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Pros and Cons of Fast Fashion: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Hey there! Today I want to talk about the pros and cons of fast fashion. We all love being able to find trendy clothes at affordable prices, right? Fast fashion definitely delivers on that front. But here’s the catch – the fast fashion business model comes with some serious downsides that we can’t ignore.

Let’s start with the good stuff. Fast fashion allows us to keep up with the latest fashion trends without breaking the bank. It’s all about staying stylish without emptying our wallets. And who doesn’t love that?

But here’s where things get a little complicated. The true cost of fast fashion goes beyond the price tag. The fashion industry’s environmental impact is significant. From the production process to the disposal of fast fashion, the industry takes a toll on our planet. And let’s not forget about the working conditions and the exploitation of workers that often come hand in hand with fast fashion.

So, yeah, fast fashion has its pros and cons. It’s up to us to weigh them and make conscious choices. Are you ready to dive deeper into this topic with me? Let’s get started!

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Understanding Fast Fashion

In the realm of the fashion industry, I’ve come to understand fast fashion as a term for cheaply produced and priced garments that mimic current high-end trends. It’s not just a buzzword but a reality that has revolutionized the industry. The fast fashion business model is all about speed and cost efficiency. Brands churn out new designs frequently, sometimes even weekly, to keep up with the latest trends.

But understanding fast fashion isn’t just about knowing how it works. It’s also recognizing the impact it has. While fast fashion brands have made trendy, affordable clothing accessible to the masses, there’s a darker side to this industry. This includes massive environmental damage and questionable labor practices. The business model’s emphasis on speed and low-cost production often leads to a disregard for sustainability and fair labor conditions.

Advantages of Fast Fashion

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest draws of fast fashion is its affordability. As I delve into the fast fashion pros and cons, I can’t ignore the lure that low prices of fast fashion provide. It’s one of the primary advantages of fast fashion, making the latest trends and styles attainable for the masses.

Through fast fashion brands, a runway look that was once exclusive to high-end shoppers is now within reach for most. The low price points have democratized style, making fashion accessible to a wider audience. This affordability allows more people to express their individuality through fashion, without breaking the bank.

However, it’s critical to remember that this affordability often comes at a cost. The low prices of fast fashion often mean compromises in quality and sustainability. Many fast fashion brands are criticized for their detrimental environmental impact and questionable labor practices. While the affordability of fast fashion is a significant pro, these cons can’t be ignored.

Having explored the allure of affordability, let’s now transition to another key aspect of fast fashion: ‘accessibility and variety.’

Accessibility and Variety

Shifting gears to accessibility and variety, another appealing aspect of fast fashion that I can’t overlook is the incredible range of choices it offers. Fast fashion allows for a broad array of styles, designs, and trends to be at my fingertips, all readily affordable. It’s one of the biggest pros of fast fashion: the ability to keep up with the changing fashion world without having to break the bank.

Fast fashion brands offer a dizzying variety of sizes, colors, and patterns, making it easy for anyone to find something that speaks to their individual style. This accessibility and variety also mean that everyone, regardless of their financial means, can participate in fashion trends, contributing to a more inclusive fashion industry.

But like most things, this convenience comes with its cons. The rapid production rate often leads to a compromise in quality, which can result in clothes that don’t last long. Not to mention, this mass production has a significant environmental impact, a point I’ll delve into further in the next section on fast fashion’s economic impact.

Fast Fashion’s Economic Impact

Now, let’s turn our attention to the economic impact of fast fashion, a topic that’s often overlooked. Fast fashion’s economic impact is a double-edged sword. On one hand, fast fashion retailers are booming, contributing significantly to economies worldwide. They generate jobs, stimulate economic growth, and offer affordable clothing options to the masses.

However, there are also disadvantages of fast fashion that we can’t ignore. The industry is often criticized for exploiting cheap labor, particularly in developing countries. It’s a cut-throat business where profit often trumps ethics. Workers are underpaid and overworked, and their health and safety are frequently compromised. This is one of the major cons of fast fashion we need to be aware of.

Moreover, the impact of fast fashion isn’t just economic. The constant churn of new clothes puts a strain on our environment too. The textile industry is one of the world’s largest polluters, and fast fashion is a big part of that problem.

As consumers, we should weigh the pros and cons of fast fashion carefully. While we all love a bargain, it’s important to consider the wider impact of our purchases.

Fast Fashion Impact on the Environment

Let’s dive into the environmental impact of fast fashion , a topic that’s as crucial as it’s alarming. Fast fashion has a significant, and often negative, impact on the environment. This industry contributes to landfills, air and water pollution, and climate change, while also depleting non-renewable resources.

The true cost of fast fashion isn’t only reflected in the price tag of the clothes we buy . It’s also seen in the damage to our planet. For instance, the fast fashion industry is one of the major contributors to the depletion of fresh water sources due to the amount of water used in producing clothes.

Another significant issue is the use of polyester, a popular fabric in fast fashion garments. Polyester is derived from fossil fuels and is non-biodegradable, leading to its accumulation in landfills for hundreds of years. This not only contributes to resource depletion but also poses a threat to our environment.

Furthermore, the production and distribution of these clothes generate a considerable amount of greenhouse gases. Pesticides used in cotton farming, toxic dyes applied in manufacturing, and the fuel consumed in transportation – all these add to the fashion industry’s impact on the environment.

Given these facts, it’s clear that the environmental impact of fast fashion is a pressing issue. As consumers, we need to be more aware and responsible, making choices that will lessen our impact on the environment.

The Human Cost

Beyond the environmental devastation, I’m faced with the sobering reality that fast fashion also exacts a heavy human cost. This industry thrives on the exploitation of workers in developing countries, where labor laws are lax or non-existent. Working conditions are often appalling, with employees toiling for long hours in overcrowded, unsafe factories.

Low wages are another part of this grim picture. Workers are paid a pittance, barely enough to feed their families, let alone improve their living conditions. These poor working conditions and low wages are a stark reminder of the human cost of our obsession with cheap, disposable fashion.

Moreover, the exploitation of workers isn’t confined to the factories. It extends to cotton farmers who are exposed to harmful pesticides, and to the families living near the factories who suffer from pollution and health problems.

It’s a bleak picture, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But I’m convinced that we, as consumers, have the power to change things. We can choose to support brands that treat their workers fairly and reduce their environmental impact.

This leads us to the next debate: quality vs quantity. How much are we willing to pay for ethically produced clothes?

Quality Vs Quantity Debate

While I understand the allure of cheap, trendy clothes, it’s crucial to consider whether the cost of fast fashion, both human and environmental, is really worth the savings. This brings us to the quality vs quantity debate.

Fast fashion garments, despite their attractive price tags and trendy designs, often fail to stand the test of time. The production process focuses on producing vast quantities of trendy clothing, with quality often taking a backseat. I’ve found fast fashion items to be more disposable than durable. In a few washes, they lose their fit, color, or even start to fall apart. This throwaway culture not only leads to waste but also demands continuous consumption to stay in style.

Instead, investing in fewer but higher-quality items can be more beneficial in the long run. Not only do these pieces last longer, but they also promote a more sustainable fashion industry.

Fast Fashion and Consumerism

Moving on, I can’t ignore the significant role consumerism plays in perpetuating the fast fashion industry. Fast fashion and consumerism are like two sides of the same coin. The benefits of fast fashion are hard to resist – it offers trendy clothing at affordable prices, making it accessible to the vast majority. Fast fashion allows consumers to continuously update their wardrobe, keeping up with ever-changing trends and styles.

Fast fashion brands like Shein have mastered the art of quickly producing inexpensive clothing, feeding into the consumer’s desire for constant newness. Yet, this convenience comes at a cost. Fast fashion promotes a culture of disposability where clothes are worn a few times and then discarded. This rampant consumerism contributes to a throw-away society, generating massive amounts of waste.

While it’s true that fast fashion provides an opportunity to wear the latest styles without breaking the bank, we must acknowledge the darker side of this industry. The environmental impact and the culture of disposability it promotes can’t be overlooked. As consumers, we need to reconsider our shopping habits and make more sustainable choices.

Sustainability Initiatives in Fast Fashion

I’m now turning my attention to the sustainability initiatives that some fast fashion brands are starting to embrace. There’s no denying that fast fashion contributes significantly to environmental impact. The production and disposal processes often lead to pollution, waste, and overconsumption of resources.

However, in recent years, there’s been a shift. It seems fast fashion brands often recognize the need to make changes. This recognition has led to sustainability initiatives in fast fashion. Brands are exploring ways to reduce their carbon footprint, including using recycled materials and reducing water usage. Some companies are also considering how their business practices impact workers’ rights and are aiming for more ethical production methods.

While these moves are commendable, it’s important to remember that true sustainable and ethical fashion goes beyond these efforts. It requires a fundamental shift in the way clothes are produced, consumed, and discarded. It’s about making quality, long-lasting pieces that don’t need to be replaced every season.

As we look towards the future, the question remains: Can fast fashion truly become sustainable, or is it an inherent contradiction? Let’s explore this further in the next section, ‘the future of fast fashion’.

The Future of Fast Fashion

Diving into the future of fast fashion, it’s clear we’re standing at a crossroads. On one hand, fast fashion relies heavily on mass production, offering trendy, affordable clothes. It’s a tempting, convenient option for consumers. Yet, its drawbacks can’t be ignored. Fast fashion has serious environmental and social impacts, sparking debates around the pros and cons of fast production and consumption.

This brings us to the clash of fast fashion vs sustainable fashion. While the former is cheap and rapid, the latter stands for ethical sourcing, production, and consumption. It’s a fight between immediate gratification and long-term sustainability.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that a shift needs to happen. Consumers are becoming more aware of the issues, and a growing demand for transparency and sustainability is putting pressure on the fashion industry. With technology advancements, the future of fast fashion could see a blend of speed and sustainability, perhaps through recycled fabrics or cleaner production methods.

The future isn’t written in stone, but one thing’s for sure: the conversation around the future of fast fashion is only getting louder. It’s a dialogue that will shape the industry’s path forward, and in turn, our planet’s future.

Promoting Sustainable Fashion

As a fashion lover, I believe it’s important to shift towards more sustainable and ethical choices in the industry. Sustainable fashion encompasses environmental consciousness, ethical production, and conscious consumerism. By supporting brands that prioritize sustainability and fair trade, we can make a positive impact on the fashion industry.

One way to promote sustainable fashion is by choosing garments made from sustainable materials. Look for labels that use organic cotton, linen, or recycled fabrics. These materials have a lower environmental impact compared to conventional textiles. Additionally, recycling is another way to contribute to sustainable fashion. Consider donating your old clothes or giving them a second life through upcycling projects.

Slow Fashion

Slow fashion is another movement gaining traction in the industry. It encourages a shift away from the fast fashion model and promotes timeless style and quality over quantity. By investing in well-made, durable pieces, we can reduce our consumption and create a more sustainable wardrobe.

Conscious consumerism is at the core of promoting sustainable fashion. It involves being mindful of our purchasing decisions, and considering the environmental and social impact of our choices. Support brands that emphasize ethical production practices and are transparent about their supply chains. By demanding transparency, we can push the fashion industry to prioritize fair labor practices and reduce exploitative working conditions.

Ultimately, promoting sustainable fashion is an ongoing journey that requires collective action. By making conscious choices as consumers, we can encourage brands to adopt more sustainable practices and create a more environmentally and socially responsible fashion industry.

Alternatives to Fast Fashion

If you’re looking to make more sustainable and ethical fashion choices, there are several alternatives to fast fashion that you can explore. One option is to support slow fashion brands that prioritize sustainability and ethical production practices. These brands often offer timeless styles that are designed to last, encouraging a more conscious approach to fashion consumption.

Another sustainable alternative is to embrace second-hand clothing and thrift shopping. Not only does shopping for pre-loved items help reduce waste, but it also allows you to find unique pieces that add personality to your wardrobe. Plus, thrift shopping can be a fun and budget-friendly way to experiment with different styles and trends.

Renting clothing is another innovative option that promotes sustainability. Instead of purchasing garments that you might only wear once or twice, you can rent them for a specific occasion and return them afterward. This not only reduces closet clutter but also minimizes the environmental impact associated with garment production and disposal.

