The massive overproduction in the fashion industry

The fashion industry produces an estimated 80 to 150 billion garments annually. Strikingly, consumers today buy 60% more clothing than they did fifteen years ago, but wear it for only half as long. This leads to immense amounts of waste and unnecessary squandering of resources. Even more alarming, 10 to 40% of this clothing is never sold and remains in storage, destroyed, or ends up as unsold inventory in landfills.

Why is there so much overproduction?

Fashion companies often work with rapid production runs and large volumes, leading to a surplus of clothing. Some of the reasons for this are:

- Predictive models and trends: Brands base their production on predictions that aren't always accurate. As a result, garments remain unused because they prove unpopular.

Economies of scale: The higher the production, the lower the unit costs. This encourages overproduction, even if some of the clothing is never sold.

- Seasonal collections: In the fast fashion sector, collections are constantly being renewed, meaning that leftover stock is quickly considered 'old'.

The consequences of overproduction

Overproduction has enormous environmental impacts:

High CO₂ emissions: Clothing production requires significant energy, water, and raw materials. Unsold clothing that is destroyed creates unnecessary emissions and waste.

- Water consumption: The fashion industry uses billions of liters of water every year, yet a large portion of the clothing produced is never worn.

- Toxic waste: Unsold clothing is often burned, which leads to harmful emissions. In addition, synthetic fabrics contribute to microplastic pollution.

What can we do about this?

As consumers, we can make more conscious choices and thus contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry:

Buy less, but better: Choose quality clothes that last longer instead of cheap fast fashion items.

- Secondhand and vintage: Consider buying secondhand clothing to reduce the demand for new production.

Sustainable brands: Support fashion companies that focus on fair production and circular initiatives. At Kyndly, we work exclusively with brands that use sustainable production processes and combat waste.

The fashion industry needs to change, but that change starts with us. By consciously choosing sustainable fashion, we can collectively reduce the impact of overproduction and contribute to a greener future.

Shop consciously. Wear with pride. Make a difference. 🌱