REWIND Wardrobe Malfunction: The Climate Impact of Clothing

Published: Sept. 20, 2024, 7:10 a.m.

What we wear defines us in so many ways. But in recent decades we\u2019ve moved away from long-lasting, quality pieces in favor of disposable fast fashion, with major consequences for our climate and environment. From mechanized farming and pesticides to grow fiber crops, to energy for manufacturing and transportation, fossil fuels are embedded in the clothing industry at every step of the process. Companies large and small are working against this trend, with some setting lofty goals for reducing carbon emissions and water use. \nBut achieving those goals is hard. So what are the solutions? Buy less? Design new fibers and materials? Thrifting and repurposing existing clothing? New business models? How can we make low-impact clothing?\nGuests:\xa0\nAja Barber, Author, \u201cConsumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change and Consumerism\u201d\nJason Kibbey, Former CEO, Sustainable Apparel Coalition; Former President, Worldly\nMolly Morse, CEO, Mango Materials\nJonathan Chapman, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University School of Design\nFor show notes and related links, visit our website.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices