FAST FASHION: Problems and Solutions

[@debm460]

Thank you for opening our eyes. Clothes are so inexpensive (not meant to last) that anything that requires gentle mending is thrown away. Some charities won’t except clothing that requires light mending. It’s a lost art if you’ve never been taught. Catherine, thank you for making a difference. What you have taught us (how to sew, remaking, thrifting, simple alterations) creates options that we have not thought of or Natasha at Treasure Books showing us the creativity of junk journaling using paper packaging and mailers. Thank you all Earth Angels!

[@nenaprice7191]

I have spent my life in automotive industry and seen the waste we have in it, but never in my worst dreams did I imagine the fashion industry was like this. Thank you Catherine for an excellent and tasteful way to open up my eyes. Your videos are excellent with detail and I enjoy each of them and have shared many. Please continue making videos in educating and thrifting; you are a great inspiration!

[@CatherineSews]

Thank you. That is such a lovely, gratifying comment. Much appreciated.

[@PatternStudio101]

This video brings me back 20 years ago. The first business trip to Vietnam to see the factories for our garment procedure. I was really shocked about the work environment and young workers. I felt like I did something wrong, and it was my fault somehow. Thank you for the video. We can do something better!

[@CatherineSews]

Yes, I agree, we can and should do better!

[@cjane51]

You tackled a difficult subject very well. Thanks so much for making suggestions that can be actually put into action. Love your videos

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks, Claudia. It was a tough one to make, so I really appreciate your support!

[@sarahscott-ze1th]

I found this when you put the link in your recent video about why you do what you do. I teach Geography and am currently talking about globalisation and fast fashion so, I will show it to my students this week (all girls school in London UK). I have already shown them a Panorama documentary about Primark and fast fashion, child labour etc.

[@SharmClucas]

I didn't know about any of this. I'm a little culturally out of the loop sometimes. I had heard about the water use thing but didn't understand the problem because the numbers on their own didn't mean anything. Thanks for pointing out how the water used doesn't go back into the cycle like normal and putting those numbers into a human scale. I was raised to donate and recycle everything. Things are only tossed if they're completely worn out, though usually even those are cut up to make cleaning rags. My stained or accidentally bleached clothing gets dyed, painted, or sewn with new designs. That's just how we live in this family, and that's the way it always has been. For us it wasn't really about the environmental impact, it was about saving money and being kind to people by giving away useful things we don't need. Finding out that it's helpful in other ways does make me happy.

[@sheelaghweeks434]

This is such important information. Everyone needs to see this, especially your suggested solutions at the end.

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks so much for watching and for supporting my channel!

[@patriciakeys4873]

I drive my cars until the wheels fall off and I wear my clothes until I can't anymore. Mostly I buy clothes that are "in fashion" year after year, like T-shirts and jeans. I have 2 pr of sneakers (trainers, runners) and I make my own purses. I love love love your videos on upcycling clothes. Bought my first big shirt to make into a summer dress for $7. 😎

[@Seejaysew]

What an excellent video on such an important subject. I knew that the fashion industry was wasteful, but I was shocked by some of the information which was new to me. This will definitely change the way I shop and I’ll be sharing your video. Thanks for making such an impactful video.

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks so much for watching and for leaving such a great comment. Your encouragement is exactly what I need to keep going!

[@NoRecipes]

Such an eye opening video. I'm generally the type to wear clothes until they're thread bare and I haven't done much shopping the past 3 years because of covid, but this will definitely make me think twice about my future purchases.

[@CatherineSews]

Oh, thank you! I'm thrilled that you found my channel and checked out this video! Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. I love your channel and the $3 bento challenge you gave my friend Maplecook. I'm still dreaming about your miso maple chicken!

[@NoRecipes]

@@CatherineSews Thanks Catherine!

[@joannemcd1257]

FANTASTIC VIDEO! Thank you SO much, Catherine!

[@gm749]

Catherine, incredible well done 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. All that information, fantastic! Thank you for taking care of this complex subject.

[@whereisjudi]

So much great information and such thoughtful suggestions

[@CatherineSews]

Aww, thank you, my friend! Your support is amazing.

[@leannsews]

What a very well presented video! Thank you for that. I sew my own clothes and some for my family. I use to purchase fabric and not really think about the content but now I'm more conscientious but I'm still not informed enough. I google some things but I seem to get conflicting results. Could you possibly tell me which fabrics are better for our environment? I know polyester is not, but I don't know if cotton is better than linen for example, Is modal better than rayon or is bamboo better? It seems a lot of people buy french terry and ponte. How bad are these? And denim, it lasts a long time which is a good thing but how bad is it? I'd love a list of better to buy environmentally friendly fabrics that will suit the purpose and last a long time but is still nice to wear. Also, if we do get something at the thrift shop but don't like the colour, how bad for the environment is dyeing it? I wish there were warnings on material, similar to what we can see on a can of soup. I guess the good news is the fabric industry seems to be trying to come up with better products. I'm really enjoying your content. Thank you.

