The truth behind fast fashion - Are fashion retailers honest with their customers? | DW Documentary

Fast fashion is cheap, worn briefly, then discarded, leaving behind mountains of used clothing. Producers and retailers promise sustainability and recycling, but how sincere is their promise to make new clothing from old?
Over 120 billion garments per year are produced worldwide, and the mountains of textile waste are growing accordingly. The fast fashion industry is responsible for a significant part of this. Where they once brought out four collections a year, cheap clothing chains now create up to 52 micro-collections annually. Environmental organizations have long criticized this waste of resources and the mountains of textile waste it produces. Greenpeace is demanding an end to our ‘addiction to fast fashion’. Fast fashion retailers promise their customers they will treat the used clothing sustainably, touting their recycling system. But the giant mounds of worn clothing are too much for second-hand traders to handle. The disposal system is about to collapse. The clothes end up being used as fuel to heat people’s homes. Which political measures are being taken to tackle the problematic flood of textile waste?
#documentary #fashion #freedocumentary
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[@whatif8408]

I have been sewing all my own clothes since 2007. When you spend a week or longer making a really nice outfit, you never throw it away or let it hang in the closet unworn.

[@lisapalmeno4488]

I've gone back to crocheting, but I also shop at thrift stores, and recycle everything for the buttons, cleaning rags and donations to the needy.

[@HandmadeDarcy]

They are also made to last, made with better fabric and not made by slave/exploited labour. But then I only have time and money to knit and weave and sew because I am chronically ill and my husband has a satisfying, well paid job, so I am at home. Unfortunately, most people in Australia, are either working precarious jobs which require more of their time (and soul) just to make ends meet, or barely surviving on government unemployment or disability payments which are kept low to starve people into those crappy jobs. The very rich, of course, can afford better clothes - if they can find them.

[@lis819]

Growing up in postwar Europe, girls in school, I remember, had to be able to sew a skirt, a pair of trousers, a dress and a set of baby rompers! It was also standard practice to spend time sat afternoon with an elderly person learning how to knit, crochet, embroider etc so we were brought up to be 'selfsufficient' from an early age.

[@CryoEMQueen]

Yep. I suck at sewing, but I make all of my own knitwear. I haven't purchased a sweater since I was in high school (2015) and didn't know better. The yarn they use in most modern pieces is made to pill and fall apart nowadays, it's simply a waste of money.

[@SirLangsalot]

Congrats to you. Sewing is a skill that has unfortunately become lost.

[@kennethrussel7009]

So recyclable clothes are not really recycled. Thanks DW for opening the consumers eyes through this well made documentary.

[@kauigirl808]

There's way too much.

[@-Anjel]

They are not recyclable, they are just marketed as recyclable. Fast fashion is mostly mixed synthetic fibers. The fibers cannot be separated, which would be necessary, if they were to be recycled. Fast fashion garments do not last long, most garments can only be washed a couple of times before they start falling apart. It's also so cheap with constant sales that it doesn't make sense to by it used.

[@korichamberlain]

“Recyclable” it’s self is just a gimmick, since most things actually are recyclable. It does nothing to confirm wether or not it’ll actually get recycled.

[@ninanano]

It's sick, these "recycled" clothes are usually more expensive. Literally just another way for these companies to make more money and hoard it

[@sixthousandblankets]

The irony of a psychiatrist addicted to shopping.

[@aurinkobay7118]

i was thinking the same. i think they need help from a psychotherapist

[@Liverpoolboy01]

@@aurinkobay7118 absolutely

[@OsungaOkello]

I am with you, but it is a sickness, much like smoking. The production of satisfaction through acquisition. Not some “remote” satisfaction, but for example when I buy a bow tie for a black and white event, understanding, that likely I will not go to any others, ever, probably, The point being, is that without empathy for understanding how we got here, there will simply be mis-interpretation and escalation. Which is to be expected.

[@nightreader1264]

Scary!

[@fingerprint5511]

ALL 'therapists' are neurotic, they can't heal anyone and 99% of the time use YOU to work on themselves! And you pay them for that! !!!

[@drkmgic]

i like how thrifting is becoming trendy now but it still annoys me how expensive thrifted things are now.

[@paulafranciscac2787]

It is true. I try to find sweaters in summer ( at a better price off season) Sometimes I buy garments to reuse the fabric, especially linen.

[@lynnjudd9036]

Agreed. There are thrift stores that seem to have prices pretty close to what you would pay for new at a place like Wal Mart or Target and then there are real thrift stores.

[@elainebb5937]

Thrift stores aren’t “thrift” stores anymore but second hand shops with outlet prices!! So many pieces are damaged but priced by brand name!! Crazy

[@javicaballero99]

You say "how expensive thrifted things are now". I can not agree with you although I guess that this depends on the country in which you live. In mine (Spain) second hand clothes are really affordable. In the UK too.

[@jongenwatisditirrita]

Stuff you find at a thriftstore are usually made with better/stronger material, from back in the day when clothes were suppose to live a longer life. I don't mind to pay the same or even more then the stuff you find at H&M, Primark etc.

[@StephiSensei26]

This program was just too short. There needs to be a follow-up program. The topic is too important to simply leave it here. Thank you DW for your fine programs of world impact. Personal note: What we are dealing with here, in my opinion, is control of the popular mindset. We as a culture, Western Europe, America (in particular), Japan and upcoming China, are being and have been for quite a while, manipulated by the textile / fashion corporations, to believe that "we need" something, which we do not "Need". Their entire reason for existence is, simply put, to make money. Making a useful durable product and selling it, is not in their interest, because it takes too long. Faster and cheaper is better. The drug companies here in the US do exactly the same thing, only their "target demographic" may vary. It's targeted at older people instead of Teens and Youth. The minds of the young are malleable, and that's what they want to really sustain. Like the women studying to become psychologists, they have already become prey to the schemes and plots of the industry. I don't expect we can ever go back to "the good old days", when we made at least some of our own clothing, certainly not with the Capitalist work culture we have now. "Wake, Work, Earn, Buy, Use, Discard, Eat, Sleep and Repeat!" Owning something which you made yourself, has value and pride built into it. "Cool" junk stuff on a rack, does not. (I once had a Jeans Jacket, on which I embroidered a large butterfly over the back. I wore it until it recycled itself! Fashion and Individualism built into one.) We have lost touch with what value really means. And the industry depends on this weakness of mind. Our lives are too distracted and stressed, and the "Industry" likes it that way. As long as they can keep us distracted, dizzy and entertained by the next "cool" thing, they'll stay in business, and the world will just get messier in their wake.