In addition, embracing a do-it-yourself (DIY) mentality can be a creative way to express your personal style while reducing reliance on fast fashion. Try upcycling or repurposing old clothing to give them a new life or experiment with sewing and other crafting techniques to create unique pieces. Building a capsule wardrobe with timeless styles is also an effective way to minimize the need for constant shopping and focus on quality over quantity.

Supporting Ethical Brands

Supporting ethical brands is a powerful way to drive change in the fashion industry. By choosing to purchase from brands that prioritize sustainability, fair labor practices, and ethical production, I can contribute to a more responsible fashion system. I research and seek out brands that are transparent about their supply chains and take steps to minimize their environmental impact. Additionally, I look for certifications such as fair trade or organic labels that provide reassurance that the brand is committed to ethical practices. By supporting these brands, I can make a positive impact and encourage others to do the same.

Taking Action as a Conscious Consumer

As a mindful consumer, I believe that taking action is essential to combat the negative impacts of fast fashion. One way I can make a difference is by consciously purchasing and buying less. Instead of constantly chasing the latest trends and accumulating a wardrobe full of clothes I rarely wear, I prioritize quality over quantity. By investing in well-made garments that are designed to last, I not only reduce my personal consumption but also support ethical brands that prioritize sustainability and fair labor practices.

Another important aspect of being a conscious consumer is demanding transparency from fashion brands. I want to know where and how my clothes are made, ensuring that they are produced under fair and safe conditions. By asking brands to be accountable for their supply chains and production processes, I can help drive positive change in the industry. Transparency allows me to make informed choices and support brands that align with my values.

Reducing waste is also a key component of taking action as a conscious consumer. Instead of throwing away clothing, I choose to recycle or donate it. This not only helps reduce the environmental impact of textile waste but also provides an opportunity for others to give these garments a new life. Furthermore, I strive to embrace a more minimalist mindset, curating a wardrobe that consists of versatile pieces and timeless styles. This approach, often referred to as a capsule wardrobe, not only reduces clutter but also encourages a more sustainable and intentional approach to fashion.

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Appalling or Advantageous? Exploring the Impacts of Fast Fashion From Environmental, Social, and Economic Perspectives

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Fast fashion is a controversial topic in both academia and among the general population due to its perceived benefits for consumers in developed countries and consequences for the workers in developing countries. This paper explores the effects of fast fashion from environmental, social, and economic perspectives to determine whether fast fashion and its processes generate a net positive or net negative impact on society. This is accomplished by collecting and analyzing current research on the topics of fast fashion and sweatshops and synthesizing this data into a cohesive paper than provides a holistic outlook on the effects of fast fashion. The conclusion of this paper, based on the findings, is that fast fashion offers a net positive impact.

Introduction

Fast fashion is defined as “an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers” (Merriam-Webster , n.d.-b) On the surface, fast fashion provides only a positive impact by allowing consumers to conform to ever-changing fashion trends and purchase items of clothing for extremely cheap prices; however, this definition only takes the benefits to the consumer into account. When examined on a deeper level, one will notice that the process of fast fashion impacts not only consumers, but the workers who manufacture the clothes as well. This distinction is what makes this topic controversial.

From the perspective of manufacturing, fast fashion no longer looks like the perfect process. In order for companies in the fast fashion industry to create, distribute, and sell their products at surprisingly low prices, they must use cheap materials alongside the cheap labor and cheap real estate that are found in developing countries. The combination of these three pillars of fast fashion creates the foundation of the industry: sweatshops. According to the United States General Accounting Office (GAO), these manufacturing hubs are defined as a workplace “that violates more than one federal or state labor law governing minimum wage and overtime, child labor, industrial homework, occupational safety and health, workers compensation, or industry regulation” (Giljum et al. , 2014) . This definition illuminates a few negative impacts that the fast fashion industry produces for its workers, including working in unfavorable environments for low wages. In addition to these consequences, fast fashion can also be harmful to the environment through pollution and waste among other hazards.

On the other side of this argument, however, are the positive effects of fast fashion. The first, and most obvious, is that this industry allows consumers to keep up with fashion trends that, now, change more than just every season. In addition, on a deeper level, fast fashion allows lower income individuals and families to purchase more items of clothing that are modern and trendy. Because of this, low-income individuals can wear styles comparable to those of their more well-off peers, thus mitigating the impacts of classism through clothing.

With this short list of the general pros and cons of fast fashion that is provided thus far, it seems as though only workers are negatively impacted by fast fashion and consumers are only positively impacted. However, this is not the case. This paper will examine fast fashion’s pros and cons for both workers and consumers from environmental, social, and economic perspectives and will explore the validity of the arguments for and against the fast fashion industry to ultimately conclude whether it contributes a net positive or net negative impact on all involved.

In order to fully understand fast fashion, it is important to consider what led to this shift in the industry and how companies and businesses navigated this change. The term “fast fashion” first gained mainstream popularity at the beginning of the 1990’s when Zara, a fast fashion retailer, opened a store in New York with the mission “to take only 15 days for a garment to go from the design stage to being sold in stores” ( What Is Fast Fashion and Why Is It So Bad? , 2022) . However, the creation of the fast fashion industry began decades before when "the introduction of the PBS system during World War II and the growth of mass retailing . . . shifted production towards large manufacturers in the early post-war period (Doeringer & Crean , 2006) .

The PBS, or progressive bundle system, was based on extreme specialization and was a much more efficient production technique than traditional supply chains. This system, combined with the demand for mass retailing allowed large manufacturers to supply large quantities of product at lower prices, thus taking market share from smaller independent manufacturers throughout the 1970’s (Linden , 2016) . The large manufacturers used offshore supply chains to produce products at a surprisingly low cost. This increased the lead time of products and limited the manufacturer’s flexibility, however “the far lower costs of imports more than offset these inefficiencies” (Doeringer & Crean , 2006) .

As large manufacturers continued to steal market share from retailers sticking to traditional methods, more and more brand manufacturers “began to imitate large retailers by developing their own offshore suppliers” (Doeringer & Crean , 2006) . With this trend of outsourcing labor continuing to expand, by the mid-1980’s, many American apparel manufacturers moved their domestic operations to developing countries, and, by 2015, only 3% of apparel was produced in the United States (Linden , 2016) .

While most manufacturers moved their operations overseas to compete with the continually lowering product prices, they all came across the same problem: increased lead time versus demand for trendy clothes. This issue was rectified as the large manufacturers began to specialize in global supply chain coordination and a vast network of supply chains was created for other offshore manufacturers to utilize (Doeringer & Crean , 2006) . With this system in place, retailers are now able to deliver trendy clothing to consumers in approximately 2 weeks. This quick turnaround from the runway to the consumer aids in increasing revenue for the fast fashion companies, rising about 8.2% in 2017, but also contributes to the poor quality of the garments (Berg et al. , 2018) .

Expansion of Fast Fashion

In the 1990’s, after viewing the success of other large retailers, even more companies moved their manufacturing operations to developing countries. Some companies profited, others were unsuccessful, but more and more businesses committed to moving their manufacturing divisions abroad.

Vans, in an attempt to imitate Nike’s achievements, “repositioned itself from a domestic manufacturer to a market-driven company” in 1993 and began focusing on marketing and consumer awareness via the Vans Warped Tour and the sponsorship of hundreds of athletes. The company was able to afford these large marketing campaigns after closing their factories in America and contracting manufacturing to third parties in South Korea (Klein , 2000) . Upon the closing of the American manufacturing factory in 1995, following the outsourcing of labor in 1993, Vans’ revenue increased dramatically from $2.7 million in 1993 and $1.7 million in 1994 to $88 million in 1995 ( International Directory of Company Histories , 2002) . For Vans, moving their manufacturing efforts to developing countries and becoming a fast fashion company, among other factors, contributed to their large increase in revenue and the rebound of their stock.

Another company that joined the mass manufacturing exodus from the United States was the popular denim apparel company, Levi Strauss. The company shut down 11 plants in North America in 1997 and 11 more in 1998, resulting in a total of 16,310 laid-off workers. The motivation behind this shutdown was financial and similar to that of Vans, though less extreme, with a 4% dip in revenue from $7.1 billion in 1996 to $6.8 billion in 1997. Like other brands’ explanations for cutting manufacturing in the United States, “John Ermatinger, president of Levi’s Americas division” stated, “our strategic plan in North America is to focus intensely on brand management, marketing and product design as a means to meet the casual clothing wants and needs of consumers” (Klein , 2000) . Acting on this promise, in 1997, Levi Strauss delivered an ad campaign costing about $90 million, their most expensive campaign in the history of the company, using the extra revenue saved from their former domestic manufacturing efforts.

However, unlike Vans and other apparel brands making the switch from domestic to international supply chains, Levi’s revenue continued to decline after its peak in 1997, falling to $4.1 billion in just 5 years. For Levi Strauss, outsourcing labor to developing countries did not provide an immediate revenue boost for the company, and the brand is still working to recover lost profits and customers (Bergh , 2018) .

Fast Fashion Today

As shown through the history of fast fashion, the beginnings of this trend came from traditional manufacturers moving their operations to developing countries. Now, consumers have moved to online shopping from companies that were founded solely to operate as a fast fashion company. These businesses do not have brick and mortar storefronts, nor have they ever produced their apparel in developed countries. The mission of these companies is to allow consumers to purchase trendy clothes quickly for the lowest possible prices.

These online fast fashion companies, such as Shein, Zaful, and Fashion Nova, have been on the rise since the early to mid-2000’s and have grown exponentially in tandem with the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, alongside the older, more traditional fast fashion companies, such as Zara, H&M, and Uniqlo, fast fashion brands have created a $33 billion global market with forecasts to be $40 billion by 2025. This growth is unsurprising when considering that, in the United States, “up to 88 % of consumers prefer fast fashion retailers” (Knošková & Garasová , 2019) .

However, as the popularity of fast fashion brands has continued to grow, consumers have begun to investigate the practices of these companies, finding articles on sweatshops, worker exploitation, and environmental hazards. As this information has become more widely known among the general population, the topic of fast fashion has become increasingly controversial.

Now, in 2022, many consumers acknowledge the impacts of their fast fashion purchases and usage. However, only some consumers have committed to only purchasing sustainable garments or limiting their fast fashion purchases while others continue to purchase apparel from fast fashion brands because of their convenience, low prices, and “up-to-date” clothing.

Methodology

The research methodology for this paper includes the analysis of secondary data that will aid in the exploration of the positive and negative sides of fast fashion.

Through secondary data analysis, which, in simpler terms, is analyzing the data and research of other scholars and researchers, this paper will provide evidence behind the pros and cons of fast fashion from environmental, social, and economic standpoints. Using a data-driven approach that includes these three perspectives to deliver this argument and draw a conclusion will differentiate this thesis from other scholarly articles, journals, or papers that argue for or against fast fashion and sweatshops based off only one or two viewpoints, thus leading to a less than holistic understanding of the topic. An analysis of this paper’s findings will illuminate the positives and negatives of fast fashion to ultimately support the final conclusion of whether fast fashion contributes a net positive or net negative impact on all involved.

To come to this conclusion, methods for limiting any negative effects will first be researched and discussed. Based on this information, in tandem with the findings from secondary data research, an informed decision about the impact of the fast fashion industry and its processes can and will be made by analyzing the consequences that cannot be prevented versus the benefits and the mitigated consequences.

Current research on the topics of fast fashion and sweatshops, alike, are comprised of arguments in favor of and against sweatshops and the consequences thereof. Each of these arguments discuss the ethics behind fast fashion from environmental, social, and economic perspectives to conclude whether or not sweatshops are morally sound. Because the majority of these journals focused on only one or, at most, two of these viewpoints, the literature can be broken into three sections discussing the morality of fast fashion and sweatshops from the perspectives previously mentioned.

Differing from current research on the topic, the findings in this section, based on thorough analysis of secondary data, will illuminate the benefits and consequences of fast fashion for both consumers and workers from environmental, social, and economic standpoints. This investigation will aid in gaining a deeper understanding of the inner workings of sweatshops within the apparel industry and in drawing conclusions about whether the impacts of fast fashion on society as a whole are positive or negative.

