Overconsumption (buying more than needed or purchasing in excess) has become an issue in the fashion and clothing industry. The unfortunate thing is that many items are either thrown away or exported. The US is the leading exporter of used clothes, reaching $712.6 million in used clothes exported in 2020 (Statista, 2022b, slide 29).
However, there is rising interest in circular or secondhand clothing options, which could impact the amount of clothing waste produced by the US. There is a substantial market value projected for secondhand apparel worldwide, exceeding the market value of fast fashion, one of the most environmentally harmful trends.
Over half of lifestyle brand purchasers in the US intend to purchase fewer products for the sake of sustainability in 2022 (Statista, 2022b). However, the revenue in the apparel market will continue to increase in the upcoming years, showing no slowing down in consumption habits (Statista 2022a). 56% of Americans say they somewhat or very often look at a brand’s sustainability practices when deciding to buy an item (Statista, 2022b, slide 34). Younger generations seem to be the most receptive to more sustainable purchasing habits. However, they are just now beginning to gain purchasing power and already contribute $50 million annually to apparel and services purchases (Statista, 2022b; Statista, 2022a, slides 6 and 10).
As younger generations grow their purchasing power, it is essential to consider what purchasing habits need to be adopted to have the smallest negative impact on the earth. When considering consumption habits, alternatives to permanent purchases exist, like clothes rentals.
Additional changes we can make in our purchasing habits include:
As the apparel market is projected to increase in the upcoming years, it is vital to support businesses like Ponybox, a local clothes rental store based in Charlotte, NC, to contribute to business models that have sustainability in mind. Watch the video below to learn about Ponybox and the story behind the community closet.