A slightly different kind of thread, but it connects to band merch and the DIY habit of keeping clothes alive.
I was looking through recent European textile data and some of the numbers were fairly wild:
- Estimated textile consumption reached around 19 kg per person.
- Textile waste was approximately 16 kg per person.
- About 85% of household textile waste was not separately collected.
- Meanwhile, 46% of EU internet users bought clothing, shoes or accessories online in 2024.
It made me think about the difference between mainstream disposable fashion and clothing connected to music.
A patched jacket, an old tour shirt or something bought directly from a band can stay in circulation for years. It gets repaired, altered, handed to someone else or worn until it almost falls apart. That seems completely different from clothing purchased for one photo or one short-lived trend.
Full disclosure: I am involved with Lunarness and helped compile the sources and calculation notes in the Lunarness Fashion Data Observatory 2026.
The part I found useful is that the page does not combine unrelated statistics into one dramatic claim. Consumption, waste, online purchasing and environmental impact are kept as separate indicators with their original sources.
How do people here buy clothes and merch now? Directly from bands, second-hand, swaps, DIY, or mostly wearing the same shirts until they disintegrate?
