German documentary filmmakers are never f-ing around...and that's exactly how it's should be done! Bravo, and thank you for your ongoing, very important work!
Woot woot... That is awesome. I have clothing since 1999 and 2010. This whole wasteful concept of throwing out and replacing doesn't help nor benefit anyone except the corporations themselves.
I haven't paid for new clothes in about 20 years. I either have family share and hand down or second hand shopping. There's nothing wrong with using clothes that others used and have no use for. My daughter and i same size and she's always getting new clothes and has to much. It's different for my son that's got to be seen in all the top disigners clothes. He refuses to wear clothes others have worn even though it's clean. It's only way to help the environment is to not use as much and wear clothes more. I still have clothes from when i was younger, i have moments of different sizes so I keep them in top cubbord and use when weight change. It's fantastic to see others are not buying as much.
@@TheEarthHistorysConfusing Amazing! As a child I was wearing "hand me down" clothes from family friends, as money was scarce. As an adult buying either secondhand, or buying good quality practical clothing from animal and eco friendly brands. Taking care of the clothes - not washing too frequently, repairing holes and rips. No interest in fast or luxury fashion.
Same here!! I gave away 70% of my clothes. And have gone from buying 10x a year, to twice a year when I need to make any purchases. Saved me a ton of money, space, time, and peace of mind.
Growing up in Africa my parents used to advice my siblings and I that less is more. I love fashion but I think we’ve to care more about the environment and the safety of those workers who made our garments. Thanks DW for bringing out such a magnificent documentary 👍
In America too, my mom had us wear second hand clothes from thrift stores and everyone always said that we were well dressed. They didn’t know our clothes came from thrift stores; gently used clothing. We didn’t have many clothes neither. I call myself a minimalist and stick to the “less is more” mantra to this day.
One more factor to consider: most clothes these days are much poorer quality than they used to be 10 or 20 years ago. I still have some shirts I bought that long ago and while a bit faded, the fabric is still strong and keeps shape well. But I also had to throw away quite a few shirts I bought 3 or 2 years ago, since they started to look like rags, with uneven colour, frayed collars or even tears.
It depends where you buy your garments from. There are brands which potentially sell clothes made with long durable and lasting textiles, that could also last 10 years.
I started wearing the same thing everyday and it took people months, if not years to notice. Nobody cares what you wear, nobody remembers and wasting all that money strutting about like a rooster is just a mind-numbingly self-centered thing to do.
Resale/recycling clothes is the most important sustainable way of life for life. We don't ever need to make another piece of clothing ever in my opinion, retroactive 15 years ago. we recycle the same like 4 trends and remake massive amounts of useful stuff. I don't follow trends but I choose to buy quality....on sale only.
Thing is it currently isn't. Our clothes for recycling or charity end up in places like Africa in garbage dumps. The entire chain needs looking at, not just at the manufacturing end.
Thank you for the video. A sobering eye-opener. Unfortunately, it's likely that the majority of consumers of fast fashion will be unfazed by this reality. I concur with the experiment of paying for clothes by pouring poison into the fish-tank. It certainly brings the message home. There should be one stand like this in front of every big brand fast-fashion retailer.
I’m 70 now but when I was in middle school & became interested in clothes, my mother always used French women as her example for how to dress well. She told me French woman bought the very best clothes they could afford and bought tops & bottoms they could mix & match to give the impression of having many outfits. And by using scarves & jewellery, could accomplish their goal. We lived in France & Germany in the mid-50s so she knew what she was talking about. How the times have changed! Sad.
I am in my 50's and I remember that is how things used to be for almost everybody. Rotating and using a small amount of apparel that was used often, all the pieces in it and we only went to the store for new stuff with the four seasons that fashion used to be,if at all.
Great solution: buy LESS and APPRECIATE what you buy.... But most important buy BETTER quality! It is hard to appreciate a coat for $10 that starts to pill after a couple of wears.
Seriously, decreasing how much you buy, and when you do buy something, asking what is it's environmental impact helps a lot. We read a book in class recently called "Get Real: what kind of world are you buying?" That goes really in depth with this. The tone seems very in your face, and it is meant to be, but the author did her research, and she makes good points. It's worth a read if you're interested in that topic!
I have a $12 coat that I still wear that has de-sewn over the 4 years of having it, but you know what buy a small sewing kit and fit it. People don't practice maintenance anymore. Another problem is that people were brain-washed into believing they need 20-40 pair of jeans, 20-40 pair of pants, 20-40 shirts, 20-40 blouses, the list goes on. 🤷♀️My mom complains about my clothing, but guess what most of what I had was lost due to a flood and I'm not going to spend money on stuff I don't really, truly need or want to begin with. Plus, what the shops sell in South Florida are shit. Utter boring garbage!!!!! Thankfully, I do have some nice stuff, but they're only for going out. For the rest of the time, I go with comfort. We need to stop buying shit we don't need, just to be impressing people we don't even like or are pieces of shits to begin with. If you can, learn to sew and make your own clothing or take what you have to make something new.
Great documentary. We need more content like this being produced globally. There's quite a bit that addresses this issue in the US but I've noticed that many commenters are quick to lable the consequences of fast fashion as an 'American' issue and neglect to understand how fast fashion has a virtually global reach. It's important for people to recognize how this manifests in their local context and is just as destructive.
As an American, I’ve watched these kinds of documentaries and never once felt that it was an “American issue” 🙄. I think you maybe misunderstood what you watched. The documentary you watched was probably just asking Americans to be more knowledgeable and socially conscious in regards to where and how their H&M or Zara clothes are made. It wasn’t blaming solely Americans just asking Americans to be informed.
Many thanks for the well researched documentary! I got a few too many chemicals at an old workplace ( heavy metals and some solvents ). Now I have a lot of problems buying clothes. My immune system overreacts to synthetic clothes. Sometimes I can react differently to the same piece of differently coloured organic cotton clothing, depending on which dye they've used. Lighter dyes ( though not white) tend to work better than darker ones. And to think some people can wear clothing, which chemicals makes it into the blood through contact with the skin, which causes allergic reactions in others. And then there are the workers doing the colouring/dye'ing. Sometimes workers handle the clothing by hand, while the colours are still wet, facilitating the transmission into the bloodstreams of workers. I can't imagine the amount of allergies the workers get with hard dyes.
