Sustainable Fashion in 2026

As the world becomes more and more integrated with artificial intelligence, it becomes harder to avoid using it. Millions of jobs are being replaced by AI every day. Right now, it’s online jobs like programmers, customer support, writers, artists, and web designers like myself. Soon it will be more in-person jobs like tellers, drivers, and anything that can be done with a robotic body. It’s not sci-fi anymore, we’re being replaced.

These changes are happening quick with no solution from governments. Things are getting more expensive and job opportunities are dwindling. So, what can anyone even do about it?

First, we can talk about the environmental impacts of AI. As data centers go up around the world, they’re using drinkable water to cool the massive number of computers they need. The water, as some will argue, is in a “closed system,” but that’s not really true. We’ve already seen the effects of water shortages in Texas from nearby centers, even in a “closed system,” because steam is a byproduct. “Data centers primarily use evaporative cooling, which requires significant water input. This method can lead to the evaporation of up to 80% of the water drawn, contributing to local water scarcity.” – Ethicalgeo.org. Centers can consume up to 5 million gallons of water a day, as much as a town of 10,000 residents. – EEIS.org.

Even if these data centers keep being built as companies happily integrate AI into their models while firing real humans, we don’t have to participate or support it. Saying “what can I do, I’m just one person” or “what does it matter? it’s everywhere?” are not valid excuses anymore. It’s an ethical stance to opt out of participation whenever possible.

The least we can all do is:

1. Don’t pay for any AI services like MidJourney or a Pro GPT account.
2. Don’t use Chat GPT, Gemini, etc.
3. Disable AI tools in your browsers and apps.

How does fashion come into the conversation?

The fashion industry also uses a lot of water, toxic dyes, petroleum bi-products, etc, and most fashion ends up in landfills. If you are going to be sustainable and ethical in one part of your life, consider knowing all the facts about other elements of your life.

The fashion industry worldwide uses 93 billion cubic metres of water annually.

• Microfibers from unnatural fabrics like nylon and polyester contaminate water supplies with lead, arsenic, benzene and other pollutants, put microplastics in our bodies, and require petroleum to produce.
• Fabric dying and treatments creates about 20% of the world’s wastewater.
• Cotton may be a natural fiber but it also uses excessive water to produce and pesticides and fertilisers are often used to increase cotton output.
• Read more at: https://www.fairplanet.org/story/how-the-fashion-industry-pollutes-our-water/
• “The fashion industry now produces 170 billion garments annually, with roughly half thrown away within a year. This makes fashion the world’s third-most-polluting industry after energy and food, generating up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and consuming massive amounts of water.” – Envirolink

The solution? Participate as often as possible in vintage and thrifted fashion. You don’t have to buy things that are old necessarily. Websites like Poshmark allow people to sell their lightly used items, often with popular brand names. Some people on these websites are selling new items, which is not helpful, so keep an eye out.

Thrift stores offer more options than just ratty old t-shirts. Checking them out early in the morning usually means you get the best picks, and people donate everything from fast fashion to high-end brands. The person donating them might be a fashion consumer, but you don’t have to be. My closet is absolutely packed with cool, original, underappreciated fashion. Don’t worry about trends, start them!

If you ever feel like you’re not doing anything or “it won’t make an impact,” you’re wrong. It may be minor, but the more people that participate, the more change we make. Holding to your ethics, even if slightly inconvenient or requiring lifestyle changes, will always be worth it.

If everyone was pouring their oil into the gutters that went straight to your own drinking water, would you also pour your oil in the gutter? No. So don’t participate in the destructive AI and fast fashion industries.

Other changes to consider to spare water:

1. Use powder or sheet detergents and powder face washes.
2. Use bar soap to wash your hands and hair.
3. Buy glass bottles when possible instead of plastic (fewer microplastics in water and in your body).
4. Use reusable travel coffee cups.
5. Wash your clothing on eco mode.