Written by Naomi Higo, Urban Ecology Coordinator

You’ve probably seen the term “fast fashion” floating around. But if you don’t know what it means, here’s the skinny on your skinny jeans. Fast fashion is a business model that mass-produces cheap, trendy clothes in high-speed cycles. But that kind of rapid production has consequences.  

The fast fashion industry is infamous for being one of the planet’s biggest polluters. It’s also one of the biggest sources of sweatshops and child labour in developing nations. So, what can you do about it?  

As consumers, we have the power to choose how and where we spend our money. Some of the easiest ways to make sure you’re not supporting a fast fashion company are to educate yourself, buy less and buy second-hand. 

1. Build your knowledge. Learn more about the fast fashion industry so you can make informed decisions about what you’re buying. Read more here.

2. Check out clothing swaps. Thrift shops aren’t the only places to find secondhand options. Depending on where you live, you might be able to find clothing swaps and giveaways happening near you. Luckily, they’re becoming a bigger and bigger trend in Metro Vancouver! Read more here.

3. Upcycle your outfits. Don’t just throw away your holey sweaters! There are ways to revive those old, fraying pieces. You can learn to do minor repairs or even remake them into a new piece. Worst case scenario, you can donate them to a textile collection service in lieu of dooming them to a landfill. Read more here.

Want to get started on lifestyle changes like these? Join Douglas College and the Institute of Urban Ecology (IUE) for our first-ever Waste Reduction Week! Oct. 3–7 is packed full of free events at both campuses to support Douglas College staff and students in living more sustainably, with fast fashion as this year’s focus.  

Waste Reduction Week comes from a larger Canadian tradition dating back to the ‘80s, one that’s all about limiting environmental harm. It historically explores everything from individual choices up to the systemic changes needed to transition to a circular economy. (A circular economy is one that minimizes waste and reuses resources as much as possible.)

At Douglas, we strive to be global citizens and role models in our communities. Part of being a global citizen is recognizing that the choices we make in our cities affect more than our urban ecosystem. Their effects radiate outward to people and nature in other parts of the world.   

It’s easy to think of the environment as “a problem for the experts,” but you don’t need to be a scientist to make a difference. Sustainability is interdisciplinary. No matter what your skills or passions are, if everyone made one small change today, those small changes would add up to one big change globally.   

Chef Anne Marie Bonneau said it best: “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” 

Want to learn more about reducing your fashion-based waste? Attend our Waste Reduction Week events over the next few days! Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/events/3230980557179720

Naomi Higo is the Urban Ecology Coordinator at Douglas College’s Institute of Urban Ecology. As an educator with a passion for conservation biology, Naomi has worked on causes like animal rescue, ocean health, habitat loss and the exotic pet trade. She believes that sustainability education should be integrated into every field.