Been wearing a shoe every day for seven years, when I go to the mall my son always persuaded me to look and buy for a new shoes and my answer is always same to him. My 7 year old shoe doesn’t lose its purpose yet!
And here I am in Canada with 3+ year old shorts on and a white undershirt I probably bought 5+ years ago. I think the only regular thing I buy "yearly" is underwear and socks...
I always shop in charity shops and then give unused clothes away to people. If people got rid of the stigma of shopping second hand, it would help alot! I've always thought mothers with young kids should have regular clothes swap events or parties.
What the owner isn't saying is the comparative difference between the Euro and the Bangladesh dollar clearly more than generously makes up for the difference. 1 Euro equals 94.88 of their dollars.
@Anton. It has everything to do with it, the cost of living and waging are much lower in still developing countries. With the average monthly wage being $60 per month in Bangladesh. And, they are not making nor designing clothes of high quality. It's just Greed on the behalf of this developing countries and these companies. The Truth is there is a lot of corruption and employers don't care about their employees nor the local environment unfortunately. I've been to India and have a neighbor who claims her Family are one of the largest companies in Bangladesh that make blue jeans. And, she is all about profit and Presentation to the world only. I say this having personally observing her over years.
@Anton. Because it's his life and the lives of his countrymen at stake. It's not about rather The West reward sustainability or not. Why would people purposefully ruin their own source of clean water and food(ie. fish)? Paying these garment makers in Euros instead of the local currency does make a huge difference. It's like giving them $94 for every $1 of their own currency to sew low quality 'trendy' seasonal clothing. So they are Not losing out, they are just acting out of greed instead of setting their own high level of Standards and actually caring about the welfare of their own people over greed. If these garment makers are losing money with a 94:1 difference something is wrong with them.
Reduce: don't buy it if you don't NEED it (not want but need) Reuse: buy secondhand from vintage or charity shops if possible, and sell your unused clothes on selling apps. Recycled: recycle your old clothes and buy truly sustainable and recycled clothes if necessary. Boycott fast fashion and also the way people use social media to 'show off' their wardrobe. To be honest no one cares what you wear, everyone is too busy with their own lives to care. Getting self worth from social media is toxic to the environment and to your own mind.
The most ironic thing about all this is that the people making this documentary and all the Western people "caring" so much about the environment are dressing themselves up again and again with the newest fashion & trends. All "victims" of the consumer society.
Making documentary should be objective. They are just stating facts. However, I think people who have watched this documentary will think twice before buying some dirt cheap piece of clothing just because.
*_ What fascinates me, even more, is the "Locals" that live in Asia don't mind the Crap that's laying in the rivers (Plastic for one) which most likely contributes to about 50% of the pollution of the rivers too! _*
Robert Rudolph I like to think they would care if they knew the impacts it has on their environment and thus health, I’m sure it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out but without means to change the status quo most of these people are preoccupied with scraping enough for their next meal, to see change across these communities their economic survival has to be ensured without the presence of these shameless textile polluters.
OMG!! Thank you for all your work and this documentary!! I hope people start watching and concerning more about what they buy and what they do with that!! As a Fashion Designer, I try really hard to make the change and also to teach my clients to buy less, with conscious and ethical brands if needed; but overall, to buy less and recycle their closets!!
I am always confused when I see all those people shopping around for hours, days, entire lives, instead of using their time for more purposeful activities, like staying with loved ones, or educating themselves, or go sporting, or painting. Just anything with a real purpose. Compulsive shopping is just a brainless, harmful activity like the drugs. I like to be well dressed, but I buy as little as I can and wear even 20 years old clothes.
This really made me cry out of guilt, living a comfortable life in Europe and just getting things I want, not need. I want to change something and will continue watching environment related documentaries to remind myself of that
Sadly I think that the only way to get around this "over consumption problem" is to impose higher taxation on this type of goods so that the prices reflects the harm they cause on the environment. I have often stumbled upon items at bargain prices which I can't believe can bring a profit to the company. I generally believe in free market forces and that this benefits the customers and the society but in case of the textile industry I think something regulatory need's to be done...
No, it is forcing these companies to produce less! But like always, the poor under paid worker and the underprivileged are the ones that will pay somehow!
These type of documentaries must go on mainstream tv channels not just in you tube. Our children should be educated starting from school age and businesses regulated more! It’s ridiculous what is happening you don’t realise that people losing their food while we are buying unnecessarily clothing
If I need something new I buy it when is on sale or clearance. The word is need not want. That's why every few months I take a look at my closet and shoes and see if I need anything like clothing no longer fits or just worn out and have holes. For old clothes that's worn I use at home. For stuff that's too small I keep at the back. If after a year I still can't fit it gets donated. Right now I have enough clothing to last me 5 years maybe or longer. WFH really made it so much easier. But if I need something then yes I have to buy it. Last year my winter boots starts leaking water coz there is a hole at the top. Buying something you need when is in sale is fine. Issue is when you buy something hardly use it coz is out of fashion so you throw away. Always buy stuff that's not the trend but classic like T-shirt and jeans or shorts, sweater and button down. Stuff that basically you can wear anytime And buy clothes with better qualify. H and M, Zara , guess are all bad quality. After a few wash they are out of shape. Brand like Levi's, uniqlo, have better quality. I still have jeans from Levi's that I bought 8 years ago and still wear them. I still have T-shirt from uniqlo years ago.
I always get upset by my wife,she buys a lot of expensive clothes and end up wearing only once or don't wear it at all. They r rotting on the boxes and wardrobes.
I think the solution lies in creating jobs to those poor workers , which do not pollute the planet, along with massive awareness, beginning with the new generation in schools of how the fashion business is destroying our environment. And how every little fashion item they get is not the right way to built real wealth.
I have gone back to shopping at Goodwill and the Salvation Army for clothes. I grew up wearing clothes from thrift stores and people thought that I was well dressed. They didn’t know that I wore used clothes (or as people called them back then, “hand me downs”). This documentary is a wake up call and just because you’re not drinking water with dye in it, doesn’t mean that you don’t have a responsibility to do your part to stop textile pollution in other countries. Every small thing you can do can help.
