Hecho por Nosotros is a family that fights for systemic change. We are keen to show a more sustainable path in the fashion and textile industry through collaboration, research, and social innovation initiatives. That is why for over 14 years we have been working on emerging regenerative models in the creative industry, advocating for transdisciplinary leadership and green-orientated education proving it is possible to move to a more circular and sustainable way of living.
The UNEP INC - 1 Event in Uruguay about plastic pollution is this month. And what better way to generate consciousness and educate on that theme, than talking about the reality of fashion, the face of fast fashion, and its impact on nature?
When it is time to buy clothes we tend to fall over fashion trends, and brands of the moment, that offer the nicest pieces, at a very affordable price for the effort it took to be made. That is what we call ‘fast fashion. A trend where we see new clothing, normally trendy, and we all know that will go out of fashion very soon. When trends change that fast, it means that the clothes that we have already worn, sometimes just once or twice are no longer required.
This is currently happening in the West African country of Ghana. The beaches of this country are being clogged by discarded clothes that majorly come from the UK.
It is estimated that around 15 million units of clothing wash up in the capital of Ghana from countries all over the year. While many garments are collected and sold as second-hand clothing, a huge mass remains unused.
That is because a large scale of it is in such poor condition, broken, washed, in bad conditions in general, that they are discarded immediately, and not even considered for recycling.
This is actually a major environmental concern, how long will this go on?
The UK second-hand clothing market is awash with a surplus of poor-quality items that cannot be resold, and Ghana is one of the main recipients of used clothing from the UK. According to the charity WRAP, 70% of these clothes are sent abroad.
Source: Muntaka Chasant for PetaPixel