The Implications of Fast Fashion

Over the past few decades, the emergence of fast fashion has changed the way consumers shop for clothes. Fast fashion refers to inexpensive, trendy garments that move quickly from the catwalk to fashion retailers in order to capture the latest style trends. By utilizing low quality material and rapid production methods, fashion brands are able to release at least one new clothing collection every week, according to Elizabeth Cline. Fast fashion produces 80 billion garments per year, 400% more than 20 years ago, with clothing items worn an average of seven times before disposal. With the expeditious replication of trends along with cheap production, the fast fashion industry causes more harm than good, negatively impacting the environment, human rights, and the wallets of consumers.

Environmental Impacts

The fast fashion industry plays a large role in climate change and environmental pollution by generating substantial amounts of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. With this, fast fashion accounts for 10% of the world’s carbon emissions, producing more than international flights and maritime shipping combined, according to Business Insider. In terms of water pollution, textile dying has become the second largest polluter on the planet, as microfibers from clothing make up 30% of plastic pollution in the ocean, as reported by Greenpeace. Because these garments are made with low quality materials, consumers dispose of items more frequently, with 85% of textiles ending up in landfills every year.

Unethical Labor Practices

In addition to fast fashion’s detrimental impacts on the environment, many of these brands export labor overseas to nations with inadequate labor laws. With no regulations on work hours, employee age, or health and safety conditions, employees must endure dangerous work environments for very little pay. Though fast fashion brands may claim to fairly compensate their garment workers, the minimum wage in manufacturing countries such as China and India is five times less than the living wage, as most laborers live in poverty working an average of 96 hours per week. With the inability to form unions, employees have no choice but to endure abhorrent factory conditions, often facing verbal and physical abuse while on the job. Child labor is also a common practice, with millions of young children forced into garment work to help support their families. These unethical practices exploit workers for the sake of saving money on labor and producing large quantities of clothing.

Shopping Smarter

Though fast fashion remains a large part of the clothing industry, there are many ways for consumers to shop mindfully. With an increase in companies considering their environmental and social impact, shopping sustainable brands has never been easier. Though these clothes may be more expensive, consumers are paying for garments made with high quality materials lasting longer than clothing produced by fast fashion. This helps shoppers buy clothes less often, having a positive impact on the environment and consumer wallets. In addition to buying from sustainable brands, shopping from companies with transparent labor practices prevents consumers from contributing to the unethical treatment of workers. Thrifting and donating clothing items also helps to lessen environmental and social impacts of fast fashion. Recycling garments through second hand stores keeps them out of landfills and the ocean, decreasing pollution in the water and on land. Buying recycled clothes remains a great alternative to fast fashion for people on a budget, while ensuring consumers’ money does not support sweatshop labor. Overall, in order to lessen the negative impacts of fast fashion, consumers need to embrace alternative brands and shopping practices as well as educate others on the true cost of cheap clothing. With this, the fashion industry can move towards a more sustainable and socially just future.

The Implications of Fast Fashion

Over the past few decades, the emergence of fast fashion has changed the way consumers shop for clothes. Fast fashion refers to inexpensive, trendy garments that move quickly from the catwalk to fashion retailers in order to capture the latest style trends. By utilizing low quality material and rapid production methods, fashion brands are able to release at least one new clothing collection every week, according to Elizabeth Cline. Fast fashion produces 80 billion garments per year, 400% more than 20 years ago, with clothing items worn an average of seven times before disposal. With the expeditious replication of trends along with cheap production, the fast fashion industry causes more harm than good, negatively impacting the environment, human rights, and the wallets of consumers.

Environmental Impacts

The fast fashion industry plays a large role in climate change and environmental pollution by generating substantial amounts of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. With this, fast fashion accounts for 10% of the world’s carbon emissions, producing more than international flights and maritime shipping combined, according to Business Insider. In terms of water pollution, textile dying has become the second largest polluter on the planet, as microfibers from clothing make up 30% of plastic pollution in the ocean, as reported by Greenpeace. Because these garments are made with low quality materials, consumers dispose of items more frequently, with 85% of textiles ending up in landfills every year.

Unethical Labor Practices

In addition to fast fashion’s detrimental impacts on the environment, many of these brands export labor overseas to nations with inadequate labor laws. With no regulations on work hours, employee age, or health and safety conditions, employees must endure dangerous work environments for very little pay. Though fast fashion brands may claim to fairly compensate their garment workers, the minimum wage in manufacturing countries such as China and India is five times less than the living wage, as most laborers live in poverty working an average of 96 hours per week. With the inability to form unions, employees have no choice but to endure abhorrent factory conditions, often facing verbal and physical abuse while on the job. Child labor is also a common practice, with millions of young children forced into garment work to help support their families. These unethical practices exploit workers for the sake of saving money on labor and producing large quantities of clothing.

Shopping Smarter

Though fast fashion remains a large part of the clothing industry, there are many ways for consumers to shop mindfully. With an increase in companies considering their environmental and social impact, shopping sustainable brands has never been easier. Though these clothes may be more expensive, consumers are paying for garments made with high quality materials lasting longer than clothing produced by fast fashion. This helps shoppers buy clothes less often, having a positive impact on the environment and consumer wallets. In addition to buying from sustainable brands, shopping from companies with transparent labor practices prevents consumers from contributing to the unethical treatment of workers. Thrifting and donating clothing items also helps to lessen environmental and social impacts of fast fashion. Recycling garments through second hand stores keeps them out of landfills and the ocean, decreasing pollution in the water and on land. Buying recycled clothes remains a great alternative to fast fashion for people on a budget, while ensuring consumers’ money does not support sweatshop labor. Overall, in order to lessen the negative impacts of fast fashion, consumers need to embrace alternative brands and shopping practices as well as educate others on the true cost of cheap clothing. With this, the fashion industry can move towards a more sustainable and socially just future.