[@jorgediazlopez3324]

You just wrote an entire essay on your comment! And I like it because it's totally the truth.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks a lot for watching and for your positive feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to comment and are glad you like our content!

[@ElitePeeM]

Good point about the psychology students

[@DanielBrklyn]

Please explain this quote: Like the women studying to become psychologists, they have already become prey to the schemes and plots of the industry. I didn't really understand. What is the issue with psychologists?

[@StephiSensei26]

@@DanielBrklyn At the beginning of the Doc program, they interviewed some young women studying as psychologists, and their closets were already filled with clothing which had never been used and still had the price tags on them, so...Consumption for the sake of consuming, buy it and "fell good" (for a few minutes).

[@MelissaMarshman]

I try to buy "lasting pieces" and shop less rather than shopping all the time for bad quality clothing that doesn't last and that is cheap.

[@SOHELRana-nk6od]

And that's why you are getting to watch this video. For those who buy and buy and buy KZbin won't recommend them or they offcourse doesn't have sense to understand the topic either.

[@realm919]

where do you buy lasting pieces?

[@SOHELRana-nk6od]

@@realm919 I got a friend who works in a textile industry, so I buy directly from him the best fabric quality clothes and that too at a very very low price, the clothes have no brand because I buy directly from him ✌️. I buy 3-4 pieces at the same price which are sold in market by expensive brands. And the feeling that I am not being fooled is awasome 😁.

[@littlesometin]

it's getting harder and harder to find long lasting pieces that are not terribly overpriced and out of reach to most people

[@HyperGirl81]

@@littlesometin Even harder is buying clothes made out of materials other than polyester! I went looking for a good quality woman causal business suit and everything was made out of polyester! I don't buy much clothes other than jeans and I have clothes that I kept in my closet for years!

[@rainbowhazeshop]

Imagine the privilege of wearing something just once, then chucking it in the landfill and laughing about it on camera. These influencers should be held accountable just as much as the actual brands. But why do that when you can make money, then fill up landfills of third world countries while vilifying them about the way they deal with the waste. Get your priorities straight!

[@Tomi_janet15]

Definitely!!

[@octavia7408]

Well said!

[@samgaspodcast]

I think influencers by themselves are not the problem. It is the people who follow them and support that and that is our problem. We as a society are sick imo.

[@indian.patterns]

Right!

[@chris-2496]

If there are addicts, there are dealers. Both are responsible.

[@tazldn6463]

It's a shame we can't go back to towns having a couple of tailors and seamstresses making elegant clothing with a regional and local style to them that last, instead of corporate giants selling the same crap to everyone that's only worn once.

[@dolphineachonga555]

Africa still has that artisan culture despite overwhelming competition from cheap imports.

[@TheLily97232]

In the Caribbean and Africa it still is common. I felt less envy towards richer people when my aunt made dresses for me. I felt just as special

[@LadyCoyKoi]

That was also the era when people only needed the basics and not have closets filled to the brim with clothes. Back then, people didn't have 20 pairs of jeans. At best, people would have four pairs due to growth and fluctuation of weight and even then the clothes were passed down from parent to kids, because they were made to last. People also found ways to reinvent the clothes as to not waste. Girls and women learned to maintain the clothes of the household. Frugality was practiced a lot. Today not so much. Corporations actually convinced people they can just throw away and get new things. That is why Planned Obsolescence exits... to make profits. It is the worse system to be created by humans that will destroy them and their environments.

[@spark300c]

well the rich use to do that. Only the rich can afford custom clothes of high skill. how ever in age mass production it hard for small producer to compete. the not many CNC machinery to manufacture custom clothing other than printed t shirts.

[@stacieberries]

Yes thissssss

[@Hotspur62]

Thanks to informative documentaries such as this I stopped buying fast fashion items about six years ago. I started to buy the best that I can afford from local artisans and craftsman. It's not cheap, but I know I'm supporting individuals and not a multibillion dollar conglomerate. Moreover, because it's high quality it lasts and lasts.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. We're glad you liked the documentary.

[@korichamberlain]

I’m kind of working with a middle ground. I still buy fast fashion items, but almost exclusively second hand. (“Almost” because I’m still not immune to mentality that fuels fast fashion, but I’ve made significant strides in the right direction.)

[@user-hw9yf2wn4v]

I have so much expensive clothes given to me by friends who are impulsive buyers. I have HUGO BOSS 800-EURO boots from a friend who passed them down to me after he wore them once. He said he had no more use for the boots and they are beautiful. Another friend gave me a leather jacket practically brand new. He said he had it for two winters and wore it a few times. I have had that leather jacket for years, have worn it hundreds of times and still looks good. Same for furniture. I got a brand new couch from a friend who said she got tired of her leather couch. She confessed she had had it for a few months. The other day a friend was saying she wanted to get rid of her fridge. Her fridge is gorgeous. I said, ""will you sell it to me?" She said, ""No, you can have it for free.'" There is nothing wrong with their trendy beautiful fridge. But we are living ina world where people get tired of things. Now there are throw-away-husbands and throw-away-wives and throw-away-everything. We are a society of selfish individuals.

[@miragept]

Most of my wardrobe is stuff that my family gives to me and i have way too much clothes, but well, i will wear stuff until it is almost impossible to do it.

[@NikiAllen]

So Very Well Said.

[@jasminefrichtl806]

So true

[@sylphe18]

This so true. We got our second-hand kitchen set with natural stone countertop for free. Good quality German brand, is durable and only 8 years old while the appliances where 3.y.o., functioning good and energy efficient. I really didnt get why they threw it away other than they have the money to burn.

