Cost
Let's assume a shirt costs $5. Why might it actually be “expensive” for the planet?
resource use, pollution, waste
You have $20. Do you buy 1 durable shirt or 4 cheap shirts? Why?
durability vs waste
Where do most thrown-away clothes end up?
landfill
What is one thing you can turn old clothes into?
bag, cloth, costume, etc.
What material are most t-shirts made from?
cotton
Why do companies produce clothes quickly and cheaply?
trends, profit, demand, competition
Why do people buy clothes they don’t need?
trends, ads, social pressure
Why don’t all clothes get recycled?
materials mixed, cost, infrastructure
What tools or materials might you need to repurpose clothes?
scissors, thread, glue, etc.
Is cotton natural or synthetic?
natural
If a shirt uses a lot of water to make, what global problem could that worsen?
water scarcity
What makes it hard to reuse clothing?
style, fit, perception, effort
If everyone reused clothes, how would companies need to change?
clothing companies might shift production methods
You have ripped jeans...what’s a creative way to still use them?
shorts, patches, bag, etc.
What is polyester made from?
Plastic (petroleum)
A factory dumps dye into a river. Who is affected?
animals, people, ecosystems, farmers
Would renting clothes be a good idea? Explain one benefit + one drawback
reduces waste but is potentially expensive
What is more effective: recycling or reducing consumption? Why?
reducing > recycling
Why do some people choose not to repurpose clothes?
takes time, effort, skill, or they don’t know how
Which is easier to recycle:
A. 100% cotton shirt
B. Cotton + polyester blend
A
Which uses more resources over time:
A. 1 shirt worn 50 times
B. 5 shirts worn 10 times each
How could companies encourage people to reuse clothes?
incentives, trade-ins, repair services
Name one step in the clothing production process
Growing cotton, manufacturing, dyeing, shipping
What is one item you can make from old jeans without sewing?
Cut-off shorts/bag/patches
Why are blended fabrics harder to recycle?
Materials are mixed and difficult to separate