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The Download: Most U.S. industries, like automotive factories and energy manufacturers, are at least somewhat regulated to reduce emissions. This isn’t true of fashion, which accounts for 10 percent of global carbon emissions. Worth $2.5 trillion, the industry operates with little to no regulation whatsoever, employing 7.5 million people, of which the majority are underpaid women who are vulnerable to abuse. It operates as a conglomerate with zero accountability and a global supply chain that has caused detriment to the planet and workers.
Why It Matters: More than 95 percent of clothes sold in the U.S. are made by female laborers in developing countries, many of whom are subject to horrendous working conditions and sexual harassment. This has spiraled into a system where clothes are sold so cheaply that consumers have an insatiable demand for them: More than 150 billion garments are produced annually. Each American spends an average of $1,883 on clothes and shoes every year,