The environmental impacts of our food and energy systems have been the subject of increasing public scrutiny, but sustainable fashion writer and activist Amy DuFault says we don't give our clothes the same kind of attention.
Case in point: With California in the grips of a record-setting draught, you may have heard the oft-quoted statistic that it takes a gallon of water to grow a single almond. Do some quick calculations, and that translates to about four hundred gallons of water per pound - sixteen servings - of almonds. Astounding.
Well, cotton is no better. According to the National Resources Defense Council, "it takes anywhere from 700 to 2,000 gallons of water to produce about a pound of conventional cotton – enough for a single T-shirt." That number is a bit lower for cotton grown in the United States. Still, DuFault puts it at about 400 gallons of water per t-shirt.
And it doesn't end there. While that t-shirt can be worn more than sixteen times (one hopes), it sucks up more water each time. A load of laundry can use anywhere from 10 to 50 gallons of water, depending on the washing machine. There's also the water that may have been contaminated with dyes or other chemicals during the manufacturing process.
For more than a decade, DuFault has been working to raise awareness and change attitudes toward fashion - both inside the industry and more broadly. She point out that, while clothing is a necessity, fashion is a luxury, and most of us in the developed world have "too much." DuFault, herself, went on a "fashion fast" last year, reworking her existing wardrobe, rather than buying new. She also advocates clothing swaps and buying second-hand.
But DuFault says that there's no one-size-fits-all plan for a sustainable wardrobe. Our clothing is one of our most visible forms of self-expression, so DuFault advises concerned consumers start by identifying what's important to them - water conservation, organic farming, fair labor practices, local manufacturing - and then find ways to express those values through fashion.
As resources, DuFault recommends EcoSalon, Ecouterre, and, of course, her blog.