Fast Fashion. You have heard the term. It applies to the readily available and cheap clothes that are runway knock offs. Everyone can get the new look now for a fraction of what a top designer charges. But there is a huge cost. But what about those of us who crochet and knit for fun or profit? Are we part of the fast fashion problem?
The answer is yes. If you are using inexpensive yarn–I will not mention brands–you are part of the problem. Cheap, synthetic yarns never break down. Yes, acrylic and nylon can be made to feel soft. They are not like the old acrylics. But they still do not decompose. They still get stiff after multiple washiings. Synthetic yarns carry a high environmental cost and those manufactured outside of the U.S. probably carry a human cost as well.
As home crafters, we have a responsibility to know where our yarns are manufactured and how they are produced. We put our heart and soul into a beautiful item. The last thing we want is to have that tainted knowing that what we have made will never break down in a landfill and that it was responsible for polluting someones drinking water.
It is not only synthetic yarns that are the problem. Cotton grown outside the U.S. can have the same issues. Most of the cotton grown today is GMO, allowing it to be resistant to pesticides. Tons of chemicals are used in the growing of non-organic cotton.
What can we as crafters do? First, know where and how your yarn is manufactured. Choose organic when possible. Be aware that certain “natural” fibers like bamboo and rayon should be ethically manufactured. Yes, these yarns cost more, but overall, by using yarns that are ethically created, our crafting is elevated and we are protecting the only Earth we have. Let’s bring the Slow Fashion movement to our knitting and crochet projects.