“What should I wear today?”

Standing in front of an overflowing wardrobe, Neha found herself asking the same question she had asked countless times before. Jeans, tops, kurtas, trousers and dresses were packed into every corner, yet she still felt like she had nothing suitable to wear.

Running late for work, she finally picked an old kurta and left. But later that evening, while scrolling through her phone, an online shopping notification caught her attention. A trendy new top was available at a huge discount. Within minutes, it was added to her cart.

Neha's story may sound familiar to many people. Fashion trends, online sales and the constant arrival of new collections have made buying clothes easier than ever. The result? Wardrobes are getting fuller, while clothes are being worn fewer times.

Fast fashion has changed the way we shop

Fast fashion refers to inexpensive clothing produced quickly to keep up with rapidly changing fashion trends. A style becomes popular, brands produce similar designs, and soon the same trends appear across stores and shopping apps.

Low prices make these clothes even more tempting. Online shopping has taken the convenience a step further. A simple notification saying “70% off,” “limited-time offer” or “last few pieces” can encourage people to make an impulsive purchase—even when they don't actually need anything.

This has shortened the gap between buying and discarding clothes. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, clothing production doubled between 2000 and 2015, while people began using clothes for shorter periods and wearing them fewer times.

92 million tonnes of textile waste every year

The environmental cost of this shopping habit is enormous.

Around 92 million tonnes of textile waste are generated globally every year. That's roughly equivalent to a garbage truck full of clothing being sent to landfill or incineration every second.

And this waste isn't limited to completely worn-out clothes. Garments that are barely used, quickly become unfashionable or are simply forgotten at the back of a wardrobe also contribute to the problem.

What begins as a personal wardrobe problem can eventually become a major urban waste-management challenge.

Former Delhi University professor and Indian Institute of Advanced Studies fellow Sanjay Bhatt has highlighted the lack of responsibility surrounding waste management. According to him, neither companies nor governments have adequately addressed the problem, while consumers are rarely taught from childhood that managing waste is also their responsibility.

As clothing production and consumption increase, the amount of waste is likely to rise as well. Proper waste-management systems therefore need greater attention.

A piece of clothing has a much bigger footprint than we realise

A garment doesn't simply appear on a shop shelf. Before reaching a consumer, it goes through several stages—from producing fibres and manufacturing fabric to dyeing, stitching, packaging and transportation.

Every stage consumes resources, particularly water and energy.

The UNEP estimates that the textile industry uses an amount of water equivalent to around 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools every year. The sector is also responsible for approximately 2% to 8% of global greenhouse-gas emissions.

Synthetic fibres add another layer to the problem. Although recycled materials are increasingly being used, they still represent only a small share of the world's textile production.

Recycling old clothes isn't always simple

It may seem that recycling unwanted clothes is an easy solution. However, turning an old garment into a new one isn't always straightforward.

Clothes can contain different fibres, colours, dyes, buttons, zips and other materials. Separating these components and processing them for reuse can be complicated and expensive.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has pointed out that less than 1% of the material used to make clothing is recycled into new clothing.

That means simply putting unwanted clothes aside for recycling doesn't automatically solve the problem.

So, how many clothes do we really need?

The answer isn't that buying new clothes is always wrong. Clothes are a necessity, and fashion can also be a form of self-expression.

The bigger question is: Are we buying something because we need it, or simply because it's on sale?

Before clicking “Buy Now”, it can help to ask a few simple questions:

• Do I already own something similar?

• How often am I realistically going to wear it?

• Is it a genuine need or an impulse purchase?

• Can I repair or reuse something I already have?

• Could I donate the clothes I no longer wear?

Repeating outfits shouldn't be considered a problem. In fact, wearing clothes for longer, taking proper care of them, repairing them when possible and passing them on when they're no longer needed can significantly extend their useful life.

Ultimately, the problem isn't simply how many clothes are hanging in our wardrobes. It's about how many we actually wear and how quickly we replace them.

So, the next time a “70% OFF” notification appears on your phone, pause for a moment before pressing Buy Now. You might already have exactly what you're looking for hanging in your wardrobe.