model has proven to be a smart business move. Yawar Sohail, the founder, shares his journey: “During lockdown, I transitioned from working in the marketing field to financing the brand, to ultimately facing the prospect of having no business and returning to Noah Digital IT.” Introducing a made-to-order approach became a strategic choice to avoid unnecessary spending on fabrics and production for items that might not sell. It turned out to be a more financially sustainable alternative. Fast forward to today, and pre-orders constitute a significant 90 percent of the brand’s business. Yawar notes that customers have warmly embraced this model, appreciating the ability to customize aspects of their purchases, from adjusting the length to deciding whether a dress should have sleeves. He emphasizes that it creates a more personalized and special experience for customers, as if the product is being tailored just for them. To address the fashion industry’s overproduction dilemma, it’s imperative to change our shopping habits and break free from the cycle of excessive consumption. Yawar Sohail underscores this point: “As consumers, we are buying more and more products. With increased purchases, brands produce more, which in turn heightens the risk of brands making incorrect product choices.”

It is evident that the fashion industry must address its pressing issues urgently. By implementing more accurate forecasting, retailers have the potential to reduce overproduction by approximately 10 to 15 percent. This involves harnessing the power of data and in-depth analysis to gain insights into customers’ actual preferences. Here, AI tools, along with advanced 3D product development techniques like Marvelous Designer, are increasingly instrumental.

Another key solution is to shorten production times, making them more responsive to consumer demand. The lengthy production process is one of the factors that forces retailers to make educated guesses about what customers will purchase, and addressing this bottleneck can lead to more efficient and sustainable practices in the fashion industry, according to experts in the field.

The fashion industry is a major contributor to global waste and environmental issues. Each year, an estimated 150 billion garments are produced, and shockingly, between 15 and 45 billion of these garments go unsold. This staggering surplus is primarily due to the fashion industry’s business model, which requires retailers to make predictions about future sales, often resulting in excess inventory. The fear of financial losses further exacerbates this problem. The consequences of this overproduction are severe for our planet. The fashion industry is responsible for as much as eight percent of global greenhouse emissions. Additionally, it contributes to other environmental problems such as biodiversity loss, water pollution, and deforestation. Another alarming issue is the colossal waste generated by unsold clothing. Luxury brands, in the past, have been known to destroy surplus stock, a practice that persists despite bans in some regions like France. Most surplus garments are shipped to countries in the Global South, including Ghana, Kenya, and Chile, with the hope of resale. However, due to the sheer volume involved, a significant portion is either incinerated or dumped in landfills. This has devastating consequences for local communities and is exemplified by the massive clothing mountains in places like the Atacama Desert in Chile, visible even from space. Fast-Fashion-&-The-Illness-of-Earth-Liana It is evident that the fashion industry must address its pressing issues urgently. By implementing more accurate forecasting, retailers have the potential to reduce overproduction by approximately 10 to 15 percent. This involves harnessing the power of data and in-depth analysis to gain insights into customers’ actual preferences. Here, AI tools, along with advanced 3D product development techniques like Marvelous Designer, are increasingly instrumental. Another key solution is to shorten production times, making them more responsive to consumer demand. The lengthy production process is one of the factors that forces retailers to make educated guesses about what customers will purchase, and addressing this bottleneck can lead to more efficient and sustainable practices in the fashion industry, according to experts in the field. Fast-Fashion-&-The-Illness-of-Earth-Liana Pakistan has become a significant destination for post-consumer textile waste, receiving a substantial influx of unwanted clothing annually from the EU. In the year 2022 alone, the EU exported used clothing with an export value of $48 million USD to Pakistan. Unfortunately, these used garments from EU high streets find their way into both resale markets and dumping sites within Pakistan. *Business Recorder The concerning issue at hand is the absence of efficient traceability criteria and waste hierarchy standards in both the EU and Pakistan. This absence fails to distinguish between textile waste and second-hand textile products, leading to the misleading importation of textile waste streams, often mislabeled as second-hand clothing. Consequently, a substantial portion of this imported material exacerbates the already challenging environmental issues facing Pakistan. Nevertheless, Pakistan possesses significant potential for the recycling and redesigning of used textiles. While some industries in the country engage in recycling imported used clothes, progress in this regard remains modest. A substantial proportion of these garments continues to bypass recycling efforts, ending up directly in resale markets or being disposed of in dumping sites. Fast-Fashion-&-The-Illness-of-Earth-Liana For independent brands like The Liana, adopting the pre-order model has proven to be a smart business move. Yawar Sohail, the founder, shares his journey: “During lockdown, I transitioned from working in the marketing field to financing the brand, to ultimately facing the prospect of having no business and returning to Noah Digital IT.” Introducing a made-to-order approach became a strategic choice to avoid unnecessary spending on fabrics and production for items that might not sell. It turned out to be a more financially sustainable alternative. Fast forward to today, and pre-orders constitute a significant 90 percent of the brand’s business. Yawar notes that customers have warmly embraced this model, appreciating the ability to customize aspects of their purchases, from adjusting the length to deciding whether a dress should have sleeves. He emphasizes that it creates a more personalized and special experience for customers, as if the product is being tailored just for them. To address the fashion industry’s overproduction dilemma, it’s imperative to change our shopping habits and break free from the cycle of excessive consumption. Yawar Sohail underscores this point: “As consumers, we are buying more and more products. With increased purchases, brands produce more, which in turn heightens the risk of brands making incorrect product choices.”

Pakistan has become a significant destination for post-consumer textile waste, receiving a substantial influx of unwanted clothing annually from the EU. In the year 2022 alone, the EU exported used clothing with an export value of $48 million USD to Pakistan. Unfortunately, these used garments from EU high streets find their way into both resale markets and dumping sites within Pakistan.