I buy all my clothes second hand, there lots of thrift in my country. Many comes from Germany, others from Austria and the UK. Many clothes are barely used and sometimes I find brand new ones too. I think if you like those fast fashion brand and still want to wear, this is a good option, I saw many H&M, Zara and all and I think you can help the planet with that and the workers too. However, the best thing you don't go shopping and wear what you have, only buy something when you really need. I prefer personal style over fashion and yes, you can look great and fashionable like this way too.
I have no buying 2nd-hand clothes at thrift shops! Except for undies & socks which I buy brand-new, nearly all of my clothes (about 75% to 80%) are 2nd-hand. Enough with this overt fashion consumerism!
This is also what the pandemic has brought to my attention, I indeed bought too much clothing in the past and I’m guilty. I’ve signed up for a task that not to buy any unnecessary stuff especially clothing, shoes and similars within a year. And checking out secondhand markets first if possible.
I buy the vast majority of my clothes from second hand stores and consignment shops. I find great things and try not to add to the fast fashion industry.
As someone who really loves fashion so much, its hard for me to stop buying new clothes but I really try to keep all my clothes in good shape and store it somewhere safe so when it comes back in fashion (20 years fashion rule) I dont have to buy new things.
Luckily I was brought up to be conscientious, I have always hated fashion, my friends and I go op-shopping sometimes. We like to make clothes but even that is getting expensive. We swap clothes with each other and remake things too. We aren't all bimbos addicted to shopping. Media has a lot of responsibility, using fear tactics to make people feel ugly or unpopular. Most people don't have critical thinking skills . It has all been sneakily forced on the sheeple and this is the root cause of most of our problems, deception, exploitation and manipulation on so many levels .
Turmeric, beets, onions, berries all can dye clothing. I've dyed eggs this way and used turmeric to dye a bleach spot on a yellow shirt. I also like thrift store shopping and I love getting second hand but in very good condition from Sewa-AIFW
Did you know "Fre range" is defined as- livestock are given the option to roam outside of the location they (sheeps, chickens) they sleep in. Only a foot from the exit of the shed to the "outdoor" is deemed adequate for manufacturers to have the prospect of labelling it "free range" What's more the chickens inside the sheds do not need to go outside, only need to be given the option (as stated above). These chicks usually are reluctant to go outside as they refrain from getting heat stress!
Thank you for this document. I think in modern times people have more access to the information, which, if they are listening, should have some effect to their decisions. Especialy with the fast fashion... To be honest I stopped buying clothes almost two years ago and now I am mainly buying underwear if needed. The rest only in case I desperately need it. And prefer to go to charity shop or second hand anyway. You can always modify the clothes anyway!! Thanks again. I am sharing it with my network ;)
When I was growing up I had holes in my school shoes and almost no clothing that fit me properly and fashion was an alien concept to me. This was only back in the 80s. I can't believe these kids have so many beautiful clothes that they don't even appreciate or wear. It won't be long until clothes are rationed out just like food was during the wars. We are now in the Anthropocene and the cosy Holocene has gone forever. Climate Change is here forever and people will wish they kept all the clothes and did not discard them just because they had so many.
I really only buy underwear and leggings new, the rest I buy second hand. Very occasionally will I buy new shoes. I don't think I bought any of my coats or handbags new.
two questions i ask myself when i shop: will this last for at least 5 years? if it's not quality i wont buy it. unless it's underwear or something do i see myself wearing this 10 years from now? if it's too trendy or flamboyant i wont buy it.
@@Topcaat I'm sure she does not mean every day and even If she did. So what it's her choice. I have lots of coats that I have had over 5 years. I have shoes that I have had over 5 years that I've worn maybe 3 or even one time so what's your point?
@@Topcaat i know it's so hard to fathom owning an article of clothing for 5 years during the age of fast fashion. But back in the days, when things were made well they could last for years. Even a lifetime.
@@Topcaat I have jeans that are more than twenty years old. A fifty year old coat. Volunteering in an op shop at the moment and the stuff that gets chucked does my head in. A lot of it is new and never worn.
People do have too much and buying hand is good. But if they’re buying second hand fast fashion, that clothing will still need to be disposed of at some point. I have seen no video emphasizing natural fabrics, which I hope comes to be emphasized as well. I wear mostly natural fabrics, and now, when I put on something made of polyester type material, it feels horrible on my skin.
These videos are just nonsense made for western do gooders with too much time in their hands. If we as humans figured out how to separate human waste from water and make that water clean and safe to consume, then I'm sure we can figure out how to make textile factories not throw their waste in rivers.
The majority of my clothes come from second hand stores. Shoes and undergarments are the main new things I buy. Not only is shopping 2nd hand better for the environment, it's fun too. Why should I listen to a store or company tell me what I should wear for the season? At the thrift store, I simply buy what I like. I don't care one bit what's "trendy". I extended this to furniture too. After my Grandma passed, none of the grandkids wanted her furniture. So I took it all. If I want, in the summer I can strip and stain them if I get tired of the color. Life is so short, why waste it impressing people who don't even care about you to begin with? And if your friends or family don't like you if you thrift shop and are "cheap", you're better off without those shallower people in your life anyways.
As long as shareholders are going to be interested only in their own benefits and that is relevant not only for fashion industry, the corporates are going to he pushing for low cost, high margins and constant growth. And yes we as consumers are going to pay for it. Not only in sales price but as well in the damage that causes. With currently disturbed supply chain we have to rethink where we produce and how. Thank you for the video. It's great. I will share it with more people. Great job.
i would suggest to everyone to donate their clothes, to give them to charities or to second hand stores, and same goes for every other item that can still function but that you dont want or use anymore
Unfortunately this doesn't help. Much of rich European country waste ends up being shipped to places that don't want it like lower income east European countries. At one point the US was forcing Rwanda through trade agreements to take its second hand clothes. These cheap 'donated' clothes were destroying the Rwandan garment industry. We have to buy less to encourage stores to manufacture less. We also have to be prepared to pay a higher price. I think it's too much to expect corporations be less greedy in unfortunately.
