The $2.5 trillion apparel industry has evolved rapidly over the past 20 years. Cheap production and lowered costs for consumers along with the influence of social media, has produced an avalanche of cheap clothing. "Fast fashion" production is based on a model of ‘take-make-waste’, designed to be worn and discarded within a short period of time.  

Textiles are disposed of in landfills or incinerated; apparel companies conservatively produce 100 billion garments per year; less than 1% of clothing is recycled; 40 million tons of textiles (87% of clothing) are disposed of in landfills or incinerated. The industry is responsible for 4% of all carbon emissions. Textile processing  pollutes rivers, streams and ground water with high levels of pesticides and harsh chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic. 200 million trees are taken down every year for the production of manmade cellulosic fibers for clothing affecting biodiversity and species loss. Today 69% of all clothing is made from polyester or other synthetics which are made from crude oil. Washing garments made of synthetics accounts for 35% of the ocean's microplastics. These have been discovered in our bodies and in our bloodstreams.

To add insult to injury, fashion companies "greenwash" their clothing by making false claims of sustainable fabrics and methods of production.

Unlike other huge industries, the fashion industry is almost entirely unregulated. Citizens alone are not able to regulate fast fashion. Government regulations must be implemented.

We’re calling on the Biden Administration to enact legislation

• Holding the fashion industry responsible for cutting carbon emissions to achieve alignment with the 1.5 degree pathway limiting global warming as set out by the 2015 Paris Agreement
• Requiring the fashion industry to be responsible for sustainably disposing of their waste materials and used clothing
• Requiring labeling of garments for transparency and traceability 
• Forcing brands to abide by the Fair Trade Commission's Green Guidelines for accuracy in claims related to sustainability
• Imposing a carbon tax on all clothing made from virgin synthetic materials
• Mandating every new clothes washing machine has a filter installed to capture plastic microfibers
• Restricting the manufacture, import and export of clothing containing harmful chemicals/substances
• Eliminating unfair practices for apparel workers working below minimum wage or for piecework in unsafe factories, and creating multilateral accountability that holds not only factories but brands liable for unsafe conditions and unpaid wages  
• Banning the importation of clothing made with forced labor, indentured servitude or child labor
• Educating consumers on how to effectively recycle used clothing