France, June 2 -- French senators begin debating landmark fast fashion legislation Monday that could reshape how ultra-cheap clothing is sold and marketed, but ecologists fear the proposed law has been significantly diluted from its original form.

The French buy an average of 48 items of new clothing per year per person, but two thirds of those garments remain in the wardrobe, while others are thrown away and pollute the environment. Thirty-five garments are thrown away every second, according to Ademe-France's environmental agency.

On Monday, lawmakers in the upper house begin debating a proposed law to "reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry" - estimated to be responsible for 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions wor...