Threads of Change: Unpicking Fast Fashion at Our Latest Zero Hero Talk!
Our recent Zero Hero event unravelled the complex world of fast fashion and textile waste, a topic that impacts us all more than we realise! We were absolutely thrilled to welcome Su Morgan from Tadcrafters Community Interest Company, who shared her incredible knowledge and insights with Our Zero Selby.
The evening was a real eye-opener, guiding us through the history of fashion retail and how we arrived at our current situation of overconsumption and waste. Did you know that in the UK, more than two tonnes of clothing are bought every minute?! This staggering figure highlights just how much our shopping habits have changed. Back in 1970, the average person owned about 25 garments and spent around 10% of their salary on clothing. Fast forward to today, and clothes are much cheaper, leading us to buy a lot more – on average, people in the UK own 118 items of clothing, yet spend only 3% of their salaries on it (although we think the estimate of number of items of clothing is a huge underestimate). This dramatic shift has profound environmental impacts.
Why is Fast Fashion a Problem?
Su explained that the rise of fast fashion has led to brands producing 50% more items in 2024 compared to 2000. It's often cheaper to replace damaged clothing than to repair it, and incredibly, it can even be cheaper for companies to incinerate returned items than to reprocess and resell them. This creates a massive amount of waste. The average lifespan of clothing is a mere 3-4 wears! A far cry from the 100 to 200 wears an item should ideally last.
The discussion also highlighted the alarming quality of clothing from ultra-fast fashion retailers like Temu and Shein. These garments are often made with cheap, synthetic materials that are not designed to last. Not only do they fall apart quickly, but they are also incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to recycle. This means they often end up in landfill, contributing to the growing mountain of textile waste. Charity shops frequently receive donations of these low-quality items, but they are often unsellable, creating a burden for these organisations who then often have to pay to dispose of them.
The powerful influence of social media and advertisers also plays a significant role, constantly encouraging us to buy more and more. It’s easy to feel pressured to always have something new for every occasion, or because of what influencers are promoting.
Did you know that in the 12 months leading up to Nov 2023, H&M launched 23,000 new products in the US, Zara 40,000, while Shein produced a staggering 1.5 million new products in the same period? In December 2023, Shein's value was estimated at $90 billion, making it bigger than H&M, Primark, ASOS, Boohoo, and Forever 21 combined! Temu, founded in September 2022, quickly gained 100 million users and by 2025 had 292 million monthly active users worldwide. These figures truly put the scale of overproduction into perspective.
Small Actions, Big Impact: What Can We Do?
The evening kicked off with a brilliant ice-breaker question: "What's one small change you've made or would like to make in your own fashion habits to be more sustainable?" It was fantastic to hear how many people are already taking steps towards a more conscious wardrobe! We had attendees who actively avoid buying from fast fashion giants like Shein and Temu. Lots of people shared that they already upcycle or mend their clothes, giving them a new lease of life. Some attendees proudly declared they don't even buy new clothes at all, preferring to buy second-hand instead. Others shared clever tips like turning old clothes into rags, only throwing them away when they are truly "dropping to bits." Many generously donate their unwanted garments to charity shops. We even heard about creative solutions like clothes swapping parties with friends for birthdays, and one inspiring example where a group of friends got together to swap dresses for an event, ensuring everyone had something "new" to wear without buying anything!
While the problem might seem huge, the good news is that we can all make a difference with small, conscious choices. Here are some key takeaways and actions you can take:
Be a Mindful Consumer: Think before you buy! Do you truly need that new item, or is it a passing trend? Avoid impulse purchases, especially from ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein and Temu, whose business models rely on rapid production of low-quality, disposable clothing.
Embrace the "3 Rs" (and more!):
Reduce: Simply buy less. The most sustainable garment is the one you already own.
Reuse: Give clothes a second life! Swap clothes with friends, explore local clothes-swapping events, or buy second-hand from charity shops or online marketplaces.
Repair: Learn basic mending skills! A simple stitch can save a garment from landfill. Look for local repair cafes or tailors if you're not confident doing it yourself.
Repurpose: Can an old t-shirt become a cleaning rag? Can jeans be cut into shorts? Get creative!
Donate Wisely: When donating to charity shops, please ensure any items are of re-sellable quality. This means they should be clean, in good condition, and free from significant damage. This helps charity shops maximise their impact and reduces the burden of disposing of unsellable items.
Support Sustainable Practices: Look for brands that prioritise ethical production, fair labour practices, and sustainable materials. Every purchase can be a vote for a better fashion industry.
Educate and Influence: Share what you've learned with friends and family. The more people who are aware of these issues, the greater our collective impact will be.
Unpacking Selby's Charity Shops: What You Said!
At the event, we asked for your thoughts on Selby's charity shops and the future of our high street. Here's a snapshot of what you shared:
Attendees shared their varied perspectives on Selby's charity shops and the future of the high street. Participants expressed a strong fondness for charity shops, highlighting the joy of discovering unique, affordable items and the ability to maintain a stylish, varied wardrobe on a budget. While broadly appreciative of the "great," "plentiful," and "treasure trove" quality of Selby's charity shops, some also noted them as occasionally "similar," "chaotic," or "overwhelming," though acknowledging the potential for these shops to be a significant "force for good" for the town.
Looking forward, exciting ideas were generated for the Sustainable Fashion Show in November, envisioning catwalks featuring upcycled evening wear, themed collections, and innovative designs using unusual materials, with a strong emphasis on diverse fashion and interactive elements. The concept of Selby High Street transforming into a vibrant hub for recycling, reuse, and arts and crafts was met with enthusiasm, proposing initiatives like art clubs, community exhibitions, and performance art, alongside creating a "Gentle to the Earth" identity for the area. To boost footfall, suggestions included creating themed shops, enhancing accessibility through pop-up events in larger venues, launching campaigns to shift public perceptions, increasing volunteering opportunities, better promoting each charity's cause, and engaging local students through various incentives.
A New Chapter: Shop for the Future!
We were incredibly excited to share news about our new Shop for the Future project! Thanks to the high street vibrancy funding we received from the David Skaith, the Mayor of York and Northshire and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, we're working to revitalise our high street and promote sustainable practices right here in Selby.
As part of this exciting initiative, we're planning a sustainable fashion show! Wednesday 12th November 7-9pm (doors open at 6pm) in Selby Abbey. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase creativity and conscious fashion. If you are a local creative – whether you're a designer, upcycler, artist, knitter, or have any other fashion or arts and craft-related talent – and would like to get involved in this inspiring event, please get in touch with the Our Zero Selby team! We'd love to collaborate and highlight the amazing sustainable talent in our community.
This Zero Hero event truly highlighted how our everyday choices can contribute to a more sustainable future. It's not about doing everything perfectly, but about making small, consistent changes.
Stay tuned for our next Zero Hero event and other exciting projects! You can find out more about our past Zero Hero events here and other initiatives, such as our composting project at the allotments, by checking out our other blogs and news articles.