By Sean Gallen
It is life’s most basic need, but around 663 million people in the world do not have access to safe water. The fashion industry’s fast-paced turnover means it is both a huge consumer and polluter.
In 2017, a Global Fashion Agenda report showed fashion firms consumed 79 billion cubic metres of water in just one year.
With World Water Day on March 22, Prisha Barua from the charity drop4drop believes that being careful with the kind of clothes we buy can change that.
She says: “Whether it’s investing in organic cottons or brands that use waterless dyeing methods or even just shopping vintage, small things really will help prevent further damage to our planet.”
Large amounts of unwanted items and unused fabric end up in landfill sites each year. This increases pollution as toxic chemicals leak into groundwater supplies.
“Rather than being binned, clothes should be recycled or donated to charity shops,” says Prisha.
“As consumers we have the power to make a change,” adds Prisha. “If we recognise these solutions and build on them, we can save our ecosystems and the lives of those that depend on this water for their survival.”