Environmental Impacts

Beginning with the environmental impacts of fast fashion, the cited articles on this topic found no environmental benefits of fast fashion and its processes.

Clothing Waste

To start, each journal that had an emphasis on the environment shared the same sentiment that fast fashion is causing consumers to cycle through their wardrobes more quickly, thus contributing an exponentially larger amount of waste to the baseline of what humans produce.

According to Bick et al., “80 billion pieces of new clothing are purchased each year” and, of those 80 billion pieces, “the average American throws away approximately 80 pounds of clothing and textiles annually, occupying nearly 5% of landfill space” (2018) . Additionally, according to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), “the average American buys 64 clothing items and 7 accessories each year” ( How Much Money Does America Spend on Clothes Each Year? , 2021) , which is alarming as the average American bought only 12 items of clothing annually in the 1980’s before fast fashion was popularized (Thomas , 2019) .

This sizable mass of clothing waste is formed in conjunction with the depletion of the income of consumers and the resources used to manufacture the garments, not to mention the long-term effects of textiles laying in landfills. Depending on the material of the garments, apparel pieces can sit in the landfill for over 200 years (Stanes & Gibson , 2017) . This may not seem like a significant issue that expands past the potential of overflow, however, overtime, chemicals and dyes from the fabric of these clothing pieces begin to seep into the ground. This leaching can cause toxic materials to “be taken up by plants and animals, contaminate a human drinking water supply or volatilize and contaminate the indoor air in overlying buildings” (US EPA , 2017) .

A seemingly simple solution to this problem of increased clothing waste is to encourage the donation of garments, so articles of clothing can be reused rather than thrown away after a few uses. This “resolution” can alleviate some of the impacts of fast fashion on the environment with an estimated “2.5 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste” collected and donated in 2006 (Claudio , 2007) . However, only 20% of this donated clothing was directly used or sold at charities and consignment shops, so the remaining donations are sold to textile recyclers to be made into rags, stuffing, and other products. Even with selling off textiles to recyclers, this still does not account for all of the donated clothing. The last step of the donation process is exporting used clothing to developing nations where the pieces are sold in marketplaces (Claudio , 2007) .

This is a needed extension of the donation system because, according to Pietra Rivoli, a professor of international business at the McDonough School of Business of Georgetown University, “there are nowhere near enough people in America to absorb the mountains of castoffs, even if they were given away” (Claudio , 2007) . These three steps account for the majority of donated clothing, however Americans alone consume 3.8 billion pounds of apparel annually, compared to the 2.5 billion that is donated, so a large amount of waste is still unaccounted for (Bick et al. , 2018) .

The best, and easiest, way to reduce the clothing waste that is exacerbated by fast fashion is to purchase less clothing and to wear pieces for longer periods of time. While this may seem simple, the current trends in fashion point to this speedy consumption continuing, so, even with the best mitigation practices, waste will continue to grow. This is concerning, but it is not the only environmental concern.

Water Use and Pollution

In addition to this waste, critics of fast fashion are concerned about other damages to the environment including excessive water usage and pollution, plastic microfibers in the ocean, and carbon emissions. Beginning with the immense use, or misuse, of water, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), “some 93 billion cubic metres of water - enough to meet the needs of five million people - is used by the fashion industry annually” ( UN Launches Drive to Highlight Environmental Cost of Staying Fashionable , 2019) . On a more incremental level, this equates to “2,700 litres of water to make one cotton t-shirt” which is “enough water for one person for 900 days” (Drennan , 2015) .

These statistics, however, only account for water used in the manufacturing of apparel, not the water polluted as a byproduct. This is important to distinguish because the polluted water is a slightly less seen impact of the fashion industry, but it is still a large contributor to environmental damage. In fact, “an estimated 17 to 20 percent of total industrial water pollution comes from textile dyeing and treatment” (Drennan , 2015) . That is “for every one tonne of textiles produced, 200 tonnes of water are polluted,” which is “the equivalent of 5,640,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water pollution from the textile industry every year” (Drennan , 2015) on top of the water used for manufacturing.

With over 2.2 billion people lacking access to clean drinking water according to the World Health Organization, this excessive usage and waste of water can be seen as immoral, especially when taking into account the “longevity” of the items manufactured with it. In addition, according to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2018, the trend of intense global water usage is projected to continue rising at a rate of 1% each year, which is only exacerbated by fast fashion.

Plastic in the Ocean

Moving on to plastic microfibers migrating into the ocean, UNCTAD stated that “around half a million tons of microfibre, which is the equivalent of 3 million barrels of oil, is now being dumped into the ocean every year” (2019) . This statistic may seem far removed from the fashion industry, but “the manufacture of polyester and other synthetic fabrics is an energy-intensive process requiring large amounts of crude oil” (Claudio , 2007) . According to The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these plastic microfibers make their way into the ocean not only through the manufacturing process, but also from consumers washing these garments between wears (US EPA , 2020) . “About 60 per cent of material made into clothing is plastic, which includes polyester, acrylic and nylon textiles,” and, because of this, “laundry alone causes around half a million tons of plastic microfibers to be released into the ocean every year—the equivalent of almost three billion polyester shirts” ( Fashion’s Tiny Hidden Secret , 2019) .

As a result of these tiny pieces of plastic ending up in the ocean, microfibers make their way up the food chain, causing “starvation, endocrine disruption, stunted growth in some species and broken down digestive systems” according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2019) . In addition, the UNEP states that according to Heidi Savelli, a United Nations marine environment expert, “one of the problems is plastic ingestion at all levels of the food chain, which may pass plastic to larger animals and humans” (2019) . Ingesting these microfibers could have long term consequences. According to Campanale et al. in A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health , polyester, which is one of the synthetic materials used in 60% of apparel ( Fashion’s Tiny Hidden Secret , 2019) , is a polymer that can contain arsenic which is classified as a “known” carcinogen and is also known to cause congenital disabilities, gastrointestinal damage, and, even, death (2020) . While microfibers in the ocean is a product of the fashion industry as a whole and not limited to fast fashion, the volume and speed of the production clothing is escalating this already significant issue.

Carbon Emissions

Lastly, as for carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, “the [fashion] industry is responsible for more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined” ( UN Launches Drive to Highlight Environmental Cost of Staying Fashionable , 2019) . This impact is quantified by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) stating that “the fashion industry is highly greenhouse gas intensive, with estimated emissions ranging between 2 and 8 percent of the global total” (2018) . Polyester textile production produced about 1.5 trillion pounds (706 billion kilograms) of greenhouse gases on its own in 2015. While the fashion industry’s greenhouse emissions are already high, according to Elisa Tonda, Head of Consumption and Production Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme, “if we carry on with a business-as-usual approach, the greenhouse gas emissions from the industry are expected to rise by almost 50% by 2030” ( UN Launches Drive to Highlight Environmental Cost of Staying Fashionable , 2019) .

The effects of this carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions are vast, including climate change, or global warming, and air pollution. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), climate change can impact human health, the environment, and the economy (2021) . Global warming worsens air and water quality, thus leading to a higher number of cases of respiratory diseases, such as tuberculosis, and diseases related to poor water quality, such as cholera ( Climate Effects on Health | CDC , 2021) . In terms of ecosystems, climate change influences life cycle events, such as reproduction and migration, and threatens coastal ecosystems. Lastly, in economic terms, increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, and floods, can increase losses to property, cause costly disruptions to society, and reduce the affordability of insurance (US EPA , 2021) . While climate change can be alleviated through other means and industries, the fashion industry alone, being the third largest contributor to global warming behind the food and construction industries, can lessen global emissions immensely by making small changes (“Net-Zero Challenge , ” n.d.) .

Social Impacts

While the environmental arguments revealed only negative aspects of fast fashion, the social side of this topic is more controversial. Arguments involving workers include concerns from scholars about the working conditions of the sweatshops, specifically for women and children, in developing countries. However, looking from the perspective of social benefits for consumers, researchers believe that providing consumers with the opportunity to purchase cheap, trendy clothes helps to alleviate the effects of classism in developed countries by producing apparel that both higher and lower income individuals can and want to buy.

Poor Working Conditions

Those who are concerned about the quality of life of the sweatshop workers often cite the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in 2013 where “more than 1,100 garment workers were killed and at least 2,000 injured” (Drennan , 2015) . This event brought to light many contributing factors to the poor working conditions of these sweatshop workers, such as “lack of credible safety audits, extremely low wages for workers and the increasing pressure on manufacturers to reduce costs of garments” (Drennan , 2015) . Along with this, The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, factory hazards are not uncommon with more than 80,000 safety issues found in just 1,106 factories in Bangladesh (Oldenziel , 2014) .

One common factory risk that garment workers face is exposure to hazardous chemicals. Many workers are not equipped with the proper protective gear to avoid the consequences of being exposed to carcinogenic chemicals, like formaldehyde or potassium dichromate, that are used to treat and distress fabrics (Lambert , 2014) . Working with these, or similar, chemicals without the proper protective equipment can lead to moderate health effects, such as skin irritation and rashes, breathing difficulty, or nausea, or severe health effects, such as behavioral abnormalities, physiological malfunctions, or cancer (US EPA , 2013) .

Another common fast fashion apparel manufacturing risk for workers is factory fires. In 2012, a factory fire in Bangladesh killed over 100 people as workers were locked inside the building with iron bars covering the windows. This fire, and hundreds like it, were preventable. However, many fast fashion factories can be seen as a hub of items, events, and processes that make a fire much more likely. For example, garment factories often contain “flammable chemicals, faulty electric wiring, overheated machinery, and improper ventilation” alongside missing fire extinguishers, “unclean work spaces, and blocked or locked fire exits” (Lambert , 2014) .

Circling back to the tragedy of Rana Plaza, structural defects are yet another factory hazard for apparel workers. According to Lambert, “building owners closed Rana Plaza the day before the collapse due to uncertainty about the stability of the building,” (2014) . However, knowing this, workers still returned to work the next day after “employers threatened to fire absent workers” and because they could not afford to miss work with 35% of the Bangladeshi population living at or below the poverty line (Lambert , 2014) . The lead-up to this event included inspections from third-party auditors that later proved to be inaccurate. “It has since been revealed that cracks in factory foundations, bars on the windows, blocked fire exits and other unsafe conditions were left out of third-party reports” (Drennan , 2015) .

According to Michael Lavergne, a responsible supply chain consultant and author of Fixing Fashion: Rethinking the Way We Make, Market and Buy Our Clothes , maintaining low prices for fast fashion retailers is the cause of many “health, safety, labour, environmental and human rights issues” (Drennan , 2015) . He also says that “to be competitive, offshore factories will often cut corners on these infrastructure and management system costs” (Drennan , 2015) .

Child Labor

The working conditions already mentioned are not just imposed on adults who have some choice in where they work and the conditions therein, but also children. Child labor is still at large within the apparel industry in developing countries. Bangladesh, alongside Pakistan, Egypt, and countries in Central Asia employ children to work the same long hours in the same unsafe factories as their parents (Drennan , 2015) . Some children are even forced to work in worse conditions in “underground” factories as child labor is illegal in most countries, though the U.S. Department of Labor found 77 countries in violation of international standards as of June 23, 2021 (Bureau of International Labor Affairs , 2021) . Child labor is attractive to these apparel manufacturing employers because “children are small, quick, cheap, and obedient” and are usually “paid significantly less than the already low minimum wages” (Lambert , 2014) .

Child labor has been an issue for centuries in many different countries and industries, but the effects remain the same. E.P. Thompson, in her work The Making of the English Working Class , recounted one boy’s experience working in a mill stating that he was found sleeping while standing after working for seventeen hours and was beaten awake by the mill employers. The boy did not eat dinner after he was carried home and died from exhaustion the next morning (Seabrook , 2001) . With these children being so young, the working conditions, abuse, and long hours often take a larger toll on their bodies than it does for adults.

