By Roy Mabasa

The Embassy of Sweden in Manila has launched a three-month-long exhibition to highlight Sweden’s active role in promoting environmental sustainability in fashion – one of the world’s most polluting industries.

Curated and produced by the Swedish Institute with the help of researchers and sustainable fashion experts, the “Fashion Revolution: The Future of Textiles” is an exhibition that focuses on the fashion industry’s major environmental challenges, showcases his country’s solutions, and guides consumers to contribute effectively to a more sustainable world.

“Fashion and textile represent one of the most polluting industries, the Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines Harald Fries said in the launching of the exhibit last week at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.

Globally, he said people consume about 62 million tons of clothing per year – the size of a small suitcase full of clothes per person – and only 20 percent is re-used or recycled.

Fries noted that since the year 2000, global clothes production has more than doubled, and the average person now buys 60 percent more items of clothing every year and keeps them for about half as long as they did 15 years ago.

He added that it takes 10,000 to 30,000 liters of water and 2 to 4 kilos of chemicals to produce 1 kilo of treated cotton.

Furthermore, the Swedish diplomat said about 15 to 30 percent of the plastic pollutants in the oceans consists of microplastics and 35 percent of that comes from laundering synthetic textiles, he said.

“Clothes affect all of us on this planet. We are all consumers regardless of whether we follow the latest fashion, wear hand-me-downs, shop at large chains or buy tailor-made. I see everyone here tonight dressed beautifully,” Fries said.

The fashion industry, he said, is in the midst of a much-needed fundamental change and this is what the Fashion Revolution exhibition is all about.

“This revolution will need everyone’s commitment and effort. For the consumer, the first and biggest step is to make conscious and informed choices — from something as simple as not using single-use plastics to prolonging the life of your clothing and shopping second-hand. It comes down to mindful decisions,” he said.

The exhibition, which is running from January 30 to April 30, is supported by major Swedish brands such as H&M Philippines, BabyBjorn and Houdini Sportswear.