RiverBlue, an upcoming Canadian documentary, follows renowned river conservationist Mark Angelo as he paddles down waterways such as the Yamuna River in India, the Pearl River Delta in China, and the Citarum River in Indonesia to reveal jean manufacturing’s poisonous toll, as well as the impact these polluted waterways have on the people who rely on them most.
Most of us know that the fashion industry isn’t the most sustainable industry in the market. The fast cycles (promoted by disposable clothing that needs to be replaced each season), coupled with harsh labour practices, cross-country transport and the chemicals used during the production processes, make it everything but green. While a lot of attention gets placed on labour practices and production processes, how often do we take a look at the fashion industry’s effect on water supplies?