Impact Calculator

Fast Fashion True Cost Calculator — East Hills Casuals
East Hills Casuals Sustainability Tool
True Cost Calculator

Here's your
fast fashion bill.

You see the price tag. You don't see the CO₂, the water, or the hours of your life. Until now — adjust the sliders and get your real receipt.

10% of global carbon emissions
8kg CO₂ per garment produced
85% of fast fashion ends up in landfill
7× avg wears before discard

Your shopping habits

Move the sliders to match your real habits. No judgment — just the numbers.

4

The average American buys about 5 new clothing items per month.

1/mo20/mo
$30

Fast fashion averages $15–$40. Think Shein, H&M, Zara, Fashion Nova.

$5$150
7×

Studies show the average fast fashion garment is worn just 7–10 times before being discarded.

1×50×
$20/hr

Used to calculate how many hours of work your wardrobe actually costs you each year.

$10/hr$100/hr
Fast Fashion Co.
Est. Every Season · New Look, Same Story
SHOPPING HABITS — ANNUAL
Items purchased 48 items
Money spent $1,440
COST PER WEAR
Your cost/wear $4.29
Quality alt. cost/wear $0.47
You overpay per wear by 9.1×
ENVIRONMENTAL COST
CO₂ generated
384 kg ≈ driving 1,829 km
Water consumed
129,600 L ≈ 1,080 showers
Items to landfill
41 items 85% end up discarded
TIME COST
Hours worked to pay
72 hrs ≈ 3 full work weeks
YOUR ANNUAL TRUE COST
Shop Differently →

What if you invested that same budget differently?

With your annual fashion budget, buying quality pieces worn 30× each, here's how the numbers change:

14
quality pieces — more versatile, less cluttered
$0.47
cost per wear — 9× cheaper per use
-77%
less CO₂ generated vs fast fashion habit
Shop quality pieces at EHC →

Data sources & methodology

8 kg
CO₂ per garment
Blended average across polyester and cotton garments. Source: Quantis, Measuring Fashion (2018)
2,700 L
Water per garment
Average water consumption including growing, processing, and dyeing. Source: WWF — Water & Cotton
85%
Garments to landfill
Percentage of clothing discarded annually without recycling or donation. Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017)
0.21 kg
CO₂ per km driven
Average passenger car emissions used for CO₂ equivalent comparisons. Source: US EPA
120 L
Water per shower
Average 8-minute shower used for water equivalent comparisons. Source: US EPA WaterSense
10%
Global carbon share
The fashion industry's estimated share of global annual carbon emissions. Source: UNEP (2019)

How quality cost-per-wear is calculated: We assume quality pieces cost 3× the average price of your fast fashion items and are worn 30 times each — a conservative estimate. Studies show well-made garments average 30–200+ wears. The CO₂ reduction for quality fashion is estimated at 77% less per garment-wear based on production efficiency and wear frequency. All calculations are estimates designed to illustrate relative impact, not exact measurements. CO₂ driving equivalent uses US EPA average passenger car emission factor of 0.21 kg CO₂/km.