The reason I called out high-fashion is that it sets the trends and expectations for the rest of the industry. H&M and the like model their lines based on what the high end fashion industry says is in-vogue. They change this every season for no good reason other than to drive (false) demand at the mid and high end.
Other than that, nothing you wrote contradicts anything I wrote. Automobiles, travel and single use plastics are also valid issues but that's not the focus of this thread.
www.businessinsider.com/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-pollution-emissions-waste-water-2019-10
'Fast Fashion' is not even 'fashion' - it's literally just 'clothing'.
So yes we wear 'cheap clothing' and it has pollution effects, which are greater than 'aircraft' but not nearly as big as other industries.
And as to the premise of the article, making 'stretchy pants' is in no way more environmentally friendly than making 'more formal attire'.
I'm not clear why you would call fast fashion, "not even fashion". That sounds embarrassingly elitist.
To be honest I'm not sure what point you're making that relies on their being a clear distinction between the two? I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that you're trying to say high fashion is not as culpable or "bad" as fast fashion is?
Sure, not directly. The lower volume and having more money for better sourcing probably makes it slightly more sustainable.
But, high fashion sets the dangerous expectation that you have to update your wardrobe regularly in order to fit in. That's the crux of the problem. They also directly profit off of fast fashion churn [0].
[0] https://www.thefashionlaw.com/just-how-successful-is-your-fa...
Every pound of vehicle mass that you've purchased beyond what was absolutely necessary to 'get from A to B' and every unnecessary bit of travel or vacation has produced considerably more 'waste' than anything a the 'high end' of fashion.
Seriously - this moral concern coming from the 'land of a billion not-necessarily-even-useful plastic gadgets'?
The 'high end' of fashion is mostly art and artisanal, paid for by the rich. Not essential, but not a big deal.
Furthermore, the article is not about even 'high end fashion' - it's about basic attire. If people want to walk around in branded underwear then fine, but this is literally 'Idiocracy, 2008' coming to life.
If there is possibly an issue with 'waste' it's definitely not towards the 'upper 1/2' of the industry wherein such pieces could be worn for a lifetime, rather, it's 'fast fashion' i.e. H&M and Zara. This is arguably wasteful.