In addition to the physical harm that these children endure, they also suffer mentally because they are not provided with proper education, as it is assumed they will work in the factories for the rest of their lives (Lambert , 2014) . This cycle of using uneducated children for manual labor will result in generational poverty where future generations will be even more unlikely to increase their quality of life.

The use of child labor in developing countries and, specifically, in fast fashion factories is a known fact among the general populous. While many organizations, consumers, and firms are calling for a reform, the countries in which child labor is rampant are the same countries that ignore or do not enforce child labor laws, thus making changes difficult (Lambert , 2014) .

Feminization of the Workforce

“Fast fashion is highly dependent on female work. Women compose most of the Asian garment producers’ workforce – around 80% - with men generally occupying managerial positions” (Colnago , 2019) . The use of female workers in garment production is appealing because, in the manufacturing host countries where the apparel is made, women “are viewed as secondary earners who are easier to discipline, and less likely to negotiate and unionize” (Vijeyarasa & Liu , 2022) .

This female majority lends itself to many experiences of inequality, such as gender pay gaps, sexual harassment, and a lack of human rights protection. One way this inequality can be seen is through the lack of bathroom breaks, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections, which is exacerbated by the lack of soap, water, and menstrual supplies. These experiences are commonplace in countries where fast fashion manufacturers represent the majority of employers, such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh (Vijeyarasa & Liu , 2022) .

As for sexual harassment and violence, examples of gender-based violence, defined as violence that affects women disproportionately, have been found in many fast fashion apparel manufacturing factories (Global Labor Justice , 2018) . “Female workers face sexual harassment, are forbidden to take maternities leaves, and are discriminated [against] when they get pregnant” even though the laws of the host countries forbid sexual harassment and state that women have the right to take three months of maternity leave (Colnago , 2019) . According to a recent report released by a coalition formed by Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), CENTRAL Cambodia, Global Labor Justice, Sedane Labour Resource Centre (LIPS) Indonesia, and Society for Labour and Development (SLD), “women garment workers may be targets of violence on the basis of their gender, or because they are perceived as less likely or able to resist” (Global Labor Justice , 2018) .

One factory that provides examples of this abuse and harassment is the supplier for the fast fashion brand H&M whose workforce is comprised of 74% women (H&M Group Annual Report 2018 , 2019) . According to the report Violence Against Women and Men in the World of Work , violence and harassment in these factories not only take place at the physical production locations, but also “during commutes and in employer provided housing” (2018). These events are not one-off, but rather there is repeated violence against women in the fast fashion industry that is created by “short-term contracts, targets for the daily production, disciplinary practices, salary related rights abuses, abusive working hours, and unsafe workplaces” (Colnago , 2019) .

Consumer Impacts: Mitigated Classism

Classism is defined as “a belief that a person’s social or economic station in society determines their value in that society” and is often coupled with “behavior that reflects this belief: prejudice or discrimination based on class” (Merriam-Webster , n.d.-a) . In some cases, a person’s clothing can reveal information about which social class they belong to and, thus, enables others to treat them differently based off of predetermined opinions on the various social classes. These predetermined views cause individuals to see others as either better, worse, or about equal to themselves in terms of social class. Each one of these beliefs are equally damaging to a person’s psychological state and intensifies the divide between classes (Cavalhieri & Chwalisz , 2020) .

Fast fashion companies indirectly help in alleviating the lasting effects of classism in developed countries by producing apparel and marketing it to both higher and lower income individuals, so everyone begins to wear the same items regardless of social or economic class. Those with a lower income may not have as many pieces of clothing, or cycle through them as quickly, as people in the middle- and upper-class, but fast fashion gives them the opportunity to wear the same styles as their peers, thus diminishing one method people use to discriminate against those who are different than them (von Busch , 2018) .

This small change in how social classes are perceived, however, is challenged by the recent push to shop sustainably. This motivation to adjust consumers’ current purchasing habits is prompted by the negative impacts of fast fashion becoming more commonplace in the mainstream media. However, one main reason most people currently choose not to shop from sustainable brands is due to the higher prices of “ethically-made” apparel. This encouragement for consumers to shop sustainably has created a trend of middle- and upper-class people shopping at thrift stores and consignment shops. This is harmful for working-class individuals because they may not be able to follow this new and more expensive trend and “the rising popularity of thrifting among more wealthy consumers as an alternative to buying from sustainable and ethical fashion brands reduces the already limited options available to low- income communities when it comes to clothing” (“Rise of Thrifting , ” 2019) .

Economic Impacts

The last of the three main considerations when determining the ethics and effects of fast fashion is economic impacts. Scholars that support fast fashion, or at least appreciate the positive economic effects of the practice, maintain that outsourcing apparel manufacturing is beneficial to both developed and developing countries. In developed countries, consumers are able to purchase more clothes for less while corporations preserve or increase their profits. In developing countries, important infrastructure is being improved or constructed to enable more businesses to begin operations there, which, in the long run, aids in the economic growth of developing countries, thus improving quality of life. However, while the fast fashion industry bolsters the global economy, the impact, whether small or large, of displaced manufacturing jobs in developed countries must also be considered.

Growing Global Industry

The fast fashion industry is continuing to grow as demand for cheap, trendy apparel increases. According to a report by The Business Research Company, the global fast fashion market was valued at $25.09 billion in 2020 and $30.58 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.9%. This growth was particularly high due to many companies resuming their normal business operations with the declining impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the market is projected to continue growing at a CAGR of 7% to $39.84 billion in 2025 without the boost from recovering businesses (GlobeNewswire , 2021) .

Developed Country Economy: Lost Jobs, Crippled Economy

According to Dana Thomas, in her book Fashionopolis: Why What We Wear Matters , the United States produced approximately 70% of the clothing that Americans purchased. However, this quickly changed with the emergence of fast fashion. Because fast fashion retailers strove to sell their products at the lowest prices possible, many companies outsourced their manufacturing to developing countries, thus eliminating jobs in the United States. The percentage of American- made clothing decreased from 56.2% in 1991 to 2.5% in 2012. This decrease was in tandem with the loss of 1.2 million jobs in the United States textile and garment industry between 1990 and 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Thomas , 2019) .

This change did not only affect Americans. In fact, in the 1980’s, over 1 million people worked in the United Kingdom textile industry, which has decreased to about 100,000 in the 2010’s. This theme of declining apparel manufacturing jobs echoed throughout western Europe and other developed countries and, soon, shifted to economic regression (Thomas , 2019) .

The offshoring of domestic garment manufacturing jobs from developed countries created detrimental trade deficits. “In 2017, US apparel exports totaled roughly $5.7 billion, while imports were about $82.6 billion” while “Britain imported 92.4 percent of its clothing” (Thomas , 2019) . The only country in the European Union that managed to remain unscathed was Italy due to its association with luxury and quality products (Thomas , 2019) .

Developing Country Economy: Infrastructure and Economic Development

While fast fashion hindered the economies of developed countries, it also allowed developing economies to mature. According to Benjamin Powell, fast fashion sweatshops in developing countries are “part of the process of development that ultimately raises living standards. That process took about 150 years in Britain and the United States but closer to 30 years in . . . Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan” (Powell , 2008) .

This quote mentioned an important point that even now developed countries once had sweatshops. In the 1800’s, the United Kingdom had many textile mills that are comparable to today’s sweatshops, as they were described as unsafe, unsanitary, and inhumane. Adults and children would work in these mills 12-14 hours a day while getting beaten, breathing in cotton particles, and suffering injuries from the dangerous machinery (BBC , n.d.) . Now, the United Kingdom is the fifth largest global economy, with a GDP of almost $3 trillion, and is considered one of the most powerful states in the world (Clark , 2022) .

Many economists regard sweatshops as a “rite of passage” into the industrial revolution and as a vessel to help economies and countries shift from developing to developed. Sir Arthur Lewis, a Nobel Prize-winning economist known for his work in economic development, created a theory known as the “Dual Sector Model.” This theory explains how emerging markets develop, first stating that there are two economies in developing markets: the traditional agriculture sector and the modern manufacturing sector. The traditional sector involves low productivity, while the modern sector has higher productivity due to the use of technology.

According to his theory, Sir Arthur Lewis states that if traditional sector workers in developing economies moved to the modern sector, then they would "play a much more productive role and agricultural production would be left unaffected, thus “lead[ing] to the improved welfare and productivity of the nation” (Canepa , 2016) . Under this theory, unskilled labor would continue to move to the modern manufacturing sector until the productivity of each sector is maximized.

With this, wages would increase, and less people would be living under the poverty line. "The benefit of sweatshops is that they move low-skill workers out of the countryside and into the cities, allowing the country as a whole to grow (Canepa , 2016) .

An example of this theory can be seen in China. From 1981 to 2010, 160 million Chinese workers left the countryside to move and work in the city. This work involves poor conditions and low wages, however it is more productive than farming, so workers can earn much more in the modern sector than they would otherwise. Since this migration, China’s poverty rate decreased from 84% in 1981 to 12% in 2010 (Canepa , 2016) . Applying this same theory to sweatshops in developing nations such as Nicaragua, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, these countries should see a decrease in poverty levels and increase in standard of living as more people begin to work in the modern manufacturing sector.

Another element of economic development coming from the presence of sweatshops in developing nations is infrastructure. China, now the world’s second largest economy after its industrialization, has invested $10.7 billion in Ethiopia from 2010 to 2015 to help accommodate its Chinese business in the country. These loans have improved the country’s infrastructure, including creating transmission lines and railways, enhancing mobile and internet coverage, and building processing plants. With this, Belachew Mekuria of the Ethiopian Investment Commission said, “The plan is to create a total of 2 million jobs in manufacturing by the end of 2025. We are an agrarian nation now, but that will change” (Donahue et al. , 2018) . Additionally, Bill McRaith, chief supply chain officer for PVH, the parent company of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, held that “if you believe industrialization is a good thing and raises people up, out of poverty, where each generation has the opportunity to do better than the last, then the apparel industry has been the trigger in most developing countries. Maybe I am too old, but this is no different from China in the late 1980s to 1990s” (Donahue et al. , 2018) .

Wages and Quality of Life: Below the Poverty Line

The fast fashion industry is most popularly known for poor working conditions, as already discussed, and low wages for the garment workers. When considering “low wages” in the fast fashion industry, other terms that come to mind are minimum wages and living wages that are used to add context to and describe apparel worker wages. The definition of a minimum wage is self-explanatory as it is the lowest wage an employer can pay an employee. A living wage is slightly more complicated and is defined by the United Nations Global Compact as “a wage that that enables workers and their families to meet their basic needs” ( Living Wage | UN Global Compact , 2021) .

According to the Clean Clothes Campaign, a very small number of workers, if any, make a living wage working in sweatshops, and, sometimes, workers do not even make minimum wage. A Romanian worker stated “I barely get the minimum salary, and one month I did not manage to reach the legal minimum wage after working even on Saturdays. I tell my boss that sometimes I don’t make the minimum if I don’t come on Saturdays and he says: ‘Then come on Saturdays’” (Clean Clothes Campaign , 2014) . Even if these workers do make the minimum wage, it only covers 70% of their monthly expenses on food because in these developing countries “legal minimum wages are poverty wages” (Clean Clothes Campaign , 2014) .

In Ethiopia, an 18-year-old garment worker shared that she makes $23.70 a month, plus $7.30 for meals and an attendance bonus of $7.30 if she doesn’t miss work and still struggles to cover soap for laundry and transportation to her church. She also shared that she is afraid she will go into debt if she misses only a few days of work and does not receive her bonus (Donahue et al. , 2018) . In addition, in Kelly Drennan’s Picking Up the Threads , she states that the average sweatshop worker in Bangladesh makes only $38 a month. With this low number, the Bangladesh government was pressed to raise the minimum wage and promised a 77% increase, thus raising it to $68 per month, but “nearly 40 percent of factories are still not paying this new wage” (2015) . With this, one can infer that even increasing the minimum wage may not provide a better quality of life for the sweatshop workers.

