The alternatives to tip the balance towards the opposite side are known: using second-hand clothes, buying intelligently and opting for items whose life is longer, that is, with better quality materials. According to Mireia González, co-director of the master’s degree in fashion brand management and creation at Esdesign, there is one more alternative: Smart Clothing.
Also known as e-fabrics, they refer to fabrics that include technology that can be presented in different ways. For example, in stain-resistant fabrics, sports clothing capable of providing performance data, other items that change color, swimsuits that warn when the user has been exposed to UV rays for a long time, and even biodegradable fibers. In conclusion, incorporating technology into clothing doesn’t necessarily look like lights, wires, or on/off switches.
According to González, this type of clothing also tends to have a longer useful life, which would produce less waste; However, the problem continues to be high costs, a situation that the specialist does not foresee improving in the short term.
And part of the problem is fast fashion, a trend that emerged in the 80s that allows brands to create multiple collections throughout the year based on clothing made with low-quality materials, “which makes it disposable and accentuates the continuous need to consume new garments,” he points out.
Statista data indicates that the fashion industry generates more than a billion dollars annually worldwide, with garments designed for the female audience being those that report the highest income to the sector (between 40% and 50% of the market).
In 2023, the total trade exchange of textiles in Mexico was 22,511 million dollars, according to Data México of the Ministry of Economy. The country mainly consumes products from China, followed by the United States, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India.
The Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) points out that clothing that ends up in landfills can remain there for more than 200 years and, as it decomposes, it emits methane, a greenhouse gas more powerful than carbon dioxide.
The organization points out that currently national efforts focus more on the development of sustainable textiles, which — it says — are beneficial for health, since garments with ecological technology are made with natural materials. “Sustainable fashion encourages a more responsible and ethical attitude towards consumption,” he adds.
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