Jesus what an interesting video. I had to watch for my soc class and it surprises me how these legal textile companies just send some of their work to illegal/uncertified ones. I’m glad I don’t buy very many clothes, and that when I do, I wear them frequently.
I don’t think that if customer disappears, the corporation will stop producing and therefore stop polluting. They will find another product to sell. And customer appears again. The factories and poor workers will not just disappear into the void because we decided we have enough. System is wrong. How behave to each other is wrong, the life has no value. Just money, capital, greed.
This is just the result of conspicuous consumption-the need for the middle class to demonstrate their meager wealth and worth to one another. I think the way to bypass this is just to explicitly and openly share our networth and income instead of using these destructive intermediary articles to do so.
Hmm, this is an interesting concept. Showing off is a huge part of our culture (unfortunately) and indeed new car, clothing, electronics sales would drop steeply if they were not associated anymore directly with status.
Rotating through your wardrobe is a good way to find stuff you truly don't need anymore. I always put the freshly washed clothes at the bottom of the clothes pile, and dress from the top. If I find a piece that's old/worn out (for me, that's after 5 or more years of good use) or ill-fitting, I discard it. Clothes shopping is something I loathe, so I only buy some new clothes once ir twice a year. And these last me for another 5-10 years. Of course, it also helps that my body weight and shape hasn't changed much during the last 15 years. I'll fit into a pair of jeans from 10 years ago as easily as a new one, so why buy a new one I don't need?
They do not mention, that the quality of these fast fashion clothes are very bad, so they will not last long, so that's also a reason, why people buy more often.
I watched this as I sorted through the bags and bags of clothing left over from the donations for our schools second hand clothing sale. Most of it great stuff. Now donating it to the Ukrainian refugee centre. I’m sure there is stuff there that even they won’t want. Still with labels on it. Impossible to sell or give away
The best material for clothing and your health is hemp. It lasts a long time, hard to stain so washing isn't as hard, stays fresh, easy to grow, strong, comfortable, and not full of weird harmful chemicals.
The key problem is over population on the planet. The developing countries have nothing but do something to feed the growing families and end up with this quality of work. Europe and US use this opportunity, and again the more people on the planet the less nature can survive. It’s simply a chain of things happening. I feel sick what the future keeps for all of us.
I mainly thrift my clothes or make it myself. And I avoid anything that has polyesters and another synthetic material and mixed with natural materials. It's getting harder to find clothes that are purely cotton, linen or wool. They mix synthetic or viscose/ bamboo in and it shortens lifespan of clothes.
I think long term contracts would be better for the factory workers and factories as general. At least 5 years with a prices that both sides agree. Uncertanty is what makes these factories not to follow the rules.
funny how some people's first reaction is wanting to buy food grown in europe instead of asia to avoid the contamination...instead of thinking that the clothes they buy ensure that someone's food is bound to be contaminated even if it's not theirs.
The amount of trash in those rivers in Bangladesh has to also add to the problem. When the people of that country start caring enough about their own place they will grow and start to protect their environment. The same has happened before in Cambodia, Vietnam and other developing countries that have had these exact same issues in the past. It will get better, but the people need to act too.
German documentary filmmakers are never f-ing around...and that's exactly how it's should be done! Bravo, and thank you for your ongoing, very important work!
I stopped buying clothes. I have enough to last me for the next 10+ years at least and I've already been wearing some for another 10.
Woot woot... That is awesome. I have clothing since 1999 and 2010. This whole wasteful concept of throwing out and replacing doesn't help nor benefit anyone except the corporations themselves.
I haven't paid for new clothes in about 20 years. I either have family share and hand down or second hand shopping. There's nothing wrong with using clothes that others used and have no use for. My daughter and i same size and she's always getting new clothes and has to much. It's different for my son that's got to be seen in all the top disigners clothes. He refuses to wear clothes others have worn even though it's clean. It's only way to help the environment is to not use as much and wear clothes more. I still have clothes from when i was younger, i have moments of different sizes so I keep them in top cubbord and use when weight change. It's fantastic to see others are not buying as much.
@@TheEarthHistorysConfusing Amazing! As a child I was wearing "hand me down" clothes from family friends, as money was scarce. As an adult buying either secondhand, or buying good quality practical clothing from animal and eco friendly brands. Taking care of the clothes - not washing too frequently, repairing holes and rips. No interest in fast or luxury fashion.
Same here!! I gave away 70% of my clothes. And have gone from buying 10x a year, to twice a year when I need to make any purchases.
Saved me a ton of money, space, time, and peace of mind.
Damn. I was born in 1999. People have clothes as long as I have been alive
Growing up in Africa my parents used to advice my siblings and I that less is more. I love fashion but I think we’ve to care more about the environment and the safety of those workers who made our garments. Thanks DW for bringing out such a magnificent documentary 👍
Hi @jones baah,
You're welcome. :-) Thanks for taking the time to comment and for sharing your experience.
Best,
The DW Documentary Team
@@DWDocumentary Danke DW Documentary from Morocco
Your parents were wise. I too was born lucky enough to have parent's like yours. We are truly blessed.
In America too, my mom had us wear second hand clothes from thrift stores and everyone always said that we were well dressed. They didn’t know our clothes came from thrift stores; gently used clothing. We didn’t have many clothes neither. I call myself a minimalist and stick to the “less is more” mantra to this day.
where in Africa? just mention the country it doesn't matter if other commenters don't know it
One more factor to consider: most clothes these days are much poorer quality than they used to be 10 or 20 years ago. I still have some shirts I bought that long ago and while a bit faded, the fabric is still strong and keeps shape well. But I also had to throw away quite a few shirts I bought 3 or 2 years ago, since they started to look like rags, with uneven colour, frayed collars or even tears.
It depends where you buy your garments from. There are brands which potentially sell clothes made with long durable and lasting textiles, that could also last 10 years.
Yes! I remember Bennetton clothes when I was a kid - you could wear them for literally a decade. Nowadays - if it lasts 2 years, you're happy
I started wearing the same thing everyday and it took people months, if not years to notice.
