Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day, especially if you have kids. Our fast-paced society forces us into trying to keep up with it and in turn that can cause us to want to make life a little easier on us by choosing quick and easily accessible options. The simpler the better, right? Eh, maybe not so much when it comes to fast fashion. The price tag might be appealing to one’s eye in the moment but the impact of our choices in clothing goes deeper than our wallet. In recent years I’ve really been seeing that the way that we are currently living and consuming, is not built to last. It’s not sustainable for the future of our planet, and the more I looked into fast fashion it made me realize it’s not healthy for us or our children. This was one of the many reasons I chose to start up my small eco-friendly business. I wanted to make it easier for other families out there to find cute, affordable children's clothing that is both loving to their bodies as well as to our planet. Here are three reasons why you should avoid fast fashion altogether and buy from a small eco-friendly business instead.

Fast fashion is the second largest polluter in the entire world, right after the oil industry. The WHO estimates that 20% of industrial water pollution comes from textile manufacturing which releases dyes, chemicals and microplastics into waterways in manufacturing countries. Any garment made from synthetic fabrics will shed millions over its lifetime. You read that right, a SINGLE polyester garment of clothing will shed millions of microplastics every time it is washed. A study showed that in over 150 tap water samples from across the globe 83% of them were found to contain plastic particles. If the industry maintains this course an increase of 50% in greenhouse gas emissions is expected within the next decade.

63% of textile fibers are derived from petrochemicals. Over 8,000 different chemicals are used in the textile manufacturing industry. From chemicals like Nonylphenol ethoxylates, which are known to be hazardous and act as hormone disruptors all the way to heavy metals like lead or cadmium which can accumulate in the body over time and are known for being highly toxic. There is no safe level for hazardous chemicals, which is why I choose to use high quality, organic cotton fabric. Powerful chemicals are not introduced during its production and because of this you are no longer running the risk of exposing your body to these dangerous chemicals. It is healthier for us, our kids, our skin and the environment!

Three out of five fast fashion items of clothing end up in a landfill. Fast fashion means the clothing was made fast, wow.. who knew? But that also means it has lower quality, which tends to get worn out just after a handful of washes and this demands the need for newer clothing. The world consumes 80 million new pieces of clothing a year. With about 57% of all discarded clothing ending up in a landfill, after time this piles up and then the trash is moved to be incinerated. This only further releases more greenhouse gases and contributes to both public health and environmental dangers. The clothing I create is made to last, meant to be passed down through the family and be lived in.