Wages and Quality of Life: A Better Alternative

Even with the negative social impacts of fast fashion listed in this section, some scholars, while agreeing that the working conditions and wages for workers in the apparel industry are poor compared to United States and other developed country standards, believe that these jobs provided by fast fashion retailers are better than the workers’ other options. In fact, Joan Robinson, a famous British economist, asserted that “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” (Robinson , 1962) .

This economic argument is largely influenced by the rational choice theory that states that “individuals use rational calculations to make rational choices and achieve outcomes that are aligned with their own personal objectives” and should “result in outcomes that provide people with the greatest benefit and satisfaction, given the limited option[s] they have available” (Ganti , 2021) . Using this theory in terms of the fast fashion argument, economists argue that the sweatshop workers would not choose to work in garment factories if they did not benefit from it.

In revealing potential alternatives to apparel factory work, “Stefan Dercon, an Oxford University development economist who recently spent a year studying Ethiopian factories,” stated that if factory work did not exist, then “these women might be spending their days shaping cow dung into pies for fuel,” which is, arguably, less preferred in comparison to sweatshops (Donahue et al. , 2018) . Providing a more specific example, in 1993, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin suggested that the United States ban imports from countries that utilized child labor in their sweatshops. In a swift response to this action, a Bangladesh garment factory dismissed 50,000 children from work and, according to Oxfam, a British charity, caused a majority of them to become prostitutes to earn money for their family (Powell , 2008) .

When interviewed, workers in fast fashion factories shared that their quality of life is better while working in the apparel industry. An Ethiopian factory worker stated that she used to live on a farm with her 7 siblings but now lives with one roommate in a concrete apartment right outside the city, expressing that “we are living better now in the city” and “in the countryside, we have no way to stay neat and clean. And we are getting experience” (Donahue et al. , 2018) .

Additionally, a Nicaraguan garment employee who makes less than a dollar an hour stated, “I wish more people would buy the clothes we make” when interviewed about her experience as a worker in the fast fashion industry (Henderson , 2000) .

Rather than just using theory and the sentiments of fast fashion workers themselves, economists also provide statistics to back up these claims. In their paper, Sweatshops and Third World Living Standards , Powell and Skarbek found that apparel manufacturing wages in developing countries are favorable when compared to the standard of living of developing countries, as opposed to the standard of living in developed countries. According to the below graph, of the countries researched, including Bangladesh, Nicaragua, and China, 9 out of 10 countries’ apparel workers made more than the national average in wages after working only 50 hours a week. Additionally, these researchers found that “apparel workers in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua earn 3 to 7 times the national average” (Powell & Skarbek , 2004) . Various sources corroborated this notion. After surveying workers from three garment factories in Thailand, the International Youth Foundation “found that 72 percent regarded their wages as “fair” and that 60 percent were able to accumulate savings” (Brown et al. , 2004) . Meanwhile, the International Labor Office found that apparel workers in Bangladesh earn 25% more in wages than the country’s average per capita income (Bhattacharya , 1998) .

With the method for accumulating information on the topic of fast fashion from environmental, social, and economic perspectives being an analysis of secondary data research, the findings in this paper had a few limitations. Fast fashion is merely one facet of the entire fashion industry, so finding data that pertained solely to fast fashion proved to be difficult for some sections. Using the keyword “sweatshops” to replace “fast fashion” offered more and different information, however these articles mostly pertained to just the social aspect of the fast fashion industry. Additionally, when a large set of specific data on the fast fashion industry was available, it came in the form of a report costing thousands of dollars and, therefore, was not usable for the purposes of this paper. The data that was found from sources concerning fast fashion or sweatshops, specifically, was sufficient for many portions of the paper; however, for the segments that did not have this particular data, information from the general fashion sector was used, which is noted in the paper.

Another limitation of this research was a limited number of articles and papers previously written about the benefits of fast fashion. From the findings in this paper, the main benefits from fast fashion come from the economic perspective. Because of this, the literature is divided by economists writing about the positive economic implications of fast fashion and other scholars writing about the negative effects. With this division, a smaller subset of scholars is writing about the benefits of fast fashion, leading to the limited sources on the topic. To mitigate this constraint, some sources date as far back to the 1800’s during the time of textile mills in England. While up-to-date sources are generally better, these older sources echoed the same sentiments from the more recent papers and provided evidence that sweatshops have been around for centuries.

The Future of Fast Fashion

Fast fashion manufacturers have historically operated out of countries in Asia, such as Bangladesh and Indonesia, and Central America, such as Honduras and Haiti. In more recent years, fashion retailers have begun to shift their manufacturing operations to Africa (Canepa , 2016) .

As of 2021, the apparel and textile industry in Africa was the second largest sector with an estimated market value of $31 billion in 2020. Africa is an attractive location for fast fashion retailers for three main reasons: it is a good country for foreign investment, its citizens are paid even lower wages than Asian and Central American countries, it has good access to ports (Yamama , 2021) .

In terms of foreign investment, trade in Africa has grown substantially over the last decade at a rate of 300%, making it one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Additionally, by 2050, Africa will encompass $16.12 trillion in business and consumer spending. The combination of these facts in tandem with the growing population rate make Africa a very attractive target for investors.

As for low wages, the citizens of Ethiopia make only $60-70 a month, which is considerably less than what the citizens of current fast fashion manufacturing countries will make as economic development increases. In addition to these low wages, Africa has the proper infrastructure for these manufacturers to quickly and cheaply move into African countries (Signé , 2021) .

Lastly, in terms of access to ports, Africa has six main ports that can accommodate millions of shipping containers. These are Tanger-Med in Morocco, Port Said in Egypt, Durban Port in South Africa, Djen Djen Port in Algeria, Lagos Port in Nigeria, and Mombasa Port in Kenya. These ports provide a quicker and more direct route to Europe and the Americas than those in Asian countries (Larnyoh , 2020) .

These three assets will increase the number of companies moving to Africa and will, in turn, help African countries develop economically.

Limiting Negative Effects

Before determining whether fast fashion provides a net positive or negative impact to society, it is important to consider which negative effects, if any, can be lessened. According to multiple sources, including The Boston Consulting Group, the Northwestern University Economics Society, and the Columbia Climate School, the consequences of the fast fashion industry from each of the three perspectives discussed in this paper can be limited while the economy continues to grow.

A report by the Global Fashion Agenda and The Boston Consulting Group “found that addressing environmental and social problems created by the fashion industry would provide a $192 billion overall benefit to the global economy by 2030” (Reichart & Drew , 2019) . This statement is based off the idea that spending money on the front-end to preserve human and natural resources will generate more value in the global economy in the long-term. Some of the examples provided for this notion involve keeping water consumption at a constant level to generate $42 billion of value and paying garment workers at least their countries’ minimum wage to produce $5 billion of value from “greater local consumption and private investments” (Reichart & Drew , 2019) . Under this notion, the negative environmental and social impacts of fast fashion would subside while the economic benefits would be maintained or, in this case, increased.

The concept of environmental and social justice working in tandem with economic development can be seen through America’s long history of “success in decoupling the growth of GDP and the growth of environmental pollution” (Cohen , 2020) . Around the 1980’s, along with the beginnings of fast fashion and the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency, “businesses and governments developed and applied technologies that reduced pollution while allowing continued economic growth” with the use of “public policies ranging from command- and-control regulations to direct and indirect government subsidies” (Cohen , 2020) . With this, major changes have been made. For example, people can now see the mountains from downtown Los Angeles due to the lessening of smog and Americans now treat their sewage waste rather than dumping it into the Hudson River all while both New York and Los Angeles’s economies continued to grow from the 1980’s (Cohen , 2020) .

With these regulations mentioned above, the Northwestern University Economics Society warns against regulations being too strong that low-income countries are no longer attractive for fast fashion companies. However, this article also states that, as long as the regulations are not too strong, they “should not harm growth within those nations” and that “basic safety measures can go a long way in improving workers living standards and reducing the risk of tragedies which are all too common” (Canepa , 2016) .

Echoing this claim, Paul Krugman, a Keynesian economist, holds that too much labor regulation in Bangladesh would cause the country to lose its comparative advantage to other nations, such as Cambodia and China, thus causing Bangladesh’s economy to suffer. Similar to the ideas of Garry Canepa from Northeastern University, Kruman “believes that so long as factory reforms are kept modest and are shared among all nations, appropriate reform should be implemented” and that “The Trans-Pacific Partnership goes in the right direction as it attempts to establish labor protection among the member nations” (Canepa , 2016) .

In addition to the idea of regulations aiding pollution reduction and economic development, according to the Columbia Climate School, environmental protection, itself, contributes to economic growth. Protecting the environment creates a snowball effect of development. For example, water and sewage treatment plants require more workers, thus providing more jobs, and creates better infrastructure in cities around the world. With better infrastructure, more companies come to developing countries and the standard of living increases for the citizens of those countries, thus making them better off than they were before the focus on environmental protection (2020) .

To come to a conclusion about what type of impact, positive or negative, that fast fashion contributes to society, the analysis of the industry from environmental, social, and economic perspectives as well as the arguments involving limiting the negative impacts will be considered.

The thorough analysis of the effects of fast fashion revealed both consequences and benefits associated with this industry. The environmental standpoint conveyed only negative outcomes for society in the long term. These included clothing waste, water use and pollution, plastic in the ocean, and carbon emissions. Each of these are thought to lessen quality of life for both workers and consumers of fast fashion as well as people who are not directly involved.

The social outlook was comprised of both positive and negative impacts, however the positive effects corresponded to consumers while the negative related to the workers. With poor working conditions, child labor, and feminization of the workforce opposing the benefit of mitigated classism for consumers, the social aspects of fast fashion favored the negative side of the industry.

Lastly, the economic section presented economic advantages for garment workers and economic disadvantages for manufacturing workers in developed countries, as well as contrasting arguments for the quality of life of the fast fashion workers. Assuming the contradicting quality of life statements cancel out, the economic perspective leans towards the positive side of the fast fashion industry with the benefits of the booming global industry growth and economic development in developing countries outweighing the negative of lost jobs for developed countries’ unskilled labor.

When only considering these arguments, the impact of fast fashion seems to be more negative overall. However, when also taking the ideas of limiting the negative effects into account, this outlook changes. The notions in terms of this topic allude to increased economic development and benefit as a result of protecting both the environment and workers’ rights. The overarching concept from this section is that increased economic development does not need to cause negative environmental and social impacts and vice versa. With this, as mentioned previously, global economic value will increase as environmental and social problems are addressed, thus eliminating the need to assess which perspective is the most important.

Considering the views relating to mitigating negative impacts, fast fashion’s effect on society favors the positive side because, if fast fashion takes the necessary steps, the damage on the environment would be controlled, and the social aspects would be improved, all while the economy would continue to grow. With most of the negative impacts being alleviated, with the exception of the developed country economy, fast fashion has a net positive impact.

Submitted : June 24, 2022 EDT

Accepted : June 30, 2022 EDT

Slow Fashion vs. Fast Fashion. A debate that asks fashion to look in the mirror.

by American Wool | Aug 25, 2021 | Fashion , shopping | 0 comments

Today’s retail consumers are thinking more ethically than ever before. As people shop for all different types of products, they want to know about their sources of origin, and how and where they were made. As a result, the concept of fast fashion vs. slow fashion has come to the forefront over the last few years.

Fast fashion, a retail strategy driven by hyper-consumerism across the globe, is the practice of using the lowest cost labor and materials at every step of the supply chain to produce newer, faster, low-price options for consumers. Like fast food, this menu of fast fashion options is not about quality. Instead, it’s about driving down price to drive up higher consumption of low quality, cheaply made, almost disposable clothing.

The Envrionmental and Human Impact

From the perspective of many retailers, fast fashion is beneficial because it  encourages consumers to make frequent visits to stores to buy more and more garments. But the fact of the matter is those garments don’t hold up. From an environmental perspective, fast fashion is creating a bleak scenario. In the opening scene of the 2017 documentary “ RiverBlue: Can Fashion Save the Planet ,” deep magenta wastewater spills into a river in China. Fashion designer and activist Orsola de Castro speaks about the spill, stating: “There’s a joke in China that you can tell the ‘it’ color of the season by looking at the color of the rivers.” Seventy percent of Chinese rivers and lakes are contaminated by the 2.5 billion gallons of wastewater produced by the textile industry.

