Have you ever thought about how much water goes into making the clothes you wear? It might surprise you to learn that the fashion industry is one of the biggest users of water in the world. According to Oxfam, it uses enough water each year to fill 37 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.
That’s a huge amount of water being used just to make clothes, many of which are worn only a few times before they’re thrown away. This is one of the reasons why we’re supporting Second Hand September – a campaign that encourages people to buy second hand clothes instead of new ones. But before we dive into how you can take part, let’s take a closer look at why the clothing industry uses so much water, and why it matters.
How water is used in the clothing industry
Water is needed at every stage of making clothes. For example:
- Growing cotton takes a lot of water. Cotton is one of the most common materials used in clothing, but it’s also one of the thirstiest. Just one cotton t-shirt can use up to 2,700 litres of water, that’s enough for one person to drink for nearly three years.
- Dyeing fabrics uses both water and chemicals. These dyes are often washed into rivers and streams, which pollutes the water and harms wildlife.
- Washing and finishing clothes during production uses even more water, especially in large factories.
When you add all this up, it’s easy to see how the fashion industry ends up using such massive amounts of water every year.
Fast fashion’s role in water consumption
Fast fashion is all about making cheap clothes quickly and in large numbers. New styles arrive in shops every week, encouraging people to keep buying more. But this comes at a cost. The more clothes we buy, the more water is used to make them. It also means more clothes end up in landfills, even if they’ve only been worn once or twice.
As water becomes scarcer in many parts of the world, we need to think more carefully about how our choices affect the environment.
How getting involved in Second Hand September can help
Second Hand September is a chance to make a change. The idea is simple: for the month of September, try not to buy any brand-new clothes. Instead, choose second hand options like:
- Charity shops: Find your nearest Oxfam store
- Online resale apps like Vinted or Depop
- Clothes swaps with friends, family or colleagues. Every year, Affinity Water hosts a “swap-shop” event to support Oxfam’s Second Hand September campaign. The event gives staff the opportunity to bring in their pre-loved clothing or books and swap them for something that caught their eye. Why not do the same at your place of work and encourage employees to join in!
- Repairing or upcycling clothes you already own
By choosing second hand, you help reduce the demand for new clothes and the water used to make them. You also give clothes a second life, which helps reduce waste.
You might think that one person switching to second hand clothes won’t make a difference. But imagine if thousands, or even millions of people took part. Together, we could save billions of litres of water.
Plus, buying second hand can be fun. You can find unique styles, save money, and feel good knowing you're making a more sustainable choice.
At Affinity Water, we’re passionate about helping everyone use water wisely so that the things we all do every day, like making a cup of tea, having a shower, or washing our clothes can keep on flowing. When you choose second hand fashion, you’re helping to save the water that goes into making brand-new clothes.
Find out other ways to save water