Nobody cares what you wear, nobody remembers and wasting all that money strutting about like a rooster is just a mind-numbingly self-centered thing to do.
Fashion madness is extremely environmentally dangerous
Resale/recycling clothes is the most important sustainable way of life for life. We don't ever need to make another piece of clothing ever in my opinion, retroactive 15 years ago. we recycle the same like 4 trends and remake massive amounts of useful stuff. I don't follow trends but I choose to buy quality....on sale only.
Thing is it currently isn't. Our clothes for recycling or charity end up in places like Africa in garbage dumps. The entire chain needs looking at, not just at the manufacturing end.
Thank you for the video. A sobering eye-opener. Unfortunately, it's likely that the majority of consumers of fast fashion will be unfazed by this reality. I concur with the experiment of paying for clothes by pouring poison into the fish-tank. It certainly brings the message home. There should be one stand like this in front of every big brand fast-fashion retailer.
And even in front of the so called sustainable brands!
I buy resale
That is why a majority of my clothes come from consignment shops. I only wear cotton, linen and wool.
I’m 70 now but when I was in middle school & became interested in clothes, my mother always used French women as her example for how to dress well. She told me French woman bought the very best clothes they could afford and bought tops & bottoms they could mix & match to give the impression of having many outfits. And by using scarves & jewellery, could accomplish their goal. We lived in France & Germany in the mid-50s so she knew what she was talking about. How the times have changed! Sad.
I am in my 50's and I remember that is how things used to be for almost everybody.
Rotating and using a small amount of apparel that was used often, all the pieces in it and we only went to the store for new stuff with the four seasons that fashion used to be,if at all.
Great solution: buy LESS and APPRECIATE what you buy.... But most important buy BETTER quality! It is hard to appreciate a coat for $10 that starts to pill after a couple of wears.
Seriously, decreasing how much you buy, and when you do buy something, asking what is it's environmental impact helps a lot.
We read a book in class recently called "Get Real: what kind of world are you buying?" That goes really in depth with this. The tone seems very in your face, and it is meant to be, but the author did her research, and she makes good points. It's worth a read if you're interested in that topic!
I have a $12 coat that I still wear that has de-sewn over the 4 years of having it, but you know what buy a small sewing kit and fit it. People don't practice maintenance anymore. Another problem is that people were brain-washed into believing they need 20-40 pair of jeans, 20-40 pair of pants, 20-40 shirts, 20-40 blouses, the list goes on. 🤷♀️My mom complains about my clothing, but guess what most of what I had was lost due to a flood and I'm not going to spend money on stuff I don't really, truly need or want to begin with. Plus, what the shops sell in South Florida are shit. Utter boring garbage!!!!! Thankfully, I do have some nice stuff, but they're only for going out. For the rest of the time, I go with comfort. We need to stop buying shit we don't need, just to be impressing people we don't even like or are pieces of shits to begin with. If you can, learn to sew and make your own clothing or take what you have to make something new.
@@LadyCoyKoi Exactly and correct laundry practices to keep clothes looking good longer neither.
Visit your local resale, thrift store. You can find “quality” brands at a steal and reduce waste.
"I don't care, I love it" playing in primark kinda sums it all.
about what you don't care??
Great documentary. We need more content like this being produced globally. There's quite a bit that addresses this issue in the US but I've noticed that many commenters are quick to lable the consequences of fast fashion as an 'American' issue and neglect to understand how fast fashion has a virtually global reach. It's important for people to recognize how this manifests in their local context and is just as destructive.
Thanks for watching and for sharing your thoughts on the topic. We’re glad you liked the documentary. 🙂
As an American, I’ve watched these kinds of documentaries and never once felt that it was an “American issue” 🙄. I think you maybe misunderstood what you watched. The documentary you watched was probably just asking Americans to be more knowledgeable and socially conscious in regards to where and how their H&M or Zara clothes are made. It wasn’t blaming solely Americans just asking Americans to be informed.
I tend to wear thrift clothes nowadays, it's been pretty good tho. I hope at least it contributes a little to the environment
Many thanks for the well researched documentary!
I got a few too many chemicals at an old workplace ( heavy metals and some solvents ). Now I have a lot of problems buying clothes. My immune system overreacts to synthetic clothes. Sometimes I can react differently to the same piece of differently coloured organic cotton clothing, depending on which dye they've used. Lighter dyes ( though not white) tend to work better than darker ones.
And to think some people can wear clothing, which chemicals makes it into the blood through contact with the skin, which causes allergic reactions in others.
And then there are the workers doing the colouring/dye'ing. Sometimes workers handle the clothing by hand, while the colours are still wet, facilitating the transmission into the bloodstreams of workers. I can't imagine the amount of allergies the workers get with hard dyes.
OMG she is back ! 🤩🤩 My favourite voice over from DW .. I missed you for a while 😥
I'm not the only one!! I love this lady's voice. So soothing
@@kria9119 🙌
Been wearing a shoe every day for seven years, when I go to the mall my son always persuaded me to look and buy for a new shoes and my answer is always same to him. My 7 year old shoe doesn’t lose its purpose yet!
Let's hope you stay home 95% of the time throughout the year! It's actually unhygienic to wear the same footwear for 7 years. 🤮🤮🤭🤭🤥🤥😷😷😷
@@originalunoriginal4055 hahaha
Underwear
My shoes get in a real bad shape in about 3 years.
My tennis shoes are gone after 1year or less. I rotate daily between 2 pairs of shoes for work . I walk a lot.
You at least would have to take them to a cobbler for them to last that long.
And here I am in Canada with 3+ year old shorts on and a white undershirt I probably bought 5+ years ago. I think the only regular thing I buy "yearly" is underwear and socks...
I always shop in charity shops and then give unused clothes away to people. If people got rid of the stigma of shopping second hand, it would help alot!
I've always thought mothers with young kids should have regular clothes swap events or parties.
"...to appreciate it, to value it and to buy less and reduce waste...", words to live by.
With my new hazmat suit I dont need clothes anymore, I go commando.
Lol😭😭😂😂
@JGD yes we win
Exactly. It's like drugs. "Just say no".......because you don't need it.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Props to that Bangladeshi factory owner for taking on the entire cost without compensation.
