Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
One garbage truck full of textiles is landfilled or burned every second.
The fashion industry consumes around 93 billion cubic meters of water annually.
20% of global wastewater comes from fabric dyeing and treatment.
Nearly 87% of the total fiber input used for clothing is ultimately incinerated or sent to a landfill.
Less than 1% of used clothing is recycled into new garments.
Clothing production has approximately doubled in the last 15 years.
The average consumer buys 60% more clothing than 15 years ago but keeps it for half as long.
Up to 35% of microplastics released into the ocean come from synthetic textiles.
Washing synthetic garments releases an estimated 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean every year.
The fashion industry uses 1.5 trillion liters of water annually.
Fast fashion contributes to 92 million tons of waste dumped in landfills each year.
Textile dyeing is the second-largest polluter of clean water globally.
Consumer Behavior and Attitudes
- The average consumer buys 60% more clothing than 15 years ago but keeps it for half as long.
- Globally, 20% of clothes in wardrobes are not used.
- 48% of Gen Z shoppers purchased secondhand in 2020.
- Clothing utilization has decreased by 36% compared to 15 years ago.
- Eco-conscious consumers are willing to pay up to 5% more for sustainable fashion.
- 40% of purchased clothing is rarely or never worn.
- Conscious consumerism is on the rise with 73% of Millennials willing to pay more for sustainable brands.
- The average garment is worn only 7-10 times before being discarded.
- 66% of global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable goods.
Interpretation
Fast fashion may dominate our closets, but with half-worn clothes piling up and a new generation buying secondhand, it's clear that while we shop more than ever, we're also waking up to the cost of disposable trends—and finally, dressing our values.
Environmental Impact
- The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
- 20% of global wastewater comes from fabric dyeing and treatment.
- Up to 35% of microplastics released into the ocean come from synthetic textiles.
- Washing synthetic garments releases an estimated 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean every year.
- Textile dyeing is the second-largest polluter of clean water globally.
- Polyester, a synthetic fiber, emits 2-3 times more carbon emissions than cotton.
- Cotton farming uses 3% of the world’s arable land but accounts for 24% and 11% of global insecticide and pesticide sales respectively.
- The apparel industry’s carbon emissions are expected to increase by 50% by 2030 if no action is taken.
- Generating one kilogram of fabric can produce 23 kilograms of greenhouse gases.
- Textile production produces approximately 1.2 billion tons of CO2 annually.
- Synthetic textiles are responsible for 35% of ocean microplastic pollution.
- Only 25% of fashion brands have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Just 10% of companies have science-based targets to reduce emissions.
- Fashion is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the aviation and shipping sectors combined.
- The carbon footprint of a pair of jeans is around 33.4 kg CO2e.
- Fashion contributes to 2-8% of global carbon emissions.
- Secondhand clothing reduces carbon footprint by 60-70% compared to new.
- Leather tanning uses over 250 chemicals including cyanide and chromium.
- Animal agriculture for leather contributes heavily to GHG and land-use pressures.
- Bamboo-based fabrics can be more sustainable but often rely on toxic solvents.
- Chemicals in dyeing process affect 90%+ of rivers and aquifers in textile-producing regions.
- Biodegradable fabrics like hemp and organic cotton reduce landfill buildup.
- Extended clothing use by just 9 months reduces carbon, water, and waste footprints by 20-30%.
- If the fashion industry continues on its current path, its carbon emissions will jump to 2.7 billion tons a year by 2030.
- Increasing circular business models could reduce fashion emissions by 143 million tons per year by 2030.
Interpretation
Fashion may dress us up, but behind the seams lies an industry that emits more carbon than planes and ships, poisons rivers with dye, suffocates oceans with plastic threads, and still expects us to call it stylish—when in reality, it’s fast becoming one of the planet’s most polluting addictions.
Market Trends and Economic Impact
- The resale market is expected to grow 11 times faster than traditional retail by 2025.
- Resale could overtake fast fashion in market share by 2029.
- Clothing rental could be worth $2.5 billion by 2023.
- The global fashion industry is worth $2.5 trillion.
- Garment worker wages can be as low as $2 to $6 per day.
- Only 16% of clothing brands publish measurable targets for sustainability.
- Cotton accounts for about 43% of all fibers used in clothing.
- Over 300 million people work in the fashion supply chain globally.
- Garment production doubled between 2000 and 2015.
- The fashion resale market reached $40 billion in 2022.
- Sustainable fashion market expected to grow to $9.81 billion in 2025.
- A circular fashion economy could save $700 billion per year globally.
Interpretation
As fast fashion races toward exploitation and excess, the surging resale and rental markets signal that sustainability is no longer just a runway trend—but a necessary revolution in an industry where $2 shirts can cost someone their life.
Resource Consumption
- The fashion industry consumes around 93 billion cubic meters of water annually.
- The fashion industry uses 1.5 trillion liters of water annually.
- Fossil fuels make up approximately 60% of clothing fibers produced globally.
- Producing one cotton shirt requires 2,700 liters of water.
- Garment industry consumes nearly 300 million barrels of oil every year for synthetic fiber production.
- Almost 70 million barrels of oil are used annually to make polyester.
- Jeans production uses 3,781 liters of water per pair.
- Silk requires 3,000 silkworms to produce one pound of silk.
- 90% of the energy used in the clothes-washing process comes from heating water.
Interpretation
Fashion may turn heads, but behind the seams, it guzzles water like a desert wanderer, drinks oil like a stranded tanker, and spins silkworms into oblivion—all to clothe a world that’s washing its conscience in hot water.
Waste and Overproduction
- One garbage truck full of textiles is landfilled or burned every second.
- Nearly 87% of the total fiber input used for clothing is ultimately incinerated or sent to a landfill.
- Less than 1% of used clothing is recycled into new garments.
- Clothing production has approximately doubled in the last 15 years.
- Fast fashion contributes to 92 million tons of waste dumped in landfills each year.
- Only 15% of clothing is recycled or donated, the rest ends up in landfills or incinerators.
- Just 12% of material used for clothing ends up being recycled.
- 60% of clothing produced is discarded within a year of production.
- An estimated 92 million tonnes of textiles waste are created annually.
- The average American throws away 81 pounds of clothing per year.
- 85% of clothing waste in the U.S. ends up in landfills.
- Only 5% of pre-consumer textile waste is recycled.
- 73% of clothing eventually ends up in landfills.
- 50% of clothes are disposed of in under a year.
- 25 billion garments are produced each year that are never sold.
- Half of fast fashion products are disposed of in under 1 year.
Interpretation
In a world where trends change faster than the seasons, fashion has become a high-speed conveyor belt to the landfill—churning out clothes that barely outlive a selfie, while recycling remains as out of style as last year's runway flop.