IN an interview with Vogue Scandinavia, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg criticised the fashion industry over its "huge" contribution to climate change.
Thunberg, 18, is featured on the cover of the magazine.
In the article, Thunberg said she last bought a new item of clothing three years ago and "... it was second-hand".
"I just borrow things from people I know," she added.
On Sunday, in addition to expanding on her thoughts, she tweeted a picture of Vogue Scandinavia's, which showed her wearing an oversized trench coat while petting a horse in a forest.
In the three-part Twitter thread, Thunberg took aim at the disposability of ‘fast fashion’, exploitation of workers and the ‘greenwashing’ of the industry as more climate conscious than it really is.
The fashion industry is a huge contributor to the climate-and ecological emergency, not to mention its impact on the countless workers and communities who are being exploited around the world in order for some to enjoy fast fashion that many treat as disposables. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/pZirCE1uci
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) August 8, 2021
‘Fast fashion’ is a term used to describe the rapidly produced, low-cost clothing for seasonal trends.
Calling for a "system change", Ms Thunberg said fashion could not realistically be mass produced and consumed "sustainably as the world is shaped today".
According to the United Nations, the fashion industry is "widely believed to be the second-most polluting industry in the world".
It accounts for more than 20% of wastewater globally, the UN says. About 93 billion cubic metres of water – enough for five million people to survive – is annually used by the fashion industry.
As for carbon emissions, the industry is responsible for about 8% of the total worldwide. That's more than all international flights and shipping combined, the UN says.
In response, fashion companies have begun to take steps to reduce their environmental footprint.
However, Thunberg and other climate activists say these brands are promoting solutions that only superficially address the issue.
This is where the term ‘greenwashing’ comes into play, as it describes a form of marketing spin put into place to seemingly trick consumers into believing products are environmentally friendly. – The Vibes, August 11, 2021