[@abdulalhazred4224]

Hahaha same with me in indonesia. I am not even poor, but i have no problems accepting their "used" stuffs. My polo shirts r burberry, lacoste, hugo boss, etc - all free and hardly used. I also get kitchen set, jeans and many more. Nice for me since i can use my money for my future retirement 😁 while always dress up like super wealthy people 😁😁😁

[@sydney8734]

It's all about money. 'Environmental friendly' is just an overused term to hide the truth behind business

[@MissShila]

Right.

[@indian.patterns]

Correct

[@armenstaubach9276]

Exactly, like EVs... as a mining engineer, we laugh OAF when we hear they call the EVs green cars... and EV takes somewhere around 200000 to 400000 km till it really become green, then it is the end of the car anyways...

[@2amsongs.presents]

Right

[@ThePizzaGoblin]

and here I am, finally replacing the old worn out hoodie I bought in high school 15 years ago

[@devissaputra469]

yes yes, this is the habit that everyone should aspire. buy once for quality (yes maybe pricier) and use longer.

[@darinherrick9224]

And Here I am having my wife sew together my hoodie and jeans that are falling apart.

[@lis819]

was dismayed to notice the other day that my favourite summer cardi that I got in 1994 has developed a worn bit the size of a 10 cent piece on the sleeve...a mending job for the weekend :))

[@MandeepKaur-fe3vl]

I m still wearing clothes that I bought 8 years ago...quality and style still works for me..I am cool with it

[@bbygrlpt2]

Im in my 20s and never buy anythin that ‘influencers’ wear. If I need and like somethin Ill buy it and usually second hand. Not only big retailers have fast fashion theres plenty of smaller clothin stores that are cheaper and the material is also cheap AF. Its horrible what were doin to this planet.

[@mikemarrtinez]

H&M clothes can last a long time if you take care of them! I have few clothes from these stores from 2013, 2014 and 2017 and they are still in good shape. I wash them with cold water and line dry them. I don’t like throwing clothes in the trash because then I’ll feel guilty knowing that someone else could use it and because our landfills already have too much trash and there is no need to produce more.

[@Mercy2Mee]

Me too. I never considered them and Zara fast fashion. It’s actually great quality

[@mikemarrtinez]

@@Mercy2Mee Yes! A lot of their clothes are great quality. I believe that what ruins them is the dryer heat. That’s why I don’t use my dryer for most of my clothes. I noticed that line drying them keeps them in good condition longer.

[@mikemarrtinez]

@Minnie M yes i believe the same thing. Dryers shorten the life of clothes. Good thing to hear that in Europe you guys don’t use them that much. Here in the US people use them a lot because it saves time when it comes to doing laundry.

[@vaderladyl]

Exactly. Even cheap clothes can last if they are well taken care for. The problem is the over consumption.

[@Uncommonsensetoo]

This is absolute insanity. When he said the average German buys 26 kg (57 lbs) of clothing every year my jaw hit the floor. Can this be for real that people buy this much clothing? I, and I assume many like me, buy very little once or twice a year maybe, so that means some people must be buying way more than 26 kg. This is just beyond stupid and such an incredible waste.

[@janoschfoerster2921]

Maybe it’s 1 item at 26 kg. Jokes aside this has to change

[@Thelango99]

Yeah the average clothing item does not weigh that much, so it has to be a lot.

[@god-bv5wo]

I only buy twice a year

[@indian.patterns]

Sad

[@kelliez9991]

That is not much when you realized jeans can weigh 2-4 pounds depending on size. I think that the average is much higher in US.

[@RiaSwiftHealing]

I lived in Manhattan in the 1970's. One of the things that blew my mind the most was that every 6 months you could see, it seemed like everyone, wearing the next greatest fashion. It was exhausting. If you went to a club, at 6 months later, people would be wearing the latest 5th avenue trend. I could not understand how they could afford it. They wanted to keep up with the 'jones' of NY. It was very weird and even weirder that they all bought into. That is where this all started. It has been going on for decades. We have a sick culture, a very insecure culture that has no sense of it's self or its real value. So incredibly superficial. It is our lack of self worth, and I don't mean our ego aggrandizement, that is our problem. We think to have expensive things makes us worth something. It doesn't. It makes us stupid, ignorant and mostly out of touch with who and what we really are.

[@hamajangz9586]

Probably posted from your expensive af pc or laptop.

[@korichamberlain]

The most important part of this comment is how this wardrobe turnover has been an issue for Generations. It costs less now, so more people can participate, and we can get more individual items then before, but the fact that we’ve been prone to this behavior for a half century is super important. It will probably take another generation or two for society to unlearn it.

[@studiocaveat9524]

@@hamajangz9586 I don’t see how this is beneficiary or even relevant to the conversation. In the US people at every price point have access to a KZbin video, broke and rich alike. Further, trying to shame someone for having access to the internet, while you are also accessing the same content, is stupidly hypocritical. This comment only serves to shame someone sharing a valid piece of consumer history. It makes you look tacky and it seems like you’re projecting issues concerning your personal finances. Tacky, do better.

[@naxT890]

@@studiocaveat9524 I hate rich people as any socialist would. But shaming an ally for your cause is plain stupidity.

[@mademagic8430]

@@naxT890 u missed the point

[@SpiritOfTheLaw]

Great topic for a video! If you think H&M is bad, wait until you find out about Shein.

[@LiquidShivaz]

Primark?

[@susanapollo284]

It’s not just H&M it’s the whole clothing and fashion industry. Madness making people feel bad if they don’t have overflowing wardrobes with constant adverts. Worst poluters

[@cnanden]

And they sell to European and American markets too. And their customers don’t care.

[@JankaFitvlogs]

Exactly. SHEIN is the new H&M

[@LekkerNootje]

I think in ordor to improve recycling, H&M should put a monk in the recyclingcenter to change the color of the clothing.

[@n3493]

This video was needed. Thank you again DW.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks a lot for watching and for your positive feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to comment and are glad you like our content.

[@John-gm5mf]

I buy very expensive clothes that I wear often and last a long time. I can't even imagine having something in my wardrobe I've not worn 30+ times.

[@korichamberlain]

Good for you.