What the owner isn't saying is the comparative difference between the Euro and the Bangladesh dollar clearly more than generously makes up for the difference. 1 Euro equals 94.88 of their dollars.
@Anton. It has everything to do with it, the cost of living and waging are much lower in still developing countries. With the average monthly wage being $60 per month in Bangladesh. And, they are not making nor designing clothes of high quality. It's just Greed on the behalf of this developing countries and these companies. The Truth is there is a lot of corruption and employers don't care about their employees nor the local environment unfortunately. I've been to India and have a neighbor who claims her Family are one of the largest companies in Bangladesh that make blue jeans. And, she is all about profit and Presentation to the world only. I say this having personally observing her over years.
@Anton. Because it's his life and the lives of his countrymen at stake. It's not about rather The West reward sustainability or not. Why would people purposefully ruin their own source of clean water and food(ie. fish)? Paying these garment makers in Euros instead of the local currency does make a huge difference. It's like giving them $94 for every $1 of their own currency to sew low quality 'trendy' seasonal clothing. So they are Not losing out, they are just acting out of greed instead of setting their own high level of Standards and actually caring about the welfare of their own people over greed. If these garment makers are losing money with a 94:1 difference something is wrong with them.
Reduce: don't buy it if you don't NEED it (not want but need)
Reuse: buy secondhand from vintage or charity shops if possible, and sell your unused clothes on selling apps.
Recycled: recycle your old clothes and buy truly sustainable and recycled clothes if necessary.
Boycott fast fashion and also the way people use social media to 'show off' their wardrobe. To be honest no one cares what you wear, everyone is too busy with their own lives to care. Getting self worth from social media is toxic to the environment and to your own mind.
The most ironic thing about all this is that the people making this documentary and all the Western people "caring" so much about the environment are dressing themselves up again and again with the newest fashion & trends. All "victims" of the consumer society.
They PRETEND to care
Making documentary should be objective. They are just stating facts. However, I think people who have watched this documentary will think twice before buying some dirt cheap piece of clothing just because.
*_ What fascinates me, even more, is the "Locals" that live in Asia don't mind the Crap that's laying in the rivers (Plastic for one) which most likely contributes to about 50% of the pollution of the rivers too! _*
Robert Rudolph I like to think they would care if they knew the impacts it has on their environment and thus health, I’m sure it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out but without means to change the status quo most of these people are preoccupied with scraping enough for their next meal, to see change across these communities their economic survival has to be ensured without the presence of these shameless textile polluters.
OMG!! Thank you for all your work and this documentary!! I hope people start watching and concerning more about what they buy and what they do with that!! As a Fashion Designer, I try really hard to make the change and also to teach my clients to buy less, with conscious and ethical brands if needed; but overall, to buy less and recycle their closets!!
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I am always confused when I see all those people shopping around for hours, days, entire lives, instead of using their time for more purposeful activities, like staying with loved ones, or educating themselves, or go sporting, or painting. Just anything with a real purpose.
Compulsive shopping is just a brainless, harmful activity like the drugs.
I like to be well dressed, but I buy as little as I can and wear even 20 years old clothes.
And they are too lazy to develop interests in other things or start hobbies or activities.
This really made me cry out of guilt, living a comfortable life in Europe and just getting things I want, not need. I want to change something and will continue watching environment related documentaries to remind myself of that
Sadly I think that the only way to get around this "over consumption problem" is to impose higher taxation on this type of goods so that the prices reflects the harm they cause on the environment. I have often stumbled upon items at bargain prices which I can't believe can bring a profit to the company. I generally believe in free market forces and that this benefits the customers and the society but in case of the textile industry I think something regulatory need's to be done...
That's just gonna punish only the poor then, the rich that can afford it is still going to buy.
No, it is forcing these companies to produce less! But like always, the poor under paid worker and the underprivileged are the ones that will pay somehow!
These type of documentaries must go on mainstream tv channels not just in you tube. Our children should be educated starting from school age and businesses regulated more! It’s ridiculous what is happening you don’t realise that people losing their food while we are buying unnecessarily clothing
If I need something new I buy it when is on sale or clearance. The word is need not want. That's why every few months I take a look at my closet and shoes and see if I need anything like clothing no longer fits or just worn out and have holes. For old clothes that's worn I use at home. For stuff that's too small I keep at the back. If after a year I still can't fit it gets donated. Right now I have enough clothing to last me 5 years maybe or longer. WFH really made it so much easier. But if I need something then yes I have to buy it. Last year my winter boots starts leaking water coz there is a hole at the top. Buying something you need when is in sale is fine. Issue is when you buy something hardly use it coz is out of fashion so you throw away. Always buy stuff that's not the trend but classic like T-shirt and jeans or shorts, sweater and button down. Stuff that basically you can wear anytime
And buy clothes with better qualify. H and M, Zara , guess are all bad quality. After a few wash they are out of shape. Brand like Levi's, uniqlo, have better quality. I still have jeans from Levi's that I bought 8 years ago and still wear them. I still have T-shirt from uniqlo years ago.
I always get upset by my wife,she buys a lot of expensive clothes and end up wearing only once or don't wear it at all. They r rotting on the boxes and wardrobes.
@JGD ,that's how our women r made!
I think the solution lies in creating jobs to those poor workers , which do not pollute the planet, along with massive awareness, beginning with the new generation in schools of how the fashion business is destroying our environment. And how every little fashion item they get is not the right way to built real wealth.
It is maybe too late to say, but I think you married the wrong woman
You're sexist lol I'm kidding. There's isn't one imaginary line on the map there for any other reason than the greatest test to man. His better half.
Time for divorce. ✌🏻😂
I have gone back to shopping at Goodwill and the Salvation Army for clothes. I grew up wearing clothes from thrift stores and people thought that I was well dressed. They didn’t know that I wore used clothes (or as people called them back then, “hand me downs”). This documentary is a wake up call and just because you’re not drinking water with dye in it, doesn’t mean that you don’t have a responsibility to do your part to stop textile pollution in other countries. Every small thing you can do can help.