[@CatherineSews]

Such awesome questions to consider. Basically, the most environmentally-friendly fabric is one that already exists. Dead stock fabrics or donated fabric are great ways to rescue fabrics headed for a landfill. When you are buying new fabric, organic cotton is a great choice, but literally EVERY fabric has its pros and cons, especially when it is made on a huge scale. Polyester can be a wonderful fabric in many ways. The dyes are set right into the polymer so there is not the same waste water problem as with cottons, but they are petroleum-based, so not great there, and they need very gentle and infrequent laundering to keep the microfibre problem to a minimum. Some bamboos are good, but some are made with loads of toxins in the same way that rayon is made. Not great. Again, organic is better. The best denims are dyed with real indigo, but these are super expensive. I often find fabric pieces at thrift stores which can be a very lucky and ethical score! Thanks for watching, commenting, and thinking so deeply about your purchases. :-)

[@leannsews]

@@CatherineSews Thank you for your reply. I do find it difficult. I believe there are many sewists out there that purchase fabric but may not know which fabric is the wisest environmentally speaking. I have some fabric in my cupboard from prior so luckily I haven't purchased any fabric for quite some time and I try to buy organic or Eco. When I need to get more I'll definately look at the thrift stores (although they aren't great where I live) and I'll look into deadstock so thank you for that suggestion. The sweatshops are definately a huge problem but in saying that I worry if some of the people would starve to death if they didn't have even the horrible and dangerous jobs they have, The manufacturers must do better and we must insist that they do. I'm glad you are a teacher. Perhaps your students will find a better way. (no pressure 🙂) Thanks.

[@dogsbody61]

What a great video! Such an important subject and you covered it so well. I hope you’ll do a follow-up about Shein specifically. So many young people who profess to care about the environment and human rights think nothing of buying their clothes from that terrible company.

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks so much! It's a subject that is very important to me, and it's the reason why I really value sewing skills so that I can choose to participate in fast fashion as little as possible. One of my favourite fashion KZbinrs, Justine Leconte, did a video on Shein which is definitely worth checking out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaWYep1vm99qa5Y&ab_channel=JustineLeconteofficiel 😘

[@mammastreed5070]

Great video! Everyone should know this and be aware! We are in trouble and if we don’t change it will get worse quickly!

[@ChowScience]

Well explained Catherine. I talk about this subject every year with my class. Now we need a follow up video with your six suggestions at the end in more detail!

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks so much for watching, Chow! And your idea for a more detailed video on solutions is a good one!

[@mohamadzaidhalawa1399]

This is really good video. you make me aware about many things. thank you

[@philiptipping6738]

Its very depressing, Thanks for all your work on the video and putting out there for people to see. Cheers Mary

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks, Mary, always lovely to hear from you! It is definitely a heavy topic, but one that is so important to tackle. Thanks for your ongoing support. It means everything!

[@jerkweaselTHEsequel]

I've just discovered your channel and subscribed. This is such a good video. Keep up the good work.

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks, Miss Boggins! It's such an important topic.

[@RachNitThink28]

Thank you for sharing your content.

[@AngeVPV]

I come from Sao Paulo, it has a big fashion industry. People from Bolivia migrate to Brazil and work in conditions similar to slavery. It's so sad. Something has to be done!

[@CatherineSews]

Wow, your first-hand impressions of the readymade garment industry are very important here. Thanks for watching and commenting. It's a serious issue and change is happening far too slowly.

[@vLadymiirmercedes]

Es lamentable como tienen que suceder todo tipo de atrocidades para que se impiecen a tomar medidas, claro se están dando los pasos para que cosas como estas dejan de suceder.

[@cassieoz1702]

I don't think I've EVER bought 20 new garments per year!

[@relaxupdown6418]

📊🐉🏭👏🚀

[@Maplecook]

The entire phenomenon of fast fashion is depressing.

[@CatherineSews]

Yes! There are so many better alternatives.

[@Maplecook]

@@CatherineSews This vid was really well done, Catherine! It was something I would show in my room, if I taught your subject.

[@CatherineSews]

@@Maplecook Thanks so much! I worked my butt off for this one, and the topic is such an important one, so your comment means a lot 🙂