To wish that the government would legislate on fast fashion

[FlowersAndFruit]

Specifically clothes made from synthetics. I already buy cotton clothes from vinted for my family, but if I do want something new for myself, which I do as I am pregnant and I'm jumping between sizes, women's clothing shops are stuffed with synthetic materials, whilst menswear is mostly cotton.

Why is this?! Why do we accept it?

People talk about passing clothes on rather than binning them, but you can't do that if the clothes are in too bad of a condition. Clothes with mixed fibres bobble really quickly.

We know that textile waste is being sent to the third world for "recycling".

This short documentary about the issue illustrates how bad it is, with mountains of burning plastic clothes that have been sent by container ship from countries such as ours.

I do try and buy less but no the government is already tightening control on everything we do. Let’s not let them do it further. Not everyone wants tatty second hand and primark is all they can afford. If everyone was buying second hand the supply would run out fast.

I sympathise, but the trouble is that there is a role for synthetic fabric, so the legislation would inevitably be clunky and unworkable. I have a teenage daughter and I feel all the clothing is so disappointing compared with when I was a teenager in the mid to late 90s. Some of my clothes from places like Top Shop were so well made they lasted me 20 years. Part of being well made is also that they were cut better, so they were more flattering and more age-appropriate.

There is going to be change on this, simply due to waste management. Developing countries are already starting to and will eventually stop accepting waste from developed nations, and when that happens, suddenly we will have to deal with our mess.
Change is also going to come from more knowledge and awareness about microplastics and chemical contamination. Synthetic fabrics create microplastics which we are slowly learning are bad for the environment and for us too, as animals that eat and drink.
Things change slowly, and you are doing what you can personally. But if it pisses you off, then try and persuade the people around you to change how they behave.

I'm not talking about forcing people to buy second hand. I'm talking about wishing the government would legislate on synthetic clothing, I'm sorry that wasn't very clear from my OP.

I agree with you, I often go to the charity shop and it's 99% synthetic tat sadly.

This stuff doesn't biodegrade when it is disposed of, and the "recycling schemes" often just send the problem to countries like kenya.

Primark manages to make good kids' and men's clothes from cotton at an affordable price. But as with other stores, womenswear is still heavy of synthetic materials. I don't think it is a cost issue when looked at like that.

This could apply to so many things. I think overpackageing is still a massive issue. Also we should be building houses that are so well insulated they don't need heating or cooling. We could be investing more heavily in better public transport to reduce the number of cars on the road. The issue is the government needs the revenue from all these industries so it isn't really interested in a more sustainable circular economy.

Primark manages to make good kids' and men's clothes from cotton at an affordable price. But as with other stores, womenswear is still heavy of synthetic materials.

Yes, I’ve noticed this with all kinds of clothing brands, not just cheap ones. Cotton clothing for men and children. Synthetic shite for the women’s range. It makes me really cross.

It’s because men have never been persuaded into fast fashion as the majority only go shopping when they ‘need’ something. It’s much less of a leisure activity for them.

so they only buy something they actually like rather than the misogyny of women’s society that buy because it fits/because they’re unhappy/because they’re pressed for time in between all the shit they have to do/because tik tok says so because the algorithm feeds them the shit they looked for once because they were desperate

and a million other reasons

I am not joking when I say my kids wouldn't be clothed if it weren't for Primark. I'm skint, as are most of us in the UK. And before anyone says charity shops I need consistent fabrics with consistent labels/seam textures because I'm shopping for autistic kids with sensory issues.

The government can stuff off with it's over regulation of our lives. I'm sick of being told what I can say, what I can watch, what I can view online. Bloody sick of it all.

The only jogging bottoms i can get for my 7 year old for school are the primark ones. Hes so skinny any other brand ones hang off him. Hurray hor primark

The only thing you can do is refuse to buy it.

I only buy cotton, linen, wool or sometimes a cotton/modal/viscose mix. Leather shoes except trainers. I don't buy viscose if I can avoid it because although it's a natural fibre, the process is horribly polluting. Plus it doesn't last. I want clothes that will last 10 years

I buy all my ds' (mens) clothes and it's not difficult. It takes more time and effort but is not necessarily more expensive.

@FlowersAndFruit this is a massive issue but it’s not just a fast fashion problem. Have you read Patrick Grant’s book Less? It’s eye-opening.

One third of all clothes made every year are never sold.

Lots of companies don’t reprocess their returns for resale, they just send the returned parcels, UNOPENED, to Oxfam or other 2nd hand sellers.
https://www.drapersonline.com/companies/multiples-and-etailers/drapers-investigates-fashions-hidden-returns

WHY? Why are they making more than they’ll ever sell?

That’s a huge problem.

The instagram account Elephant in my wardrobe is really hot on this too.

We all have a responsibility to the planet but are limited in what we can do, big business is the problem and any legislative attempts will backfire on normal consumers rather than big business. Using nicer fabrics is part of it but the bigger problem is the sheer scale of production and the drive to buy more shit. That’s what needs to be addressed.

