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Clothes in the closet for over 30 years: Why we buy more and barely wear

ITALY-LABOUR-FASHION-SOCIAL
Dieses Foto zeigt am 1. August 2025 in einer Fabrik eines chinesischen Unternehmens in Prato in Mittelitalien zurückgelassene Kleidung. Chinesische Unternehmensgruppen profitieren in dem Bezirk vom sogenannten „Prato-System“, das seit Langem von Korruption und zahlreichen dokumentierten Unregelmäßigkeiten geprägt ist – insbesondere in der Fast-Fashion-Branche. Dazu zählen Verstöße gegen Arbeits- und Sicherheitsvorschriften sowie Steuer- und Zollbetrug. Die Unternehmen entstehen schnell und schließen ebenso schnell wieder, um sich in einem Katz-und-Maus-Spiel mit den Behörden Steuern oder Geldstrafen zu entziehen. Source: AFP / STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP

We own significantly more clothing today than previous generations — but wear a large part of it barely or not at all. A new study shows how big the gap is between ownership and actual use: In theory, it would take more than 30 years to wear garments so frequently that their production is at least approximately justified ecologically. A look at our growing wardrobe and the environmental costs of fashion.


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By Barbara Barkhausen

Presented by Barbara Barkhausen, Benjamin Kanthak

Source: SBS



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We own significantly more clothing today than previous generations — but wear a large part of it barely or not at all. A new study shows how big the gap is between ownership and actual use: In theory, it would take more than 30 years to wear garments so frequently that their production is at least approximately justified ecologically. A look at our growing wardrobe and the environmental costs of fashion.


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