We live and grow in a fast paced world, with our needs and wants growing and changing by the minute. Large fast fashion and textile corporates use this demand to increase business and production, which is what I have depicted in my work. It is estimated that garment manufacturers produce 30% more clothing than they will sell. The lifespan of these garments has reduced drastically, fuelled by an accelerating fashion industry, with some items worn as little as seven times before they are found undesirable. The use of denim clothing specifically aims at engaging a wider audience and increase relatability , thus invoking a feeling of guilt, as also depicted through the red circular motifs. It takes on average, 1500-1800 gallons of water to produce a single pair of blue jeans, only to be one of the most over-produced clothing we have, while corporates simultaneously monetize the story of “a pair of jeans lasts a lifetime”. Today, it is exceedingly important to recognize this pattern and these nuanced business decisions, that lead to these garments entering a secondary supply chain and becoming a part of misleading mythologies surrounding “charity” or “recycling”. First world countries like America disguise this growing waste crisis by transporting this waste out of sight into the landfills of Africa and parts of Asia. My work as a textile artist speaks to these issues, that are currently set to fast-track our planet to a point of no return.