• In the U.S., fast fashion may not be seen in the rivers—but it is being buried in the ground and contaminating the earth.
• According to a July 2017 article in Forbes Magazine, 12.8 million tons of clothing are sent to landfills in the U.S. annually
• Cheaply made synthetic fabrics can sit for 200 years leaving toxic chemicals to contaminate local soil and groundwater.

Being cognizant of choosing long-lasting natural fabrics over synthetics can help extend the life of your wardrobe, reduce the amount of microplastics in our waterways, and help keep textiles out of landfills. Knowing how long it takes a material to decompose can help you make better choices when it comes to fashion. Wool can break down and biodegrade in marine environments in as little as one year, while rubber could take up to 80 years. Check out this short list that shows how long it takes various materials to biodegrade in the marine environment.

From a human rights perspective, fast fashion doesn’t fare any better. In the drive to create low costs, the biggest corners that fast fashion cuts are human. According to Forbes, the garment industry in second- and third-world countries is 80% staffed by women who are 18- to 24-years-old and a majority of whom earn less than $3 per day.

The questionable environmental and human rights questions of the fast fashion practices have caused many to embrace a “slow fashion” movement. Choosing more natural, sustainable materials like wool over polyester, and making purchases of higher-quality products that will last longer and, when they are no longer valuable, biodegrade back into the earth are key tenets of slow fashion. A general awareness of what you are buying and how it affects both people and our planet are paramount.

Ethical Fashion Takes on Retail

One of the more outspoken and recognized voices against fast fashion is Livia Firth. She has catapulted slow fashion and sustainable style into the spotlight and is the executive producer of the 2015 documentary “ The True Cost ”, and founder of  Green Carpet Challenge , a project that aims to raise the profile of sustainability and social welfare by encouraging celebrities to wear ethical designs at high profile events.

At a global fashion summit in Copenhagen back in 2014, Firth laid her point of view on the table clearly and passionately. “From the consumer point of view is it really democratic to buy a tee shirt for five dollars or jeans for $20? Or are they taking us for a ride? Because they are making us believe we are rich and wealthy because we can buy a lot. But the only person becoming richer is the owner of the fast fashion brand. And that makes me a little bit angry.”

Firth’s energy has caught the attention of several major fashion players. Her consultancy firm, Eco-Age, provides bespoke sustainability solutions for brands looking to improve their supply chain. Her clients include luxury names like Chopard, Erdem, and Gucci. “She doesn’t stop. If you say no, she asks again. I admire that,” says  Tom Ford . “She’s driven by a cause that she believes in, she’s driven to create ethical fashion.”

Fast fashion brands like Topshop, American Apparel, and Forever 21 want to produce fast and cheap. While most brands used to create new lines six to eight times a year; the clothing lines in fast fashion stores now change entirely in as little as two weeks. They defend this by saying it’s what the consumer wants. But as Livia Firth says, “I have children who want sugar all the time.”

Common Sense Consequences

Americans love to shop. And they love a good deal. But the idea that a global, fast fashion industry can deliver a garment to you for $10 should actually be an indicator that something is wrong. Creating that garment takes many elements that can include:

• agriculture
• Human resources

When you take into account all of these supply chain considerations, spending just $10 for any piece of clothing should raise some red flags. In fast fashion the driver behind all those steps is the lowest cost. Environmental sustainability, fair trade practices, and human ethics have been at best a minimal concern.

For over a decade Firth has been passionate about encouraging people to talk and really think about the consequences of the things they choose to buy and to consider the real people who live work and struggle along the supply chain. And the effects of supporting that fast fashion supply chain on the environment.

She points out that “if you take fast fashion from the environmental perspective, you’re creating a huge pile of rubbish, because the average garment lasts in a wardrobe for less than five weeks.” From a human rights perspective, the ethics of fast fashion production in cities like Bangladesh are often brought into question. “There must be a solution that does not harm the environment and make slaves of low wage garment workers.”

What Can I Do?

While Firth and many others on both sides of the fashion issue try to sort out complex issues like trade agreements, human rights, and environmental sustainability, consumers are left with a question: What can I do?

It turns out that you can do a lot just by learning about the fashion industry online. Peruse the websites of organizations like Fashion Revolution , Wear Consciously , or Eco-Age and you’ll soon recognize that the relationship between you and what you buy is not about just the two of you. The item you pull from the rack and hold up in the mirror has already created a global effect. Armed with the right knowledge, you can not only find garments that make you look good, but you can rest assured that your dollars are doing good for the planet as well.

Wool is one of the earth’s most natural and sustainable textiles. It’s shorn and replenished annually and wool garments can literally last a lifetime. After your wool clothing item has served its purpose, it will biodegrade back into the soil. The benefits of this high-performing and dynamic fiber go beyond its moisture-wicking, breathable, and durable properties. Choosing wool means choosing Mother Earth.

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What is fast fashion and why is it a problem?

Alex Crumbie explores the growing concern about the social and environmental impacts of the fast fashion clothing industry and sets out what's wrong with fast fashion.

Fast fashion is ‘fast’ in a number of senses: the changes in fashion are fast, the rate of production is fast; the customer’s decision to purchase is fast; delivery is fast; and garments are worn fast – usually only a few times before being discarded.

The rise of fast fashion has had devastating consequences, from its reliance on plastic fabrics and its enormous carbon footprint to its erosion of workers’ rights.

In this article we explain what we mean when we say ‘fast fashion’ and why it is so bad for people and the planet. 

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion is widely considered to be low-quality apparel produced rapidly to follow current trends in the industry and sold at rock-bottom prices. Although the monetary cost is low, textile workers and the environment are paying a high price. Fast fashion is cheap because workers are not paid adequately. Clothes are poorly made, widely purchased, rarely worn and quickly thrown away.

The goal of fast fashion companies is to encourage people to spend more money on more clothes that they use for a shorter time. That's what makes them money.

Fast changing trends

Fashion brands have long used new styles and lower prices to attract customers, but previously brands would plan new ranges many months, even years, in advance. The pace of change was relatively slow and there were fewer products on offer. In comparison, fast fashion is focused on responding to ever-changing consumer tastes as quickly as possible.

For example, in the BBC’s 2020 ‘Breaking Fashion’ show we see Manchester-based fast fashion company, In the Style , reproducing a bodysuit worn by Kylie Jenner. The company manages to have the piece designed, manufactured and on sale within 10 days of the piece first being worn publicly by the celebrity.

The rise of fast fashion is intertwined with social media and celebrity/influencer culture. A celebrity posts a photo wearing a new outfit, and their followers want it, so fast fashion brands rush to be the first to provide it. Fast fashion brands often target young people - so called Gen Zs -, who have been brought up amongst social media and influencer culture. 

Of course, the flow of causality is not that simple: fast fashion brands are not simply reacting to consumer demand, they are also creating it. But the essential point is that these brands operate on the basis of constantly producing new lines of clothes to meet the insatiable and ever-changing consumer demand for all things new.

Fast production

Faster changing trends means that producers are under pressure to manufacture clothes more and more rapidly. Factories are expected to produce new lines with only a couple of month’s notice, meaning that their workload - and therefore the amount of employment they can offer to workers - is unpredictable and insecure.

The drive to produce garments rapidly has led many UK fast fashion companies to reshore clothing production to the UK, where previously almost all clothing brands sourced from less-economically developed countries such as Bangladesh or Vietnam.

Leicester has become a central hub for clothing production and many of the scandals associated with workers’ rights in the UK have been found in factories in the city.

The exploitation of workers in fast fashion supply chains is partly the result of brands pressuring suppliers to produce clothes as cheaply and quickly as possible. We talk about this more below.

Fast sale and delivery

The low-cost of fast fashion items encourages fast sale. The average person in the UK buys 60% more clothing today than in 2000. We buy more clothes per person in the UK than in any other country in Europe, and our addiction has grown - with online searches for ‘cheap clothes’ increasing 46.3% during the first coronavirus lockdown. 

Even if you are out-of-pocket you can buy items using Klarna and other easy credit services. Its post-purchase payment options allow you to defer paying for your garment for 14 to 30 days, much like a payday loan.

Most companies also offer cheap deals for quick delivery. At the time of writing, Boohoo offered unlimited next-day delivery for one year for just £9.99.

It’s estimated that the average item of clothing is worn just 14 times , and in 2019 The Guardian reported that one in three young women considered an item worn just once or twice to be old.

Much modern clothing is not made to last. Due to super-fast production, designs are generally not well stress-tested before sale, and cheap synthetic fabrics are used in order to keep costs low. Much of it will end up in landfill after only being worn a handful of times.

Five things you need to know about fast fashion

Which are the leading fast fashion brands.

It is important to note that most of the fashion sector has become ‘faster’ in recent years. As such, even the more mainstream, established brands will be ‘fast’ to some extent.What used to be called 'fast' fashion is now called 'ultra fast' fashion. However, there are some brands that stand out as much faster than the rest:

• Boohoo , which also owns the following brands: Burton, Coast, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Karen Millen, MissPap, Nasty Gal, Oasis, Pretty Little Thing, Wallis, Warehouse
• In the Style
• I Saw it First
• Shein and Missguided

If a brand is offering vast numbers of ‘new in’ clothes (usually thousands of new items every day) and its products are super cheap, then it is a fast fashion brand.

France to ban fast fashion

France, with its celebrated and economically significant fashion houses, is taking the political lead in challenging fast fashion.

In March 2024, the French parliament approved a bill that targets fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion sold by online retail giants such as Shein and Temu to counter the fast fashion industry's environmental impact. It makes France the first country in the world legislating to limit the excesses of ultra fast fashion.

It will ban the advertising of certain ultra-fast-fashion companies – and penalise low cost items with a surcharge of €5 (£4.20) an item from 2025, rising to €10 by 2030, to cover their environmental impact. The bill would also mandate that fast fashion retailers include an item's reuse, repair, recycling and environmental impact near the product's price.

The bill states: "This evolution of the apparel sector towards ephemeral fashion, combining increased volumes and low prices, is influencing consumer buying habits by creating buying impulses and a constant need for renewal, which is not without environmental, social and economic consequences."

France will apply criteria such as volumes of clothes produced and turnover speed of new collections in determining what constitutes fast fashion.

“Shein offers 900 times more products than a traditional French brand,” it states, adding that the brand releases more than 7,200 new models of clothing per day, with a total of 470,000 different products available overall.

The problems with fast fashion 

What are the environmental problems with fast fashion.

The endless creation of new clothes comes with a heavy environmental price. Every year the sector requires 93 billion cubic meters of water, which is enough to meet the consumption needs of five million people , and is responsible for around 20% of industrial water pollution as a result of textile treatment and dyeing.

There are also numerous problems with the materials and processes used. For example , cotton production uses 6% of the world’s pesticides and 16% of insecticides. 

The industry also has a heavy carbon footprint, which is responsible for up to 10% of total global carbon emissions , more than the total form flying and shipping, and is estimated to increase by 50% by 2030.

The above problems affect the clothing sector more broadly, but one issue is particularly endemic to fast fashion: plastic.

How much plastic do clothes contain?

Not only does fashion heavily rely on fossil fuel for energy to produce their garments and transport them across the world, but a staggering 69% of all textile fibres are derived from fossil fuels , with projections indicating a potential for further expansion in the future. 

Polyester is the most widely used of these synthetic fibres and is now found in over half of all textiles produced. It is generally produced from polyethylene terephthalate, better known as PET, a type of plastic derived from crude oil and natural gas – also used to make items such as plastic bottles.

Changing Markets' research found that in 2015, polyester production for textiles alone was responsible for emissions of over 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent – similar to the annual GHG emissions of Mexico or 180 coal-fired power plants. This is projected to nearly double by 2030, reaching twice the GHG emissions of Australia.

The ubiquitousness of plastic in clothing means that the textile sector accounts for 15% of total plastic use; the only sectors that use more are construction and packaging. 

According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, clothes release half a million tonnes of microfibres  – the miniscule bits of fabric that are released when clothes are worn, washed, or disposed of, that find their way into our bodies and the natural world - into the ocean every year, equivalent to more than 50 billion plastic bottles. 

