Why are so many of us addicted to fast fashion shopping, even though we know it's bad for the environment and for fast fashion factory workers?
The fashion industry as a whole accounts for around 10% of global emissions, according to the European Environment Agency. In Ireland, we consume more than double the clothing that people in other European countries do, and around 67,000 tonnes of textiles end up in landfill here every year.
Millions of people are working in factories producing fast fashion items, mostly in countries with low labour costs. A European Parliament briefing on textile workers in developing countries found widespread violations of workers' rights, forced labour, unsafe workplaces and unhealthy working conditions.
So why do we still consume fast fashion, when we know about these impacts?
In our video, we speak to Solene Schirrer from sustainable fashion hub Fabric of Change about the psychology of fast fashion, the tactics brands are using to make you crave the dopamine hit of a fast fashion haul, and some tips to break the cycle of overconsumption.