Synthetics can be engineered to be breathable lightweight and water resistant. This is why they tend to be used for sports and active wear. Would you legislate against that?

Also nylon and polyester are waterproof and frequently used for kids coats.

People saying that they can only afford Primark, I can understand the difficulty regarding children's clothes because children grow out of clothes and need bigger ones. But for adults that's usually not the case. Better, surely, to buy fewer clothes but better quality?

I think that clothes are so cheap nowadays that people are just buying on a whim when they see something they like, rather than thinking about what they actually need to have in their wardrobes. If a decent quality t-shirt cost, say, £50 then there would be fewer people who would buy five at a time and then buy five more the following season.

I don't think "fast fashion" and synthetic fabrics is the same thing. Lots of really expensive clothes are made from polyester these days and actually it's pretty indestructible.

I'd much rather see more natural fabrics available, but I don't think your argument stands up.

I buy natural fabrics whenever possible. But synthetics doesn't always mean fast fashion. And natural doesn't always mean quality.

Synthetic fabrics are required for anything with structure such as pleated skirts, for sportswear, for coats. I've got a pair of polyester trousers that are 12 years old and still going strong. I've bought cotton t shirts & blouses that have disintegrated/gone out of shape after less than a year.

John lewis has plenty in cotton and linen etc. Some of it is very reasonably priced and VERY reasonably priced in sales. On par with primark actually sometimes. M&S too. Especially for basics.

How?
How would you propose to regulate this, what actions would you be making illegal, who would enforce it? you would need 1000s of people to do this, are you willing to pay for that via tax increases.

When you think about what this would look like in practice, it’s just not possible.

I am an adult that can only afford Primark and it suits me fine as I only wear plain dark clothing. I dont follow any fashion.
I know I can get a pair of leggings or t-shirt in there for a few pounds and they will fit. I hate shopping so I know I can get in and out quickly with the items I want.
I am on benefits so cant afford a £50 t-shirt and I would not be in the shops that sell them for that much anyway.

YANBU. Massive tariffs on shite made by Shein, Temu, Cider and the rest of the tat merchants. Money raised to be used to give tax breaks against repairs/altering.

This is what they do in France already. But it really needs an attitude shift. You do not need new "nice bits" for every holiday, every night out. You do not need a new complete wardrobe each "season". You need to get back to the idea that clothes should be expensive and should last. I bought a pair of jeans as a student in about 1993 for £18 - somewhere in a reasonably cheap shop - and that was 3 or 4 hours pay at the time. If clothes prices had kept pace, that same pair would easily be £45. And yet, Primark knock jeans out for a tenner.

Currently reading "Less" by Patrick Grant who is a judge on the Sewing Bee. It's very good.

Checks... wearing a Primark t-shirt with a decent cotton content. Primark pants... check. I can't cope with lots of synthetic stuff because of sensory issues.

No John Lewis near me and I can't afford their prices. My weight loss hasn't tallied with their sale schedule either. I buy lots from charity shops, and donate back as I'm slimming down, but you're limited by what's in there and sometimes I really don't want a Bon Marche polyester marvel.

The MN hate on Primark is just snobbery a lot of the time. I have Primark stuff that's been going years - how about we start hating on the sneering at someone daring to wear something "dated" or having their home furnished in the last big trend rather than up to date (cough... the MN sneering at grey) instead - because that's the real driver of fast fashion - trends lasting a month rather than a couple of years.

Not everyone wants tatty second hand

And there's the attitude right there. Second hand is "tatty". Madness.

And most of my clothing tends to get worn till it's knackered beyond repairing (I'm good with a sewing needle) and then it gets cut down into fabric - some of my old very plus size clothes are now quilts for the sofa in the winter, the lining of an old ripped jacket lined some quilt squares that became cushions and wall hangings... I throw away very little in reality compared to many people - but I'll defend my right to buy cheapo Primark pants as no matter how much I've spent on knickers - the waist elastic comes undone too damned fast and bra underwriting is determined to fuck off and exit the building.

Synthetics are used in lots of places you don’t even think about.

Lycra/elastine
Vilene in collars and cuffs
Sewing threads because it’s strong
interlinings
trimmings
anything with embossing.
sublimation printong
Engimeered or performance wear
medical textiles

They have a role in clothing

For all the people only buying cotton, cotton production is hugely bad for the environment as well. Did none of you ever watch that Stacey Dooley documentary? And if you think buying your cotton from posh shops makes it more sustainable, don't be so sure.

Lots of companies don’t reprocess their returns for resale, they just send the returned parcels, UNOPENED, to Oxfam or other 2nd hand sellers.

Yup, I used to volunteer at Oxfam and we had over 100 boxes of BNWT Zara stock at our store. Internet returns that just get slung in a box and eventually shipped off to charity. At least Zara/Inditex are recycling rather than burning the excess.