[@arrowb3408]

LOLOL... Really??? THEN MINE ARE WORE LONGER and MORE OFTEN THAN 20 years. They still look very stylish...LOLOL... How "Very expensive" in your dictionary??? Just give me any brand not the monetary number.

[@John-gm5mf]

@@arrowb3408 acne studios, mason kitsune, ader error. I'm wearing a 7 year old acne studios sweater right now in fact.

[@lindatisue733]

H&M has been caught burning clothes three times in Sweden. Haven't seen anything at H&M in years I would take home if they were giving it away. I went on a clothing fast, didn't buy any new clothes for a year. I learned F×$K fashion, I wear what I like, only buy things I really like and will know I will wear. Five years later I only buy natural fabric clothes to replace worn out. Need two long sleeve tshirts now, but the colours are awful right now, so I'll wear my holey shirts a little longer til the colours are something I want to wear for four or five years.

[@Goldrefinedthrufire]

That's good, but you make such a small dent. We need the companies to make real solutions here to make a change. People won't stop buying the fast fashion as long as it's available. We can't excpect every person to u derstand and do what you do unfortunately.

[@ramblingrob4693]

Fashion, Not in Essex UK. All women wear is Jeans or black Leggings

[@evelyne7071]

As someone who can’t wear synthetic clothing, even cotton/poly blends, it is increasingly difficult to find biodegradable clothes made from natural fibers. And when I find 100% cotton, linen or wool items, I pay a lot more money for them. They are so much better on your body, and much better for the environment. I only recently found out that plastic clothes throw off plastic microfibers into the environment. I had never really considered that before. Plus now all these old rejects often simply end up polluting the landfills. Recently I was appalled to find clothes made out of styrofoam. That’s the scariest trend I ever heard. Talk about resistance to degradation, releasing toxic gases, and simply existing into eternity…… It was frightening.

[@sofly7634]

Yes the natural fibers have proven over history to last so they don't want anything that can last.

[@yrrannapanna]

Exactly same!I'm a gen-Z but since my mom has been wearing cotton all her life,it got induced into me somehow and i haven't bought anything synthetic ever

[@gamingtonight1526]

No business of ANY kind is honest with its customers when it comes to climate change. But, also, if we don't change (which we're not) they won't change.

[@LoveMusicSound]

Wish their rich selves (companies) would figure out how to put their waste on Mars and not dump it in the oceans.

[@jasminefrichtl806]

So true

[@DroneStrike1776]

This is why I'm not into fashion. People are to concerned with impressing others. I used to buy a pair of shoes and sneakers every month. I had over 50 pairs barely worn. I gave most of them away. Now I wear 5 pairs and just rotate them.

[@giantarcsfora9279]

I have one pair of daily shoes and 1 for Sunday

[@sm3675]

@@giantarcsfora9279 same. One regular pair of shoes, and one pair of running shoes, and a clean fancier shoes for visiting family and stuff. 50 pairs sounds like a lot 😭

[@DroneStrike1776]

@@sm3675 I was a sneaker head. Grew up poor so I couldn't afford all the new Jordans. So when I got older, I started buying all the new stuff because I'm able to afford them. Then I realized it's just a waste of money. Oh that was 50 pairs I had at the time, overall I must've owned hundreds of pairs. Now I'm much older and have no use for them. Such a waste of money.

[@Mercy2Mee]

It’s not always about impressing others though. It’s how it makes you feel when you’re wearing the latest and the greatest. Not saying it’s right but that’s usually the case

[@MandeepKaur-fe3vl]

Congrates on becoming responsible and sensible adult...I am also covering up on my past stupid purchases.

[@liselottehildegarde5367]

Almost ALL of the fast fashion clothes I've seen in this video are so aesthetically poor!!! Their design, much less their materials, won't last a decade. Be loyal to aesthetic, NOT trends! I never buy anything that I'm not sure I would still wear for at least a decade. Thus, I have few but VERY BEAUTIFUL clothes with HIGH QUALITY. Please buy vintage if you can and don't throw away clothes just because they're old! REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!!!

[@sofly7634]

The first and most important thing I told my kids was to check for fabric type. Use wool, nylon , linen, cotton. They last when cared for properly.

[@kimberlychodur3508]

@@sofly7634 I agree, after my mom passed away we went through her clothes. We donated most of them since they didn't fit me and my sisters but there was a long 100% wool coat and a long leather coat. I'm guessing by the style, the leather coat and the quality, it is from the seventies. The leather is a soft, buttery quality, and the coat has a more fitted style with pleats in the arms and skirt of the coat, the collar is also bigger ( more typical of clothes in the 70s ) it has a half belt that is sewn in at the sides. My sisters joked that it looked like something out of The Mod Sauad, a crime show from the seventies. I have the coat, and every time I wear it, people always seem to compliment it

[@jejewa2763]

So much for the young generation caring about the environment!

[@merrymermaid]

it’s infuriating being in that generation and being surrounded by people who don’t care :(

[@vaderladyl]

Yeah and they blame Boomers for all the misery in the world! Gimme a break!

[@RohanGillett]

They are completely fake. I couldn't believe some of the people in this documentary saying things like these purchases only last for a day and that many of the clothes in their closets still have the price tags on them. The old people and "boomers" in this world mightn't have done a great job, but the young people aren't anything to look up to either (generally speaking).

[@ellenpeele6724]

More second hand shops needed. Vintage stores are my favorite. Consignment stores too.

[@notpurrfect6397]

Who would want to buy this stuff second hand? It's cheap to start with so there would be next to no profit margin for used fast fashion.

[@ellenpeele6724]

@@notpurrfect6397 I would. Ive found some of my favorite clothes from thrift stores Co ttin and linen and silk. Not everyone can afford new clothes. My neice just bought a sweater for 80 bucks. Id rather get a big bag of clothes for that.Just like recycling. Help save the planet.😁❤🐟🐠🐋

[@gg_ingy]

The problem is that many of those items get holes faster, the prints break/fade and some of the stitching goes asymmetric after washing it once. It's kinda hit or miss if you get a good item. I'm sure there are usable items that get destroyed though, but i think the root of the issue is the over consumption in the first place.

