Chapter 6: Less is More, More is Less (Cleopas Mlilo): Exploring the Elusive Sustainability in the Fashion Industry

Purpose: This paper investigates how Europe’s fast fashion industry’s sustainability efforts correlate with socio-economic well-being, focusing on the Human Development Index (HDI), Sustainable Development Goals, and textile waste.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Applying Principal Component, Regression, and Spatial Analysis, the study examines cross-European data to identify relationships between development indices and textile waste.

Findings: There is a strong link between adherence to Sustainable Development Goals and higher living standards, but the impact of textile waste on well-being is minimal.

Research Limitations/Implications: Limitations refer to excluding other socio-economic factors and a narrow metric focus, which may obscure the broader effects of textile waste.

Practical Implications: Results advocate for sustainable waste management policies, which were crucial during the European energy crisis, to foster eco-friendly practices in the fashion industry.

Social Implications: The study emphasises the need for a circular economy shift in fast fashion, which is vital for environmental sustainability and societal health.

Originality/Value: This research enriches the sustainability narrative by correlating it with socio-economic health in European contexts, providing a unique industry perspective.

Plain Language Summary: Exploring the connection between sustainability in Europe’s fashion industry and quality of life, our study finds that eco-friendly policies match higher living standards. However, fashion waste’s direct effect could be much better. Amidst an energy crisis (Kent, 2022), our insights press for greener practices in fashion, underscoring the necessity for a circular economy to support environmental and social well-being.