Fast fashion, a trendy term making its rounds on social media, has a lot to unpack beyond cycling through aesthetic trends. The environmental and ethical impacts of fast fashion are one such rabbit hole. Let’s dig down into the burrows of this topic, unearth fact from fiction, and help you make more educated decisions on where your clothing comes from.
What Exactly is Fast Fashion?
With the advent of the Industrial Revolution came new technology that made clothing quicker and easier to create. Fast fashion involves rapidly producing high volumes of clothing using low-quality materials to leverage trend replication and make inexpensive styles more accessible to consumers. However, the consequences of fast fashion are far-reaching.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation cited that apparel companies produce 53 million tons of clothes annually with the potential to reach 160 million tons by 2050 if this exponential growth continues. And not all of this clothing ends up in consumers’ closets.
In 2018, H&M burned $4.3 billion worth of unsellable inventory. Bloomberg reported that the clothes had been amassed after months of markdowns. H&M’s statement claimed that the clothes were condemned with mold, but in reality, they just weren’t selling.
So what does this rampant production and wastefulness mean for the environment?
Environmental Impacts
Every aspect of fast fashion, from the trend replication to rapid product to low-quality materials to competitive pricing, has lasting negative effects on both the planet and the people involved in production.
In a bid for speed and substandard quality, fast fashion garments are made with toxic chemicals, dangerous dyes, and synthetic materials which end up in landfills, . These toxins then seep into the ground, air, and water supplies.
The industry is the second-largest industrial polluter, and accounts for 10% of global pollution, fast fashion gives air travel and the oil industries a run for their money.
Ethical Implications
The industry also takes its toll on both workes and consumers, too. Buyers of fast fashion run a higher risk of developing cancers and respiratory issues due to harmful chemicals found in cheap fabrics.
This risk is increased in places where these clothes are developed; Factory workers are exposed to these toxins and are often subjected to long hours, unfair wages, and abuse.
The Nike sweatshop scandals dominated news outlets for violating human rights in the name of fashion.
Slow Fashion and Mindful Purchases
To make more mindful and sustainable purchases, consider supporting slow fashion brands that focus on sustainable manufacturing, fair labor practices, and natural materials. By advocating for social responsibility and responsible brands, consumers can drive change in the industry. It takes a village to make a difference, and awareness starts with one person.
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