[@mikevenecio6312]

@@gg_ingy Agree. Look at celebrities. Do they ever wear the same set of outfits at different events? No. And now, under the influence of social media and influencers, people start following this trend and overconsume garment products. It's just getting worse every day.

[@Mercy2Mee]

@@notpurrfect6397 I would and do!

[@kaiimendoza]

Another eye-opening documentary.

[@MelonHead887]

Guys prefer girls in their birthday suit ... never goes out of fashion. 😯👍

[@daulettoganbayev6027]

I am shocked by those people who did not even know about it before! How stupid it is to be surprised now? How old are you all?

[@0neAutumnLeaf]

Buying fast fashion isn’t inherently evil, so please don’t feel bad if that is what you can afford The main problems is overconsumption; the women in this video were perfect examples,. Horrible to think about all the materials and labor that went into creating a piece of clothing, only for it to be worn once before being thrown out

[@morganqorishchi8181]

I buy fast fashion clothes, but I wear it until it's too worn out to be used anymore, and then I give it to my grandmother who sews quilts out of the fabric.

[@lisamac8503]

They are going to school to be psychotherapists! You would think they would watch for their own behavior and see what it is they are doing and the reasons behind it

[@LadyCoyKoi]

I agree. I can't afford a tshirt of $60, but I can afford those bulk cotton shirt bags for $9 and comes with 12 shirts... and believe me I use the one bag of 6 till they are worn out then use those worn out shirts as towels and washclothes. I use one as a shoe polisher. Great at detailing. It would take five to six years to open the other bags. I use natural detergents and use tiny amounts of bleach to keep them looking new. Have to be careful with tap water... it is yellowing to white clothes. Doing this saved me money, but also show respect for the work that goes into making them and the resources used, so I utilize even the severe ragged tshirts. I've been watching jean videos to get ideas for reusing jeans.

[@twinitedkindle5159]

I heard that girl or boy friend.

[@feisaldianga511]

People should learn to buy quality and not quantity, to reduce wastage that end up polluting the environment in which people live hence illnesses that affect humans health and livability in those areas and regions in which it’s disposed off, big corporations may state that one thing and does a different thing.

[@Goldrefinedthrufire]

Kind of going about it the wrong way. In old days when only natural fabrics were available and sewn by hand EVERYONE was less wasteful. You can't excpect the billions of people on this planet to all know understand and comprehend this problem. It starts with the people making the clothes.

[@Bashisfaction]

psychotherapists that they dont know their brain was washed? i pitty the patients once they graduate,,, i hope they never do in that state of mind.

[@leechowning2712]

I would especially hope that they do not ever work in the field of addiction therapy seeing as she literally explained an addiction, but does not see a problem with it. Explaining that it is the physical reward of getting the clothing which fades within a single day, should be disconcerting.

[@mellinsomnia1]

I was searching for this comment. I was shocked to see psychotherapists not realizing they have mental issues...sad. And yet they believe they can help someone else.

[@andreab7689]

Yup, the facepalm is strong with those two

[@annewinkler3072]

Lol, I was thinking the same ... they want to help others once they graduate?

[@meredithheath5272]

Agreed, Everyone. Their choice of "career" is probably more based on how to learn to manipulate others more than they do already.

[@MegaSnow121]

Sad, interesting and horrifying documentary. Burning toxic clothing to stay warm - could it be any sadder than that for these poor Bulgarians? All for greed. I wonder how bad this toxic and throwaway clothing problem is here in the United States. Need to do some research on this. Thank you for an eye opening documentary. Big fan of all your other documentaries, too. Keep up the good work.

[@meluk6991]

Thank you DW for bringing awareness and truth to light. I used to shop moderately for new clothes when I was younger. Usually for work purposes. I haven't bought any new clothing in years. The idea of these so called "fashion influencers" on social media is laughable but sadly it works. Everyone's gotta earn a living somehow and you almost cant blame them as it is their passion. However, they need to understand that they are fueling a new, fast growing problem that has detrimental effect to simply clean air environment.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks a lot for watching and for your positive feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to comment and are glad you like our content! 🙂

[@debrafirestone861]

They don’t care it’s a generation of selfish snd spoiled young people

[@__tasp__]

"When a bunch of teenagers on instagram keep telling me it's cool, it must be cool so I have to buy it." We're so screwed.

[@valeriejean6507]

I caught that, too. Unable to think for themselves.

[@christchaik8317]

@@valeriejean6507 and they're studying to become therapists, mind you.

[@valeriejean6507]

@Minnie M my mother was a first rate seamstress....her wedding dresses were incredible. While I didn't follow her into sewing I did learn about fabrics, notions, and the sewing vernacular . I also learned quality and life taught me how to dress for me...classic style. Save money, ease of dress and no need to worry about "the latest style"

[@korichamberlain]

Like teens haven’t been doing this since the beginning of time.

[@vaderladyl]

Yeah I rolled my eyes so hard,I hurt myself. Unbelievably weak minded!

[@Kim-lc3fv]

I chatted with an H&M executive about 23 years ago when our flight was cancelled. I was shocked to learn then that their model is based on cheap, throw-away clothing.

[@officiallydenise]

I am currently wearing a black turtleneck I bought 15 years ago. It’s still looks good. I hardly buy new clothes. I don’t feel I need to keep up with influencers. I don’t have Instagram anymore and I feel the pressure is off.

[@pt6731]

yeah i don't get the logic of following others and trying to live their life when it can be faked. its like one wants to be them instead of living your ownself life. Like people dreaming about kpop and wanting to be their gf or bf while funding them by buying stuff while the person are a nobody to them while the person waste money and is miserable rather then save or spend money improving and living their life and see themselves as it vs stars.

[@MDARUN-ph1dw]

proud of you :)

[@isaaccastro4846]

Consumption its the main issue today, untill people understand that we will keep getting ideological answers to physical problems

[@DroneStrike1776]

And most of the people complaining about the environment are the ones that need the new iphone and fresh outfits. See it all the time on social media.

