In Australia, the fast fashion sector has grown by 19.5 per cent over five years.
Almost a quarter of Australians throw away an item of clothing after wearing it just once. They don't always see it as something that is a valuable product to keep in their wardrobe.

A booming part of the industry, including in Australia, is fast fashion, where catwalk designs are quickly turned into apparel sold at low or ultra-low prices and easily accessible via online sites.

The longevity of clothing has declined over the years. Some products only last two or three washes because people are turning over products in their own home more quickly.

The rock bottom prices for consumers contrast with the high cost paid by the environment. Tons of cheap clothes are churned out every year in developing countries, using copious amounts of energy and resources and polluting waterways near factories with toxic chemicals.

The materials used are often synthetic and non-biodegradable, meaning even washing can be hazardous, with some textiles shedding plastic micro-fibers that make their way to water catchments and oceans in consumer countries like Australia.

Globally, clothing production doubled from 2000-2014, with the number of garments bought each year by consumers soaring by 60 per cent.