These fibres have been found almost everywhere: from the summit of Mount Everest to the placentas of unborn babies. We still do not know the effects they may have.

Clothing made of recycled plastics

Many fashion brands are pledging to address the issue of the use of virgin plastics in clothing manufacture, a material derived from the fossil fuel industry. However, this is often by replacing it with recycled synthetics.

Many brands are making a song and dance about using recycled plastics for their clothes, but a recent report by the RSA found that the actual level of recycled content was pitifully low. Across four major online fast fashion brands, the use of recycled fabrics was a mere 4%.

Our analysis of Shein ’s website found its recycled content was even lower, at only 0.5%, despite the brand claiming, “ When selecting materials, we do our best to source recycled fabric, such as recycled polyester.”

Recycling plastics where possible has some benefits, but it does nothing to address the problem of microfibres . 

And this may well be from recycled plastic bottles but, as a 2021 Guardian article points out: “PET bottles are also part of a well-established, closed-loop recycling system, where they can be efficiently recycled at least 10 times. The apparel industry is 'taking from this closed-loop, and moving it into this linear system because most of those clothes won’t be recycled', said Maxine Bédat, Executive Director of New Standard Institute. "Converting plastic from bottles into clothes may actually accelerate its path to the landfill, especially for low-quality, fast-fashion garments which are often discarded after only a few uses.”

The fashion industry, governments and consumers need to act to slow down consumption and ensure that garments are sustainable at every stage of their life cycle, from fibre production, to manufacture, to end-of-life.

How much waste does the clothing industry cause?

With the growing popularity of fast and ultra fast fashion, there comes a growing amount of textile waste.

The amount of textiles being produced globally per person more than doubled from 5.9kg to 13kg over the period 1975-2018. 

Many of the clothes bought are thrown away after being worn just a handful of times: the industry produces an estimated 92 million tonnes of textiles waste annually, much of which is burnt or finds its way to landfill , while less than 1% of used clothing is recycled into new garments.

Often textile waste is exported and ends up being dumped in countries such as Ghana and Kenya.  The environmental impact of all these garments, often richly laced with industrial chemicals, is severe for local ecosystems when they are dumped in their billions.

Some of this waste consists of new items that never even reached the consumer – clothing lines that have become outdated and so are destroyed instead of sold.

Atacama clothing mountain highlights over-consumption

The shocking reality of fast fashion’s waste problem hit the headlines in November 2021 with an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report on the mountains of discarded clothing ending up in Chile’s Atacama Desert. A total of 59,000 tons of second-hand clothing is said to arrive in Chile for resale each year from Europe, the US and Asia. However, an estimated 39,000 tons is unable to be sold and ends up dumped in the desert.

The situation highlights the myriad of problems in the fashion industry. The over-consumption of new clothing means that even an increasingly thriving second-hand clothing market cannot keep up, and this is exacerbated by the amount of poor-quality clothing not suitable for resale.

While second-hand markets certainly play a huge role in reducing the carbon impact of clothing when replacing the purchase of new items, a system where clothing gets shipped around the world multiple times, only to be wasted anyway is clearly not sustainable.

Why is it bad for workers?

Wages and conditions.

In order to offer clothes at ultra low prices, fast fashion brands need their costs to be low. One of the main ways of doing this is to drive down the wages of garment workers in the supply chain. 

For years, brands have ‘chased the cheap needle’ around the world, seeking countries with the lowest labour standards so that garment workers can be easily exploited. In recent years, many UK fast fashion brands have found the cheap needle closer to home, often in quasi-legal factories in cities such as Leicester.

In the UK, Boohoo has become somewhat the symbol of fast fashion’s worker exploitation problem. Numerous exposés have shown that while the pockets of Boohoo’s directors are bursting at the seams, the people who actually stitch the seams of its clothing are paid a pittance, with some found to have been paid under half the minimum wage.

The Levitt report, which looked in depth at Boohoo’s Leicester supply chain, found that “The allegations of unacceptable working conditions and underpayment of workers are not only well-founded but are substantially true.” Levitt also claimed that these problems were endemic to the system and likely found across Boohoo’s supply chain.

Worker exploitation is an essential part of the fast fashion model. If an item is very cheap, chances are that the person who produced it was paid little. 

The Ethical Fashion Report published in 2023, 10 years after the first edition, found that although there has been some progress for garment workers, overall change is still too slow. Their research found that at the current rate of progress, it would be 75 years before all companies are paying a living wage at even a minimum of one factory per company. The vast majority of clothing companies (84%) were not sourcing from any factories which paid a living wage.

Harassment of women

A 2022 report Unbearable Harassment: The Fashion Industry and Widespread Abuse of Female Garment Workers in Indian Factories , found that every single woman spoken to for the report (90), had either experienced or witnessed gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) carried out by male supervisors and managers at the factories they worked at.

“Verbal, physical, and sexual harassment exists in every garment factory – not just this one. It existed before COVID, it exists during COVID, and it will exist after COVID...” Smita, Tamal Nadu.

The report goes on to state that:

"Violence on the factory floor cannot be dismissed as just a factory-level problem; rather, it must be understood as an industry-wide culture of violence driven by the business model of global fashion brands”.

Awful conditions at a Shein factory exposed

A Channel 4 documentary broadcast autumn 2022 went undercover at a Shein factory to expose predictably awful conditions and exhausted, exploited workers.

The brand is also shown to copy designs from independent designers, rely on unpaid influencers for its marketing, and use manipulative sales techniques such as countdown timers and multi-buys to encourage overconsumption.

Yet the company is hugely popular and massively outsells its fast fashion rivals. Despite many similar documentaries and decades of campaigning on garment worker rights, it seems that cheap clothes are an addiction we just can’t break.

Check out our clothing guides to find some much more ethical options for new clothes, or choose second hand .

The climate impact of clothing

Update from cop28 on fashion.

A decisive phase out of fossil fuels wasn't announced at COP28 at Dubai in December 2023, but it was the first time a COP had acknowledged the need to shift away from fossil fuels. The COP called on countries to contribute to “transitioning away” from fossil fuels and for the first time delivered an unmistakable message that the time is running out on the use of coal, oil and gas.

According to Changing Markets , the fashion industry shifted from the side-lines to a more prominent role in the discussions at this climate conference. Panels, interactive events, sustainable fashion show and Stella McCartney’s pavilion exhibiting sustainable and innovative fashion materials signalled a growing recognition of fashion can play in mitigating climate change.

Some notable announcements at COP indicated a step in the right direction. Bestseller and H&M Group pledged to invest in a major offshore wind project in Bangladesh. While the project is still at the very early stages of development, it underscores that fashion brands hold immense power to support their suppliers in a just transition away from fossil fuel, provided they follow through with substantial investments. 

HSBC committed $4.3 million to the Apparel Impact Institute’s $250 million Fashion Climate Fund, which received an initial $40 million from lead funders, including Lululemon and H&M Group. The aim of the fund is to identify and scaling tools to reduce carbon emissions in the supply chain. However, in light of the estimated $1 trillion is needed to finance the fashion industry’s decarbonization by 2050, these efforts represent a drop in the ocean of what’s necessary. The industry still has a long journey ahead to achieve substantial change.

The Fashion Charter

The Fashion Charter was set up with the support of UN Climate Change in 2018 to provide a pathway for the industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. Other commitments in the Charter include sourcing 100% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, sourcing of environmentally friendly raw materials, and phasing out coal from the supply chain by 2030.

Charter members are expected to publicly report progress against interim and long-term targets annually, via the Carbon Disclosure Project CDP , a not-for-profit charity.

The charter currently has 130 signatories including brands such as H&M, Primark, Levi’s, Chanel and Adidas. Unsurprisingly, none of these companies are ultra fast fashion companies.

However, while 90% of signatories to the Fashion Charter are engaging suppliers with their green objectives, this reduces to just 50% when considering the entire fashion sector. Approved Science Based Targets (SBTs) falls to 10% on a sector-wide basis and reporting of total renewable energy consumed falls to 39%. Verified scope 2 emissions disclosures fall to 16% on a sector-wide basis.

Fast fashion coming under pressure

Whilst the global fast fashion business model is still based on exploitative low wages, the brands themselves are now coming under increasing pressure.

Profits at fast fashion pioneers ASOS and Boohoo are tumbling whilst last year Missguided, one of the UK’s flagship fast fashion companies went bust, all largely as a result of the cost-of-living crisis that’s seen soaring costs of everything from cotton to shipping.

In 2022, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into whether eco-friendly and sustainability claims made by the fast fashion chains Asos, Boohoo and George at Asda constitute greenwashing. The CMA made a landmark ruling in 2024 with these three brands signing formal agreements to use only accurate and clear green claims . 

Meanwhile over in Europe, the EU is stepping up its fight against throwaway culture by aiming to end fast fashion by 2030.

In an ambitious initiative launched last year, the EU announced its intention to vastly expand its clothing design rules on recycling and sustainability. In just seven years’ time, all textiles sold within the EU must be recyclable, free of hazardous substances and contain a high percentage of recycled fibres.

All these actions are clearly good news for the environment but the bottom line is that fast fashion still demands the exploitation of garment workers.

However, it’s important to remember that the problem is with the clothing companies, not with the clothing industry.

“We all need clothes and the clothing industry provides millions of jobs around the world from farmers who provide the cotton and fabrics to workers in garment factories,” says Heather Webb, a former researcher at Ethical Consumer who has since worked within the fast fashion industry as an ethical trade analyst.

“Big fashion brands are consistently treating the factories they buy from poorly and it’s the workers and environment who suffer,” says Fiona Gooch from Transform Trade that campaigns for a more ethical global trading system.

“We need a fashion watchdog to regulate UK garment retailers along the same lines as the existing supermarket watchdog that’s successfully reduced the unfair buying practices of the UK’s largest food retailers,” explains Gooch. “A fashion watchdog would reduce abusive and unfair purchasing practices of the garment retailers which would ultimately benefit garment workers.”

Whilst acknowledging that a fashion watchdog would be a good thing, Anna Bryher believes that it wouldn’t fix the problem of low wages within the clothing industry. What’s needed says Bryher is new legislation to enable clothing brands to be held to account for their unfair purchasing practices.

Heather Webb agrees. “We need government intervention in the market,” says Webb. “One of the key things that could improve both the pay and working conditions of garment workers is a law outlawing the unethical buying practices of clothing brands."

Improving fast fashion - slow fashion

Despite the pervasiveness of fast fashion, things are beginning to improve.

We are wearing clothes for longer

New research from WRAP has found that compared with similar research carried out in 2013, we are wearing our clothes for slightly longer. Jeans , for example, now have a longevity of just over four years, compared to just over three in 2013. The research also found that more than half of us are happy to buy second hand clothes; nearly 60% of us put a lot of effort into maintaining our clothes; and that a similar proportion look for ways to repair clothes when they’re damaged.

The WRAP research also estimates that the UK's wardrobes hold 1.6 billion items of unworn clothes, an average of 31 items for each adult. And yet we’re still spending more than £4 billion on shopping for clothes each month. WRAP makes the point that as textiles and fashion are responsible for between 4% and 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions , we need a revolution in our clothing habits to make our wardrobes sustainable.

Circular clothing industry

The purpose of the WRAP research was to understand the population’s receptiveness to circular business models for clothing . These included second hand, upcycling, subscription, rental (pay-per-wear) and repair (where a brand repairs an item of clothing a customer has purchased from it for a fee).

WRAP found that 40% of people are likely to use a subscription service and that 58% are open to using a repair service. Among those who have already used a circular business model, the majority said they would do so again.

WRAP argues that this shows there is a clear case for clothing brands and retailers to adopt circular business models.

Read the full WRAP report into clothing longevity on their website and read tips on repairing and buying second hand in our article on upcycling and buying second hand clothing .

Buying secondhand clothes

Our own 2023 Ethical Markets report found that sales of secondhand clothes rose by 49% in 2022 compared to the previous year.