[@isaaccastro4846]

@@DroneStrike1776 exactly, but hey it has an eco friendly tag so it makes me feel better

[@dolphineachonga555]

Consumption is a symptom of something else. That is, the culture of me, me, me, look at me. It's that we have nowhere else to find fulfillment and purpose. So we get it temporarily from buying new stuff and the compliments we get as a result.

[@vaderladyl]

@@dolphineachonga555 Exactly.

[@ledhunters]

16:00 I work for a company that uses dirty technology in a production. I often see those bags with "old" clothing, they are used as cleaning rags. Several times I had opportunity to sort through this bags, clothing looked like they were used once or twice then washed and discarded! Almost all of it looked perfectly usable and as new! I even commented to my colleagues about this and show them several pieces of cloating that if you just iron them and show them to me like that I would totally believe those are new-from shop. I never heard those are used as fuel for heating. Just now I checked local e-market adds and found several sellers of these, as they call them "industrial rags", they are sold in 10kg bags and the price starts from 5€/bag...

[@bySimyna]

The “Fast fashion” should be banned. If fashion companies would not invent new trends every year to make you feel like the clothes you have are not wearable people would not keep buying chlotes that they don’t need

[@denisegore1884]

It's not every year, it's now every week.

[@ramblingrob4693]

@@denisegore1884 I went in Primark last wkd an didn't see anything that jumped out an said buy me

[@nightreader1264]

Instagram, You Tube, and Facebook do not help.

[@chimpspecialist]

"Since the year 2000, new clothing purchases have doubled." That's because it's so cheaply made and wears out so quickly, you have to keep buying new clothing.

[@oceanside88]

Overconsumption = Extinction

[@amycoronado4920]

For someone to claims to love fashion, the Michelle woman appears to be completely oblivious to how her spending habits are harmful. Look at the clothes that still had tags on it! Or the stuff she only wore once. All to be "trendy" for a week until the next thing comes along? For one cute outfit to post online for likes and clout? Maybe she should refrain from buying for a month, then take that money she otherwise would have spent, and get herself higher quality pieces that last longer. I'm glad this documentary was made and I hope the negative effects of fast fashion becomes more talked about in the future.

[@haadbajwa7565]

Another good documentary from DW👍

[@J3unG]

This is horrifying. All for the sake of fast money. Thank you, DW. Would you please do reporting on what is driving up the cost of homes and rents? There is current reporting (by lefty media) that corporate buyers are acquiring homes by overbidding the price sometimes as much as 50 percent. They are buying with cash and have found a way to score the listings before non-corporate, independent buyers even get to see them. Is there any truth to this and who exactly is doing this and where in the world is this occurring? Danke.

[@michellebeckstrom6110]

I agree with your statment that this is horrifying and your request on info regarding the grossly unrealistic housing market prices is so relevant right now.

[@LiquidShivaz]

Agreed, totally.

[@michaelalando]

Truly horrifying

[@gabrieljean-batiste2006]

The US. It's been in our news for months now. (Re: the housing bit)

[@sherirobinson6867]

Houston Texas housing crunch is terrible... corporate purchase is creating a nightmare... it's covered on the nightly news regularly... What the heck is "lefty media"? The price of apartment rentals has gone thru the roof also

[@Notfunnysam]

Life is rough when you have to burn chemicals to stay warm!

[@indian.patterns]

True

[@crystalchristine6857]

After seeing this I’m glad I’m a thriftaholic! Finding does hide gems in second hand clothes is amazing! It a plus I know how to sew and turning those outdated style into trendy ☺️ as they say one mans garbage is another mans treasure ♻️ DW 👌🏼

[@MsBhappy]

Thrifting shopping addiction is very real! I realized I took on some of my parents hoarding tendencies with it and the rush of serotonin finding something one of a kind that I could flip to make more modern or to make money was a problem. Now I'm happy leaving hidden gems for others unhidden in the racks and shelves :)

[@lindatisue733]

Thrift clothes are the only place I can find decent quality women's clothes. I won't buy new stuff because it is so poorly made and all synthetic. I will buy mens clothes and tailor them to fit me, they are so much better made. When was the last time you saw women's clothes with taped seams or cotton lining?Menswear still has those details.

[@lw3269]

Same. I prefer used items of good quality. Fun fact: After you wear an item once, it becomes used anyway.

[@jenniferbond7073]

Do you know how to get the thrift store smell out? I love thrifying too but not the smell.

[@ytknits4892]

@@jenniferbond7073 The smell should come out after a wash or two, but if it’s something that’s difficult to wash at home I’ll usually pay to get it dry cleaned.

[@normanshadow1]

I work in a large corporate thrift store, it seems like everything now is fast, plastic fashion, Including shoes and bedding. I rarely come across wool, silk, linen. I'm 60 so I've seen a lot of changes since I've been thrifting since I've been a teenager.

[@penelope_sunshine]

I can say companies produced wayyy too many things, I still find a lot of 80s/90s pieces new with price tag, they are still in the market. And I don't promote going vintage/thrifting is the ultimate way, I'm still figuring out how sustainable it is, because I saw some people thrifting with the attitude of buying fast fashion, more is better. I wonder where do these thrifted pieces go after they get tired of them. Living in a developing country, we don't have a healthy recycling system yet. A lot of people still choose to burn their rubbish in open air. We really need to change our selfish attitude and stop buying to fit in the society's perception. Yes, I wear the same shoes, clothes or phones for many years, if it's still functioning well, why do I have to change it. Even leaders make bad examples, why do they need 100 luxury bags and let the people go hungry. Instead of telling people: oh, you are wearing the same thing again, why not tell them: this dress really suits you!

[@MillennialMountainMama]

This documentary is very eye opening! I have been shopping at thrift stores for many years and have found really nice brand named clothes. It never occurred to me, how buying brand new clothes all the time, which I can’t afford anyway, is terribly wasteful for the environment at a global humanitarian level. Now I see why environmentally conscious individuals, such as myself, are getting into sustainable clothes with all natural cotton and natural dyes. Because honestly regular clothes are very toxic. I heard people say this like my mom but I never understand why. This documentary explained that very well! Thanks!