I buy all my clothes second hand, there lots of thrift in my country. Many comes from Germany, others from Austria and the UK. Many clothes are barely used and sometimes I find brand new ones too. I think if you like those fast fashion brand and still want to wear, this is a good option, I saw many H&M, Zara and all and I think you can help the planet with that and the workers too. However, the best thing you don't go shopping and wear what you have, only buy something when you really need. I prefer personal style over fashion and yes, you can look great and fashionable like this way too.
I have no buying 2nd-hand clothes at thrift shops! Except for undies & socks which I buy brand-new, nearly all of my clothes (about 75% to 80%) are 2nd-hand.
Enough with this overt fashion consumerism!
This just killed my desire to ever buy new clothes ever again! Only second-hand for me from now on.. And even then? Rarely-
this was truly amazing detective work
Thank you so much, i am grateful for this videos. I share
This is also what the pandemic has brought to my attention, I indeed bought too much clothing in the past and I’m guilty. I’ve signed up for a task that not to buy any unnecessary stuff especially clothing, shoes and similars within a year. And checking out secondhand markets first if possible.
Danke DW Documentary from Morocco
This was amazing. Thank you!
I buy the vast majority of my clothes from second hand stores and consignment shops. I find great things and try not to add to the fast fashion industry.
As someone who really loves fashion so much, its hard for me to stop buying new clothes but I really try to keep all my clothes in good shape and store it somewhere safe so when it comes back in fashion (20 years fashion rule) I dont have to buy new things.
Excellent coverage again, DW.
I'm studying English and I'm improving my English with this amazing video ❤❤ thank 🙏🌹
We’re glad this video was helpful. Be sure to check out our channel for more content. 🙂
X2
This was quite an eye opener.
Congratulations for this excelent documentary. Let's boycott fast-fashion. Javi (Spain)
Hi @Javi Caballero,
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Best,
The DW Documentary Team
Thankyou for answering.
Good luck. Consumerism is an addiction and yes, we obviously are too rich, a large number of us at least.
Luckily I was brought up to be conscientious, I have always hated fashion, my friends and I go op-shopping sometimes. We like to make clothes but even that is getting expensive. We swap clothes with each other and remake things too. We aren't all bimbos addicted to shopping.
Media has a lot of responsibility, using fear tactics to make people feel ugly or unpopular. Most people don't have critical thinking skills .
It has all been sneakily forced on the sheeple and this is the root cause of most of our problems, deception, exploitation and manipulation on so many levels .
More like you, Fi!!!
Turmeric, beets, onions, berries all can dye clothing. I've dyed eggs this way and used turmeric to dye a bleach spot on a yellow shirt. I also like thrift store shopping and I love getting second hand but in very good condition from Sewa-AIFW
Absolutely baffling
Did you know "Fre range" is defined as- livestock are given the option to roam outside of the location they (sheeps, chickens) they sleep in. Only a foot from the exit of the shed to the "outdoor" is deemed adequate for manufacturers to have the prospect of labelling it "free range"
What's more the chickens inside the sheds do not need to go outside, only need to be given the option (as stated above). These chicks usually are reluctant to go outside as they refrain from getting heat stress!
the ugly side of capitalism. thank you for bringing awareness!!
Don't give a f... about fashion, garment has to be practical and comfortable in daily use - only that matters
Tbh even if you do you should not keep following a trend that changes a lot but rather find your own style and stick to it
Thank you for this document. I think in modern times people have more access to the information, which, if they are listening, should have some effect to their decisions. Especialy with the fast fashion... To be honest I stopped buying clothes almost two years ago and now I am mainly buying underwear if needed. The rest only in case I desperately need it. And prefer to go to charity shop or second hand anyway. You can always modify the clothes anyway!! Thanks again. I am sharing it with my network ;)
the funny thing is, the textiles are made for the americas and europe but the countries getting polluted are in asia who dont use most of the products
When I was growing up I had holes in my school shoes and almost no clothing that fit me properly and fashion was an alien concept to me. This was only back in the 80s. I can't believe these kids have so many beautiful clothes that they don't even appreciate or wear. It won't be long until clothes are rationed out just like food was during the wars. We are now in the Anthropocene and the cosy Holocene has gone forever. Climate Change is here forever and people will wish they kept all the clothes and did not discard them just because they had so many.
I really only buy underwear and leggings new, the rest I buy second hand. Very occasionally will I buy new shoes. I don't think I bought any of my coats or handbags new.
Thank you so much for making this documentary. I've learned a lot and it definitely makes me a more conscious consumer.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts:)
Nice documentary
two questions i ask myself when i shop:
will this last for at least 5 years? if it's not quality i wont buy it. unless it's underwear or something
do i see myself wearing this 10 years from now? if it's too trendy or flamboyant i wont buy it.
lol who wears the same thing for 5years +
@@Topcaat I'm sure she does not mean every day and even If she did. So what it's her choice.
I have lots of coats that I have had over 5 years. I have shoes that I have had over 5 years that I've worn maybe 3 or even one time so what's your point?
@@Topcaat i know it's so hard to fathom owning an article of clothing for 5 years during the age of fast fashion. But back in the days, when things were made well they could last for years. Even a lifetime.
@@Topcaat I have jeans that are more than twenty years old. A fifty year old coat. Volunteering in an op shop at the moment and the stuff that gets chucked does my head in. A lot of it is new and never worn.
Well done
These days i only shop at vintage or thrift stores. I buy new shoes, underwear, socks though
People do have too much and buying hand is good. But if they’re buying second hand fast fashion, that clothing will still need to be disposed of at some point. I have seen no video emphasizing natural fabrics, which I hope comes to be emphasized as well. I wear mostly natural fabrics, and now, when I put on something made of polyester type material, it feels horrible on my skin.
These videos are just nonsense made for western do gooders with too much time in their hands. If we as humans figured out how to separate human waste from water and make that water clean and safe to consume, then I'm sure we can figure out how to make textile factories not throw their waste in rivers.
The majority of my clothes come from second hand stores. Shoes and undergarments are the main new things I buy. Not only is shopping 2nd hand better for the environment, it's fun too. Why should I listen to a store or company tell me what I should wear for the season? At the thrift store, I simply buy what I like. I don't care one bit what's "trendy".
