distressful

according to this report by the journal ‘environmental health practices,’ the practice of making cotton clothing is extremely damaging to society and the environment. globalization, consumerism and recycling have made it possible to produce massive amounts of clothing that end up largely unworn and sometimes redistributed to third-world countries after several trips around the globe. the practice of farming cotton is particularly water- and pesticide-intensive; workers (many of whom are children) are underpaid and work dangerous conditions ; the use of chemicals and the lack of protection can make for a dangerous work envrionment, but ultimately the clothing is made so cheaply that consumers can afford way more than they wear. which is why a lot of donated clothing from rich counties ends up in africa, the result of philanthropy, which in itself endangers or altogether prevents local clothing industries from cropping up.
the man in the picture above spends his days sanding blue jeans to achieve that designer ‘distressed’ look. wikihow offers us an alternative to that dusty discipline: