The Real Cost of Fast Fashion

Fast fashion thrives on speed and volume. New trends drop weekly, clothes are made cheaply, and consumers are encouraged to buy more and wear less. But behind this system lies a trail of waste, pollution, and exploitation.

Environmental Damage: The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. It’s also the second-largest consumer of water worldwide. Producing a single cotton shirt can use up to 2,700 liters of water — the amount one person drinks in 2.5 years.

Landfills Overflowing: Every second, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of textiles is burned or dumped. Many of these garments are barely worn — some never even make it to the shop floor.

Human Impact: To keep prices low, fast fashion often relies on unfair labour practices — underpaid workers, unsafe conditions, and factories that cut corners to meet unrealistic production demands.

And here’s the thing that really hit me: most of the clothes we buy are for our kids. They outgrow them faster than we can blink, and we're left with piles of clothing that often feel too good to throw away — yet too much to keep.

So, What Can We Do?

The problem can feel overwhelming, but change doesn’t have to be.

Buy Less, Choose Better: Ask yourself if you really need that new outfit. Try to buy quality over quantity — items that will last and that can be passed on.

Extend the Life of Clothes: Wash less, repair more, and swap with friends or within your community. Kids especially don’t need new everything.

Support Circular Fashion: Choose second-hand, vintage, or upcycled clothing when possible. Every reused garment is one less item ending up in landfill.

Talk About It: Fast fashion thrives in silence. Let’s talk more about where our clothes come from, who made them, and where they go.

Why I Started Liefde 2.0

Liefde 2.0 was born out of this journey — not as a business idea, but as a response. I wanted to create a space where we could give beautiful, gently-used baby and toddler clothes a second life. A space where quality matters more than trend, and where we teach our kids that clothes — like the people who make them — deserve care and respect.

It’s not perfect. But it’s a step.

If you’re reading this, maybe you're on the same path. Maybe you’ve also looked at your overflowing laundry basket and thought: there has to be a better way. There is — and we’re building it together, one preloved outfit at a time.

Join our movement and let's save the planet one cute outfit at a time!

With love,

Sue
Founder, Liefde 2.0