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This stage involves sourcing fibers, either natural (like cotton, wool) or synthetic (like polyester, nylon), which has significant environmental impacts due to water use, pesticide use for natural fibers, and fossil fuel consumption for synthetic fibers.

Processing raw fibers into usable materials often requires large amounts of energy and water, and may generate hazardous waste. For example, turning crude oil into polyester entails emissions and potentially toxic byproducts.

The apparel manufacturing stage includes cutting, sewing, and finishing the textiles. Its environmental impacts are related to energy usage, chemical waste from dyeing and finishing, and textile scrap waste.

Transporting textile products to markets adds greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. Packaging contributes to waste and pollution, but improvements in logistics can reduce these impacts.

The consumer use phase has environmental impacts based on how clothing is cared for, including energy and water usage during washing, and the use of detergents that may contribute to water pollution.

The disposal stage for textiles typically involves landfilling or incineration, which contributes to land occupation and methane emissions. However, opportunities for recycling, upcycling, and downcycling exist.

Textile recycling can mitigate environmental impacts by reducing the demand for raw materials. However, the sorting and reprocessing of fibers can still consume resources and produce waste.

Downcycling textile materials into lower-quality products can extend the material's life and delay disposal, but often leads to products that are not recyclable and eventually require disposal.

Upcycling is the process of transforming waste textiles into products of equal or greater value. It encourages creativity, reduces waste and resource consumption but is limited by scalability.