[@shiamaria7913]

This is too much… I personally haven’t bought any new clothes even like 2 years before the pandemic, since 2018. I bought a few of good quality shirts and pants and I still wear them!! I have made my best at making sure that the clothes can be preserved and remain in a good condition to keep wearing them. I also adopted a minimalist style, so I don’t own many clothes and it makes me really happy!! When friends or family want to give me some clothes as a gift I always ask them for second hand or thrift clothing. And it’s been the same with shoes :) I just had to buy a pair of special shoes this year but because of a medical reason basically.

[@oliviazhu6407]

Same for me! Except for undergarments I buy exclusively secondhand clothing and shoes that are made of natural materials only.

[@CocolinoFan]

Such good journalism! Thank you, DW!

[@DWDocumentary]

Glad you liked the film. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe. 🙂

[@christianberrocal8250]

Thanks DW, the best documentaries as usual.

[@amdiak7283]

Another docu from DW, so good as always!

[@geuslayog8916]

great documentary! this issue should be more talked about

[@anne-droid7739]

2:42 "Well, I don't have a lot of choice..." Really? Just completely powerless in the face of marketing, are you? That's going to make for a life that is simultaneously empty and cluttered.

[@stormelemental13]

I was aghast when I heard that. I guess we finally learned who advertising is designed for.

[@amycoronado4920]

Absolutely! She DOES have a choice. She already had plenty of clothes in her closet. She doesn't need that new weekly collection of clothing. She could save and get herself longer lasting, better quality clothing that lasts years. Instead shes CHOOSING online likes, clout, and instant gratification. I hope she reevaluated her decisions.

[@diannewang371]

Thank god I don’t follow anyone in particular. The clothes I get from Zara last for a while

[@j3ffm1s7r0]

Couldn’t care less about fashion so I almost overlooked this documentary, but as always an incredible insight into this terrible industry. Thank you as always DW!

[@kulettee]

Just started learning how to sew a month ago. All of the materials I used are thrifted except for threads and garters. I turned my fabric scraps into potholders and pillows. The ones I refashioned don't look cute at all since I'm a beginner but I enjoy wearing and keeping them as I know that I've spent so much time and effort making them.

[@LiquidShivaz]

These “fashion” trends are as toxic as the plastic they contain. Cheap boring bad fitting clothes filled the spots of tailored well made stuff and made of nice materials that lasted. These companies never receive a penny from me. Hand crafted, thrifted or swapped clothes keep me happy enough. Edit: it’s so sad people have to burn our bs to keep them warm. We can buy less and distribute wealth in a different way.

[@LiquidShivaz]

@Minnie M That's the problem here too. You can still find treasures though, and there are also apps where you can search and sell more of the designer clothes.

[@cosmic2096]

Don't feed your flesh while forgetting about your soul . There's some fashion platform which quote " Life is too short to wear boring clothes" " In difficult time fashion is always outrageous " " The joy of dressing is an art " " Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life" my foot , narrcisist people.

[@nikolpavlova268]

Well, yes, fashion is art and art feeds the soul. Fast fashion is bad but don't pretend that fashion has always been and integral part of human expression and always will be.

[@littlesometin]

​@@nikolpavlova268 the idea of fashion being an "expression" of the self, meaning that it is something internal that can be shown on the outside is a modern idea, originating from the 20th century, before that it was mostly tied to social status or various cultural practices and not an expression of individual values, I recommend the documentary The Century of the Self by Adam Curtis

[@enneaf1676]

@@littlesometin so, at no point in human history were there individual trendsetters that ended up becoming embedded into, and influential within the cultural "soup" of their time? Just some state-sanctioned idea of the last hundred stinking years. Gotcha.

[@littlesometin]

@@enneaf1676 the concept of individualism itself is not that old either, it dates back to the 17th century, so no, people didn't think of themselves as individual trendsetters nor were they expressing their individuality through dress, their motivation was very different, your problem is that you're looking at history through 21st century eyes, and who said anything about being state-sanctioned, you pulled that out of nowhere

[@simonsays5569]

Please bring us more documentaries !! Very informative !! Thanks !!

[@DWDocumentary]

Glad you liked the film. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.

[@Mona.2307]

DW never fails to give us a brilliant well researched content .

[@aggiaggi8306]

It's not H&M and Zara that are bad, it is people who buy more clothes than they actually need or wear - just to throw it away and pollute environment. If people reduce demand retailers will need to respond with reduced supply.

[@clobberelladoesntreadcomme9920]

People only think that they come up with their own desires. In fact you want what these companies tell you to want. They spend billions making sure you feel ashamed if your consumption is low.

[@prasan8825]

No one is honest to anyone in this world. Honesty died long back... Its all about business in everything let it be professional or personal its just transaction & business like quid pro quo

[@waynebridges.9289]

True 👍

[@adadumitrescu412]

Unfortunately you are 100% right.

[@burjalmadre]

Youre sadly right

[@brendakabanda2181]

Ikr

[@alejandrasoto-deltoro5125]

best comment i've EVER read on KZbin. Sadly you're absolutely right. Greetings from Mexico :)

[@user-px2ro6nv7y]

Excellent 👍👍

[@morgensternxR]

I've had the same clothes for years and I'm so happy. 😊

[@user-hw9yf2wn4v]

Because people are so darn shallow, they rely on what they wear. Well...guess what? You are not what you wear; you are not the car you drive. If you have class and style, you actually don't need a lot of clothes. Work on your brain; work on your skills, work on speaking intelligently and you won't need to impress anyone with the clothes you wear.

[@pt6731]

but they like their supreme while they look ugly and talk low iq =(

[@jongenwatisditirrita]

It is not shallow to love beautiful things or to care about what you wear.

[@shyinia-kyiara7799]

@@jongenwatisditirrita true

[@vaderladyl]

@@jongenwatisditirrita It is not shallow but it can turn shallow when your only concern are those things and nothing else and not including the development of your inner self. I love fashion but I also love enriching and exercising my mind with knowledge.

[@StreetFoodTVCambodia]

Thanks for this video.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks a lot for watching and for your positive feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to comment and are glad you like our content.

