Eco-Anxiety in Fashion — What It Is and Why It Matters
- Britta Cabanos
- 13 hours ago
- 4 min read
The Hidden Toll of Fashion: Why Eco-Anxiety Matters
The fashion industry dazzles the world with creativity and style, but beneath the surface lies a complex web of environmental pressures and mental health challenges. If you're a fashion student, emerging designer, or industry professional, you're likely feeling the growing weight of climate change and sustainability. You're not alone in this emotional journey.
The persistent worry about the health of our planet, known as eco-anxiety, is increasingly shaping how we feel about the work we do and the industry we love.
This article is part of my ongoing Mental Wellness in Fashion series, which began with "From Burnout to Belonging," where I shared my personal story of how fashion's pressures impacted my health and led me to found Inside Fashion Design. Now, we dive deeper into eco-anxiety—exploring what it is, why it hits fashion so hard, and how we can transform this anxiety into creativity, resilience, and action.
What Is Eco-Anxiety?
Eco-anxiety is the chronic fear and distress related to environmental upheaval, such as climate change, excessive waste, and unsustainable production systems. It is gaining prominence as awareness of these crises spreads globally, affecting all sectors—including fashion, one of the world's most resource-intensive industries.
Fashion's influence touches every part of our lives, from what we wear to how those garments are produced and discarded. This vast environmental footprint raises a critical question many in the industry wrestle with: Am I part of the problem, or part of the solution?
The Mental Health Side of Fashion
From the outside, fashion looks glamorous and exciting. Behind the scenes, it's often relentless deadlines, creative pressure, and the exhaustion of constant demand. I've lived this reality—traveling internationally, pushing through stress, and carrying the weight of knowing every design must perform commercially. The strain soon affected my physical health, culminating in a heart attack.
This experience is far from unique. Many designers, product developers, students, and entrepreneurs endure similar pressures. When combined with the knowledge that our industry contributes significantly to environmental harm, eco-anxiety becomes an unavoidable part of our mental landscape.
Recent reports make this clear:
Teen Vogue highlights how social media-driven shopping triggers the brain's reward system like addictive substances, increasing anxiety and depression cycles. Teen Vogue
Textile World reveals that 50% of Gen Z say the pressure to keep up with fast fashion harms their mental health. Textile World
The intersection of identity, values, and fashion means mental health impacts are deeply personal and complex. It's okay to feel the weight of these issues, and it's important to remember that you're not alone in this struggle.
Why Eco-Anxiety Hits Fashion Students and Professionals Particularly Hard
Eco-anxiety layers itself on top of an already intense industry culture:
For Students: The aspiration to design consciously often clashes with academic assignments and internships rooted in fast-fashion systems. Many ask, How can I start my career without compromising my values?
For Emerging Designers: Balancing financial stability with slower, sustainable design paths feels like a constant tug-of-war.
For Professionals: The "always on" culture, with seasonal cycles, deadlines, and retail pressures, along with awareness of labor and planetary impacts, can lead to guilt, burnout, and disillusionment.
Dr. Kennedy-Williams, in Vogue Business, suggests:
"One way to help climate anxiety is by moving away from fast fashion and into sustainable businesses, which improves mental health and resilience." Vogue Business
Practical Ways to Cope and Thrive: Turning Anxiety Into Action
Acknowledging eco-anxiety is the first step. Here are research-backed resources and strategies tailored for those in fashion:
Immediate Support
Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741 for 24/7 free counseling in the U.S./Canada. Crisis Text Line
Personal Tools & Practices
University of Arizona CAPS Eco-Anxiety Toolkit: Grounding exercises, self-care methods, and cognitive strategies designed for climate distress. University of Arizona CAPS
Tools from https://caps.arizona.edu/eco-anxiety Yale Forum on Religion & Ecology: Meditation and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practices. Yale Forum
Global Communities for Shared Support
Climate Clock Mental Health Hub: Peer groups like Good Grief Network and Force of Nature Climate Cafés. Climate Clock
TIME's Collection of Collective Initiatives: Circles and programs like All We Can Save and The Work That Reconnects encourage hope and meaningful action. TIME
Fashion-Specific Resources
Vogue Business on Sustainable Careers: Insights into how sustainable business paths boost resilience. Vogue Business
Fashion Revolution Educational Packs: Curricula to empower students to ask, "Who made my clothes?" Fashion Revolution
Student Minds UK Report: Explores the impact of climate change on student mental health and offers strategies for empowerment. Student Minds Report
Times Higher Education: Four practical strategies to turn climate anxiety into student-led climate action. Times Higher Education
From Burnout to Belonging — Continuing the Conversation
This post builds on my earlier reflections on burnout and conscious fashion as a purposeful movement. Eco-anxiety reflects how deeply we care but also points toward a collective opportunity to shift industry culture.
At Inside Fashion Design and The Conscious Fashion Design Academy, we cultivate a supportive space offering mentorship, learning, and community for healthy career growth grounded in sustainability and wellbeing.
Conclusion: From Eco-Anxiety to Empowerment
Eco-anxiety signals our profound connection to the planet and the industry we shape. Instead of suppressing it, let's channel this energy to foster creativity, build resilience, and drive change. Together, we can transform anxiety into action—creating a fashion industry that honors both the planet and the people who make it. This transformation is not only possible but also within our reach.
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