Clothes made of polyester, a synthetic fabric, have been polluting the waters without us even knowing. It can be made from recycled plastic through a process of chopping and weaving plastic into a textile. Though this seems like a good solution to removing some plastic from the landfills, it is actually contributing to plastic pollution in the water. Every time that clothing containing polyester is washed, microfibers which are small pieces of plastic, are being washed down to rivers, lakes, and oceans because they are too small for the water treatment plans to catch. It has been estimated that there are currently 1.4 million trillion microfibers polluting the waters. They absorb pollutants which end up in the stomachs of fishes, which end up in the stomachs of humans. Wanting to work in the fashion industry while helping the environment through sustainable design, I originally thought that using recycled materials and plastic in textiles would be beneficial and impactful in a positive way. However, through this video, I learned that it is not the best solution to preventing pollution as it is causing pollution. I am now determined to find a way to create textiles that have a positive impact on the environment. Additionally, it is important to encourage others to stop buying clothing containing polyester, though it is difficult because of its large role in fast fashion.