[@StreetFoodTVCambodia]

@@DWDocumentary All of your videos are informative and useful. Worth to watch 🙏

[@janiepine]

As a Bulgarian i can really say that it is in fact problem here with people burning clothes in stoves to stay warm and all. In return, this greatly affects the quality of the air especially in winter and it's really visible in recent years

[@ivazvigac953]

Before, the fashion industry meant something, it was slowly changing and people were following it. Now it goes so fast that everything is in fashion. No need to buy fast fashion. A pair of quality garments you wear And that’s it!

[@SirLangsalot]

The culture of fast fashion needs to go.

[@randallstanaway7846]

Great topic and great video. Part of the problem is that, in general, high quality, long lasting garments are becoming increasingly expensive which leads people to buy cheaper clothes to include these fast-fashion garments. The materials of these fast-fashion clothes last just a bit longer than the trends they are trying to set, which forces people to buy more crap even if they aren't trying to keep up with trends.

[@charlesfleeman1765]

I always visit the second hand shops when I am in need of a replacement garment. I only buy a garment to replace someting that has worn out, so that my wardrobe never grows. I never buy for newness alone.

[@sofly7634]

Impressive and disciplined. I like the idea of replace only but clothes are like art for me. I don't want to look forsaken but I'm not a slave to fashion

[@elenamarin611]

Thank you for bringing awareness with research and facts, your documentaries are amazing,so glad I came across your channel. Yes I'm subscribed, thank you again!

[@57113]

A great documentary as usual from DW. I learned to sew very young from my mother. She taught me the importance of having created a few nice pieces of clothing that I made myself than lots of cheap clothing that fell apart in no time. I learned the importance of not following trends and sticking to the classics that never went out of style. I am grateful to her for teaching me these values and not getting caught up in the textile industry to impres who? Thanks for another insightful and knowledgeable documentary. 😊

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experience!

[@annescholl420]

In the US they send the discarded clothing to India! There is a KZbin video that shows the whole process!

[@emmmaklukas1853]

Show link

[@clobberelladoesntreadcomme9920]

yeah link it, I want to watch. I don't know why any Indian would want boring looking H&M clothes when Indian clothing is so beautiful.

[@anishadasadhikary9505]

Tbh, hm clothes are not that bad to wear ones and throw it off. There are ways to take care of them and wear them creatively enough to look repetitive. Which is why i love the idea of capsule wardrobe which can be done for all seasons or season-by-season. The goal is it buy less while reaching the end of life of those clothes. It shouldn't be very hard.

[@yana112o92]

Here I am, hauls in thrift clothes and deliriously happy. I have 30 clothes in total and use 2 drawers. I bought H&M clothes and after 2 months, it got holes. (I dont even use washing machine in washing my clothes. 😑)

[@compassion333]

Yh h&m is low quality

[@palomacanedo5099]

Reducing is the most important here, not recycling and reusing.

[@thekingandtheman805]

Good point.

[@rianamomo6597]

Thrifting is really the best way. I found a marc jacobs sleeveless top for just a dollar.

[@sukran96]

Shopping is an addiction and coping mechanism for emotional pain just like opioids and narcotics.

[@samissomar]

Well,stop shopping at Big Companies...start buying at Charity Shops,that's what I do,Second Hand is the Way to go !...

[@jaybandanacabana]

exquisite documentary and piece of journalism.

[@lis819]

In the 1960s our family had a thriving business in selling second hand clothing...so good on young people for 'discovering' vintage clothing - but like most things, it's all been done before...

[@CUMBICA1970]

2:43 "I don't have a lot of choice." LOL Really? Is it something like subliminal massage? No matter what I must buy I must buy I must buuuuuy.

[@wendyg09]

When she said that I was like “WTF” the choice can also be not supporting by wasting money toward these fast fashion brands, simple as that.

[@mrmartin2079]

Brain washed or brain dead - I'm not sure

[@compassion333]

When my mum was young she used to make her own clothes herself. I wish we could go back to that but it's impossible.

[@sofly7634]

sewing is not impossible. Found my second sewing machine for 40 at thrift brand new!

[@beckypetersen2680]

What would a 4-5 year moratorium on clothing production do to the people who are working in the factories in SE Asia? Just wondering. I totally agree that we buy too many clothing items year! Esp. certain groups of people. I live in Poland, and I have seen clothing in an oven in a poor person's house.

[@arbaz79]

Thank you DW for this eye-opening documentary and creating awareness among the masses regarding the truth of recycled clothes.Personally I was shocked to see that recycled clothes aren't really recycled.Keep making such informative & interesting documentaries.Love from PK💚.

[@hezmydaddyo2722]

A tricky element to this is how many people are indeed employed by the textile, findings, apparel, and accessories industries worldwide.

[@wallflower1852]

I have one pair of cargo shorts I've been wearing since I was 9. Now, I'm 25... Sometimes, good clothes just last long.

[@michaelalando]

Horrific. So much deceit on our planet.

[@blindsey1043]

Please find out how much Shein pay it's workers and environmental cost

[@user-jx1yw8kg4p]

Thank for opening this topic!

[@marialorenavillanueva5342]

Thank you again DW....great docu

[@dreamspheree]

just insane, i havent bought new cloth in years. jesus

But you spend money on beer. They don’t. Their choice

[@bl_bangtan2698]

I use my clothes even if hey have small tears and holes here and my mother complains that I should not wear them anymore but I say it's too wasteful, but even our old torn clothes are not really wasted, we keep them but as rags to clean the house ♻️

[@whiskeyandkittens6999]

I always donate clothes, I cannot even imagine throwing them away. Also- I rather spend 50$ on a high quality thrifted luxury label than 5 cheaply made crop tops from shein.

[@xiqueira]

"When I see it everyday in my feed and then it is linked to the shop, I don't have a lot of choice". What?! That is addiction.

[@ellenpeele6724]

I lke cotton. Clothes these days alot are made from polyester. This fabric makes you stink n sweat. Lol

[@larsstougaard7097]

Agree 👍

[@cannabisenthusiast8351]

If fashion retailers were honest with their customers fashion retailers would cease to exist.

[@stephendaedalus4003]

Good documentary, very informative.

[@tanmaydas2799]

Thank you for awaring us