*Business Recorder

The concerning issue at hand is the absence of efficient traceability criteria and waste hierarchy standards in both the EU and Pakistan. This absence fails to distinguish between textile waste and second-hand textile products, leading to the misleading importation of textile waste streams, often mislabeled as second-hand clothing. Consequently, a substantial portion of this imported material exacerbates the already challenging environmental issues facing Pakistan.

Nevertheless, Pakistan possesses significant potential for the recycling and redesigning of used textiles. While some industries in the country engage in recycling imported used clothes, progress in this regard remains modest. A substantial proportion of these garments continues to bypass recycling efforts, ending up directly in resale markets or being disposed of in dumping sites.

The fashion industry is a major contributor to global waste and environmental issues. Each year, an estimated 150 billion garments are produced, and shockingly, between 15 and 45 billion of these garments go unsold. This staggering surplus is primarily due to the fashion industry’s business model, which requires retailers to make predictions about future sales, often resulting in excess inventory. The fear of financial losses further exacerbates this problem. The consequences of this overproduction are severe for our planet. The fashion industry is responsible for as much as eight percent of global greenhouse emissions. Additionally, it contributes to other environmental problems such as biodiversity loss, water pollution, and deforestation. Another alarming issue is the colossal waste generated by unsold clothing. Luxury brands, in the past, have been known to destroy surplus stock, a practice that persists despite bans in some regions like France. Most surplus garments are shipped to countries in the Global South, including Ghana, Kenya, and Chile, with the hope of resale. However, due to the sheer volume involved, a significant portion is either incinerated or dumped in landfills. This has devastating consequences for local communities and is exemplified by the massive clothing mountains in places like the Atacama Desert in Chile, visible even from space. Fast-Fashion-&-The-Illness-of-Earth-Liana It is evident that the fashion industry must address its pressing issues urgently. By implementing more accurate forecasting, retailers have the potential to reduce overproduction by approximately 10 to 15 percent. This involves harnessing the power of data and in-depth analysis to gain insights into customers’ actual preferences. Here, AI tools, along with advanced 3D product development techniques like Marvelous Designer, are increasingly instrumental. Another key solution is to shorten production times, making them more responsive to consumer demand. The lengthy production process is one of the factors that forces retailers to make educated guesses about what customers will purchase, and addressing this bottleneck can lead to more efficient and sustainable practices in the fashion industry, according to experts in the field. Fast-Fashion-&-The-Illness-of-Earth-Liana Pakistan has become a significant destination for post-consumer textile waste, receiving a substantial influx of unwanted clothing annually from the EU. In the year 2022 alone, the EU exported used clothing with an export value of $48 million USD to Pakistan. Unfortunately, these used garments from EU high streets find their way into both resale markets and dumping sites within Pakistan. *Business Recorder The concerning issue at hand is the absence of efficient traceability criteria and waste hierarchy standards in both the EU and Pakistan. This absence fails to distinguish between textile waste and second-hand textile products, leading to the misleading importation of textile waste streams, often mislabeled as second-hand clothing. Consequently, a substantial portion of this imported material exacerbates the already challenging environmental issues facing Pakistan. Nevertheless, Pakistan possesses significant potential for the recycling and redesigning of used textiles. While some industries in the country engage in recycling imported used clothes, progress in this regard remains modest. A substantial proportion of these garments continues to bypass recycling efforts, ending up directly in resale markets or being disposed of in dumping sites. Fast-Fashion-&-The-Illness-of-Earth-Liana For independent brands like The Liana, adopting the pre-order model has proven to be a smart business move. Yawar Sohail, the founder, shares his journey: “During lockdown, I transitioned from working in the marketing field to financing the brand, to ultimately facing the prospect of having no business and returning to Noah Digital IT.” Introducing a made-to-order approach became a strategic choice to avoid unnecessary spending on fabrics and production for items that might not sell. It turned out to be a more financially sustainable alternative. Fast forward to today, and pre-orders constitute a significant 90 percent of the brand’s business. Yawar notes that customers have warmly embraced this model, appreciating the ability to customize aspects of their purchases, from adjusting the length to deciding whether a dress should have sleeves. He emphasizes that it creates a more personalized and special experience for customers, as if the product is being tailored just for them. To address the fashion industry’s overproduction dilemma, it’s imperative to change our shopping habits and break free from the cycle of excessive consumption. Yawar Sohail underscores this point: “As consumers, we are buying more and more products. With increased purchases, brands produce more, which in turn heightens the risk of brands making incorrect product choices.”

For independent brands like The Liana, adopting the pre-order model has proven to be a smart business move. Yawar Sohail, the founder, shares his journey: “During lockdown, I transitioned from working in the marketing field to financing the brand, to ultimately facing the prospect of having no business and returning to Noah Digital IT.” Introducing a made-to-order approach became a strategic choice to avoid unnecessary spending on fabrics and production for items that might not sell. It turned out to be a more financially sustainable alternative.

Fast forward to today, and pre-orders constitute a significant 90 percent of the brand’s business. Yawar notes that customers have warmly embraced this model, appreciating the ability to customize aspects of their purchases, from adjusting the length to deciding whether a dress should have sleeves. He emphasizes that it creates a more personalized and special experience for customers, as if the product is being tailored just for them.

To address the fashion industry’s overproduction dilemma, it’s imperative to change our shopping habits and break free from the cycle of excessive consumption. Yawar Sohail underscores this point: “As consumers, we are buying more and more products. With increased purchases, brands produce more, which in turn heightens the risk of brands making incorrect product choices.”

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Liana fabrics and cuttings are responsibly fetched and either recycled, stock-outs, or dead-stock spare materials originating from Pakistan.