Environmental sustainability and sustainable fashion: between necessity and reality

Abstract

Environmental sustainability is a critical issue in the fashion industry today. This industry is recognized as one of the most polluting sectors globally. The fashion industry significantly impacts the environment through water and air pollution, high energy and chemical consumption, and the production of large amounts of waste, including microplastics and leftover textiles. Sustainable fashion is now directing in a new era of awareness. We live in a time of overconsumption, particularly noticeable in the fashion industry. The entire clothing production process contributes to textile waste. The recent CNN climate report (on October 16, 2024) emphasizes the urgent need to change people’s consumption habits and take action to protect our planet (Paddison, 2024). Scientists warn of a catastrophic situation, stating that the global water cycle is off balance for the first time in human history. The Great Water Cycle is the complex system through which water moves around the Earth. Decades of destructive land use and mismanagement of water resources have created a manmade crisis. This escalating catastrophe will severely impact the economy, food production, and human lives.