This fashion show was created out of a huge clothing dump in Chile

A remarkable fashion show was recently created out of a massive clothing dump in Chile to demonstrate the alarming amount of clothing humanity discards each year.

Chile imports around 60,000 tonnes of used clothing annually, with 39,000 tonnes of it illegally dumped in the Atacama Desert. This fashion show was organized by a Chilean foundation called Desierto Vestido, which translates to ‘desert dress’ in English.

Desierto Vestido teamed up with fashion activists and a Brazilian advertising agency to highlight the environmental impact of this growing waste mountain.

Models paraded through the dump, wearing clothes made from textiles that had been discarded there. This event was one of many projects by Desierto Vestido aimed at raising awareness about recycling textiles.

Fashion is the planet’s third most polluting industry, following food and construction. It is responsible for approximately 10% of global CO2 emissions. With 100 billion items of clothing produced every year, only 1% are recycled into new clothes.

Despite these staggering statistics, there is good news. Fashion is becoming more circular, and the global secondhand apparel market grew by 18% in 2023, which is 15 times faster than the broader retail clothing sector.

As the fashion industry continues to evolve, it is essential to support initiatives that promote sustainability and waste reduction. Do you buy secondhand clothing? Each small effort contributes to a larger movement towards a more sustainable future for fashion.