I extended this to furniture too. After my Grandma passed, none of the grandkids wanted her furniture. So I took it all. If I want, in the summer I can strip and stain them if I get tired of the color.
Life is so short, why waste it impressing people who don't even care about you to begin with? And if your friends or family don't like you if you thrift shop and are "cheap", you're better off without those shallower people in your life anyways.
At last DW accepts that the Europe should not blame low income countries for environmental issues
As long as shareholders are going to be interested only in their own benefits and that is relevant not only for fashion industry, the corporates are going to he pushing for low cost, high margins and constant growth. And yes we as consumers are going to pay for it. Not only in sales price but as well in the damage that causes. With currently disturbed supply chain we have to rethink where we produce and how. Thank you for the video. It's great. I will share it with more people. Great job.
i would suggest to everyone to donate their clothes, to give them to charities or to second hand stores, and same goes for every other item that can still function but that you dont want or use anymore
Unfortunately this doesn't help. Much of rich European country waste ends up being shipped to places that don't want it like lower income east European countries.
At one point the US was forcing Rwanda through trade agreements to take its second hand clothes. These cheap 'donated' clothes were destroying the Rwandan garment industry.
We have to buy less to encourage stores to manufacture less. We also have to be prepared to pay a higher price. I think it's too much to expect corporations be less greedy in unfortunately.
"I don't care, I love it!" playing inside Primark... 😏
It’s not that “they’re too well off” it’s that people are bored and this shit is cheap and entertaining; disposable 💯
I don't get rid of good quality clothes (and don't tend to buy fast fashion ones). It's better to keep or upcycle them.
Jesus what an interesting video. I had to watch for my soc class and it surprises me how these legal textile companies just send some of their work to illegal/uncertified ones. I’m glad I don’t buy very many clothes, and that when I do, I wear them frequently.
"MINIMALISM" is the solution.
I don’t think that if customer disappears, the corporation will stop producing and therefore stop polluting. They will find another product to sell. And customer appears again. The factories and poor workers will not just disappear into the void because we decided we have enough. System is wrong. How behave to each other is wrong, the life has no value. Just money, capital, greed.
I'd like as many people as possible watch this documentary. Our civilization should change its consumption habits.
This is great, truly, but PLEASE tell us (consumers) where we can buy clothes and what clothes we can buy!
GOD BLESS YOU -
SAVE OUR WONDERFUL PLANET !
This is just the result of conspicuous consumption-the need for the middle class to demonstrate their meager wealth and worth to one another. I think the way to bypass this is just to explicitly and openly share our networth and income instead of using these destructive intermediary articles to do so.
Hmm, this is an interesting concept. Showing off is a huge part of our culture (unfortunately) and indeed new car, clothing, electronics sales would drop steeply if they were not associated anymore directly with status.
Alexis Vladimir Ortega What?
Rotating through your wardrobe is a good way to find stuff you truly don't need anymore. I always put the freshly washed clothes at the bottom of the clothes pile, and dress from the top. If I find a piece that's old/worn out (for me, that's after 5 or more years of good use) or ill-fitting, I discard it. Clothes shopping is something I loathe, so I only buy some new clothes once ir twice a year. And these last me for another 5-10 years.
Of course, it also helps that my body weight and shape hasn't changed much during the last 15 years. I'll fit into a pair of jeans from 10 years ago as easily as a new one, so why buy a new one I don't need?
Hats of for great journalism!
Love this Doc thks a lot :)
We learn this in school and I think it's important to teach kids about this too. At least in Germany.
In Brazil we have Tietê river as an example of irresponsibility/reckless. Tons of garbage are poured on it everyday.
They do not mention, that the quality of these fast fashion clothes are very bad, so they will not last long, so that's also a reason, why people buy more often.
I watched this as I sorted through the bags and bags of clothing left over from the donations for our schools second hand clothing sale. Most of it great stuff. Now donating it to the Ukrainian refugee centre. I’m sure there is stuff there that even they won’t want. Still with labels on it. Impossible to sell or give away
If you life near ocean and river , you can wash it first with salt water , second wash it with river water . And make sure it clean
The best material for clothing and your health is hemp. It lasts a long time, hard to stain so washing isn't as hard, stays fresh, easy to grow, strong, comfortable, and not full of weird harmful chemicals.
The last time I bought clothes was from a yard sale and it’s still in good condition.
Most of them get bleached. Bleach isn't exactly more friendly than dye. On the contrary.
12:09. That guy tells it like it is: capitalism only cares about money.
The key problem is over population on the planet. The developing countries have nothing but do something to feed the growing families and end up with this quality of work. Europe and US use this opportunity, and again the more people on the planet the less nature can survive. It’s simply a chain of things happening. I feel sick what the future keeps for all of us.
I mainly thrift my clothes or make it myself. And I avoid anything that has polyesters and another synthetic material and mixed with natural materials. It's getting harder to find clothes that are purely cotton, linen or wool. They mix synthetic or viscose/ bamboo in and it shortens lifespan of clothes.
I think long term contracts would be better for the factory workers and factories as general. At least 5 years with a prices that both sides agree. Uncertanty is what makes these factories not to follow the rules.
True journalism!
Bottom line we are the poisoned fish ! How fitting!
funny how some people's first reaction is wanting to buy food grown in europe instead of asia to avoid the contamination...instead of thinking that the clothes they buy ensure that someone's food is bound to be contaminated even if it's not theirs.
Yes that was disturbing!
The amount of trash in those rivers in Bangladesh has to also add to the problem. When the people of that country start caring enough about their own place they will grow and start to protect their environment. The same has happened before in Cambodia, Vietnam and other developing countries that have had these exact same issues in the past. It will get better, but the people need to act too.
We need to STOP consuming.
Before you buy your next new dress etc, just try to imagine living there, with the smell, and lovely views onto the polluted waterways.!🧐🤬!
Well done and well said
Concerned about food in Europe? What about the poor people in Asia?!? The selfishness of people knows no bounds.
It would be a good idea to make small or medium size closets a trend. Many influencers have huge closets and that's BAD INFLUENCE.