Christmas is the season of goodwill and traditionally we exchange gifts at this time of year - writes Cllr Marianne Rixson.

It can also mean some of us are tempted to spend money on items that we don’t really need.

For this reason, I would ask you to think twice before buying new outfits for Christmas and New Year, especially if this is fast fashion which will quite possibly be worn only once and then thrown away.

85 per cent ends up in landfill.

Seriously, do you really need a reindeer jumper or yet another sparkly outfit?

Have you ever wondered where these items are made and who has made them?

I would urge you to consider how these clothes can be made so cheaply and under what circumstances?

For example, you may have been looking at a website such as Shein, which is a website based in China offering garments at incredibly low prices with free shipping.

A programme made in 2022 by Channel 4 Dispatches, ‘Untold: Inside the Shein machine’ revealed how these clothes are being made in sweatshop conditions.

Chinese law stipulates that employees should only work 40 hours per week with one day off.

However, secret clothes factories are churning out ultra cheap clothing on a daily basis.

Their employees are often working 18 hours a day to fulfil their quota, a staggering 500 garments a day, and only have one rest day per month.

There is no such thing as a weekend for these workers.

Basic pay can be as low as £16.50 per day plus a measly bonus per item of 3p.

However, pay can be slashed by two-thirds for flawed production and, in any event, workers are not paid until the end of their second month.

How can they produce quality items for a pittance when they are clearly exhausted?

At a charity warehouse in the UK, clothes are piled high.

They receive 3.5 tonnes of clothing per annum, including lots of Shein garments and Christmas jumpers.

These cheap, disposable garments are replacing better quality, more sustainable clothing.

Be honest.

Would you want to work in such appalling conditions yourself?

If not, think of these workers being exploited in China before you buy.

Not only are their working conditions deplorable but this is such a tremendous waste of resources in terms of energy, water and fabric.

If you care about the environment and the impact fast fashion is having on our planet, do yourselves a favour and buy some vintage clothing from a charity shop instead.

Not only will this be local, it will mean that your party outfits have been made from higher quality fabrics, have been given a new lease of life and have not been shipped halfway round the world just to be worn only once.

And if you want a change of look, just take your items back to the charity shop, where they can be resold, and choose another outfit, thereby helping to support worthwhile charities into the bargain.

You know it makes sense.