Other surveys have spotted the same thing. According to GlobalData's figures, the clothes resale market in the UK grew by 149% between 2016 and 2022. They forecast that it would grow by a further 67.5% between 2022 to 2026.

Some of this growth will be due to the ending of Covid 19 lockdowns and the consequent rise in charity shop sales. Some will also be due to a genuine change of behaviours. The Guardian reported that there were “signs that the popularity of fast fashion is on the wane”. The boom in pre-loved clothes has largely been driven by generation Z. 

A research project by Boston Consulting Group and resale site Vestiaire in 2022 showed that this demographic of consumers was most likely to buy (31%) and sell (44%) second-hand items, with millennials close behind. Depop reports that 90% of active users are under the age of 26 and the hashtag ‘vintage’ has 28.7bn views on generation Z’s favourite app, TikTok.”

Some of it will also be due to more suppliers and innovators entering the market. In 2022, it was reported that eBay saw a 24% increase of circular fashion businesses join their site, and searches for pre-loved clothing on eBay UK skyrocketed 1,600% during that period. 

Our Ethical Clothing guide looks at clothing resale websites as well as the usual ethical innovators we have been featuring for years. We have also reviewed charity shops , which saw an 11% rise in sales in the three months to the end of September 2022, with Oxfam’s sales up 40% in the run-up to Christmas 2022.  

UK Government report on fast fashion 

In 2019 the UK Government published a report on fast fashion and sustainability . The Environmental Audit Committee published 'Fixing fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability', with a number of recommendations. Their report is available on the UK parliament website .

What can you do about fast fashion?

• Buy consciously and look for ethical brands . 
• Buy second hand or repair what you already have.
• Join a fast fashion campaign, such as Fashion Revolution or the Clean Clothes campaign .
• Follow our 10 tips to ditch fast fashion .
• Maybe most importantly, buy less clothing.
• Shopping guide to ethical clothing brands
• Shopping guide to high street clothes shops
• Ethical clothing choices: upcycling, repairing and second-hand

10 tips to turn your back on fast fashion

• Ethical high street fashion
• A quick guide to fair trade and fashion

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What Is Fast Fashion and Why Is It So Bad?

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Fast fashion is a relatively new phenomenon in the industry that causes extensive damage to the planet, exploits workers, and harms animals. Here’s why it’s best to steer clear when you can.

A tragic reality check for fashion

Fashion wasn’t always as destructive of an industry. Clothes shopping used to be an occasional event—something that happened a few times a year when the seasons changed or when we outgrew what we had. But about 30 years ago, something changed. Clothes became cheaper, trend cycles sped up, and shopping became a weekly hobby for many. Enter fast fashion and the global chains that now dominate our high streets and online shopping . But what is fast fashion? Why is fast fashion so bad? And how exactly does it impact people, the planet, and animals?

It was all too good to be true in the oughties. All these stores selling cool, trendy clothing well-off people could buy without a second’s thought, wear a handful of times, and then throw away. Suddenly brands were promising that almost everyone could afford to dress like their favourite celebrity and wear the latest trends fresh from the catwalk.

But, of course, someone was paying the price. Then in 2013, much of the world had a reality check when the Rana Plaza clothing manufacturing complex in Bangladesh collapsed , killing over 1,000 workers. That’s when many consumers really started questioning fast fashion and wondering at the true cost of those $5 t-shirts . If you’re reading this article, you might already be aware of fast fashion’s dark side, but it’s worth exploring how the industry got to this point—and how we can help to change it.

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion can be defined as cheap, trendy clothing that samples ideas from the catwalk or celebrity culture and turns them into garments at breakneck speed to meet consumer demand. The idea is to get the newest styles on the market as fast as possible, so shoppers can snap them up while they are still at the height of their popularity and then, sadly, discard them after a few wears. It plays into the idea that outfit repeating is a fashion faux pas and that if you want to stay relevant, you have to sport the latest looks as they happen. It forms a key part of the toxic system of overproduction and consumption that has made fashion one of the world’s largest polluters . Before we can go about changing it, let’s take a look at the history.

Fast fashion plays into the idea that outfit repeating is a fashion faux pas and that if you want to stay relevant, you have to sport the latest looks as they happen.

How did fast fashion happen?

To understand how fast fashion came to be, we need to rewind a bit. Before the 1800s, fashion was slow. You had to source your own materials like wool or leather, prepare them, weave them, and then make the clothes.

The Industrial Revolution introduced new technology—like the sewing machine. Clothes became easier, quicker, and cheaper to make. Dressmaking shops emerged to cater to the middle classes.

Many of these dressmaking shops used teams of garment workers or home workers. Around this time, sweatshops emerged, along with some familiar safety issues. The first significant garment factory disaster was when a fire broke out in New York’s Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911.  It claimed the lives of 146 garment workers, many of whom were young female immigrants .

By the 1960s and ’70s, young people were creating new trends, and clothing became a form of personal expression, but there was still a distinction between high fashion and high street.

In the late 1990s and 2000s, low-cost fashion reached a peak. Online shopping took off, and fast fashion retailers like H&M , Zara , and Topshop took over the high street. These brands took the looks and design elements from the top fashion houses and reproduced them quickly and cheaply. With everyone now able to shop for on-trend clothes whenever they wanted, it’s easy to understand how the phenomenon caught on.

How to spot a fast fashion brand

Some key factors are common to fast fashion brands:

• Thousands of styles, which touch on all the latest trends.
• Extremely short turnaround time between when a trend or garment is seen on the catwalk or in celebrity media and when it hits the shelves.
• Offshore manufacturing where labour is the cheapest, with the use of workers on low wages without adequate rights or safety and complex supply chains with poor visibility beyond the first tier.
• A limited quantity of a particular garment—this is an idea pioneered by Zara. With new stock arriving in store every few days, shoppers know if they don’t buy something they like, they’ll probably miss their chance.
• Cheap, low quality materials like  polyester , causing clothes to degrade after just a few wears and get thrown away—not to mention the microfibre shedding issue .

Why is fast fashion bad? 

Polluting our planet.

Fast fashion’s impact on the planet is immense . The pressure to reduce costs and speed up production time means environmental corners are more likely to be cut. Fast fashion’s negative impact includes its use of cheap, toxic textile dyes —making the fashion industry the one of the largest polluters of clean water globally, right up there with agriculture. That’s why Greenpeace has been pressuring brands to remove dangerous chemicals from their supply chains through its detoxing fashion  campaigns through the years.

Cheap textiles also increase fast fashion’s impact.  Polyester  is one of the most popular fabrics. It is derived from fossil fuels, contributes to global warming, and can shed  microfibres that add to the increasing levels of plastic in our oceans when washed or even worn. But even “natural” fabrics can be a problem at the scale fast fashion demands. Conventional cotton requires enormous quantities of water and pesticides in countries like India and China. This results in drought risks and creates extreme stress on water basins and competition for resources between companies and local communities.

The speed at which garments are produced also means that more and more clothes are disposed of by consumers, creating massive textile waste.

The constant speed and demand means increased stress on other environmental areas such as land clearing, biodiversity, and soil quality. The processing of leather also impacts the environment, with 300kg of chemicals added to every 900kg of animal hides tanned.

The speed at which garments are produced also means that more and more clothes are disposed of by consumers, creating massive textile waste. According to some statistics, in Australia alone, more than 500m kilos of unwanted clothing ends up in landfill every year .

Exploiting workers

As well as the environmental cost of fast fashion, there’s a human cost.

Fast fashion impacts garment workers  who work in dangerous environments, for low wages, and without fundamental human rights. Further down the supply chain, the farmers may work with toxic chemicals and brutal practices that can have devastating impacts on their physical and mental health, a plight highlighted by the documentary The True Cost .

Harming animals

Animals are also impacted by fast fashion. In the wild, the toxic dyes and microfibres released in waterways are ingested by land and marine life alike through the food chain to devastating effect. And when animal-derived products such as leather, fur, and even wool are used in fashion directly, animal welfare is put at risk. As an example, numerous scandals reveal that real fur, including cat and dog fur, is often being passed off as faux fur to unknowing shoppers. The truth is that there is so much real fur being produced under terrible conditions in fur farms that it’s become cheaper to produce and buy than faux fur.

Coercing consumers

Finally, fast fashion can impact consumers themselves, encouraging a “throw-away” culture because of both the built-in obsolescence of the products and the speed at which trends emerge. Fast fashion makes us believe we need to shop more and more to stay on top of trends, creating a constant sense of need and ultimate dissatisfaction. The trend has also been criticised on intellectual property grounds, with some designers alleging that retailers have illegally mass-produced their designs .

Who are the big players?

Many retailers we know today as the fast fashion big players, like  Zara   or  H&M , started as smaller shops in Europe around the 1950s. Technically, H&M is the  oldest of the fast fashion giants , having opened as Hennes in Sweden in 1947, expanding to London in 1976, and before long, reaching the States in 2000.

Zara follows, which opened its  first store in Northern Spain in 1975 . When Zara landed in New York at the beginning of the 1990s, people first heard the term “fast fashion”. It was coined by the New York Times to describe Zara’s mission to take only 15 days for a garment to go from the design stage to being sold in stores.

There are now even cheaper and faster brands like SHEIN, Missguided, Forever 21, Zaful, Boohoo, and Fashion Nova. These brands are known as ultra fast fashion, a recent phenomenon which is as bad as it sounds.

Other big names in fast fashion today include UNIQLO, GAP,   Primark, and TopShop. While these brands were once seen as radically cheap disruptors, there are now  even cheaper and faster alternatives like SHEIN, Missguided, Forever 21, Zaful, Boohoo, and Fashion Nova. These brands are known as ultra fast fashion , a recent phenomenon which is as bad as it sounds.

Is fast fashion going green? Think again

As an increasing number of consumers call out the true cost of the fashion industry, and especially fast fashion, we’ve seen a growing number of retailers introduce so-called sustainable and ethical fashion initiatives such as in-store recycling schemes . These schemes allow customers to drop off unwanted items in “bins” in the brands’ stores. But it’s been highlighted that only 0.1% of all clothing collected by charities and take-back programs is recycled into new textile fibre .

The underlying issue with fast fashion is the speed at which it is produced, putting massive pressure on people and the environment. Recycling and small eco or vegan clothing ranges —when they are not only for  greenwashing —are not enough to counter the throw-away culture, the waste, the strain on natural resources, and the myriad of other issues created by fast fashion. The whole system needs to be changed.

Will fast fashion ever go out of style?

We are starting to see some changes in the fashion industry. The anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse is now  Fashion Revolution Week , where people all over the world ask questions like, “Who made my clothes?” and “What’s in my clothes?”. Fashion Revolution declares that “we don’t want our clothes to exploit people or destroy our planet”.

There is also a growing interest in moving towards a more circular textile production model, reusing materials wherever and whenever possible. In 2018, both Vogue Australia  and Elle UK dedicated entire magazine issues to sustainable fashion, a trend being taken up each year by more and more big names.

Pinning the hopes of a better future on each generation that emerges is nothing new—and it’s our collective responsibility to acknowledge that waiting for future generations to solve today's problems is not the answer.

Plus, younger people today are increasingly conscious of the climate emergency and many are taking action accordingly. However, there’s a gap between intention and reality. Millennials and gen Zers are the main drivers of the fast fashion economy today. Ultra fast fashion brands like SHEIN are selling more than ever, and young shoppers are still their target market.

Some analysts think up-and-coming  generation Alpha could finally create a new status quo for fashion in light of the climate crisis: “The signals are that Alphas are taking the expectations and behaviours of previous generations even further,” says Dr. Gordon Fletcher of Salford Business School. “They are the generation to ‘do’ something rather than just ‘talk’ about it.”

But similar things were said of gen Y and Z before them. Pinning the hopes of a better future on each generation that emerges is nothing new—and it’s our collective responsibility to acknowledge that waiting for future generations to solve today’s problems is not the answer.

In light of a looming climate catastrophe, industries like fashion that are responsible for such alarming amounts of waste and carbon emissions must be regulated if we are to limit global warming.

Of course, the onus doesn’t lie solely with shoppers. In fact, in recent years there has been a push towards government and industry regulations that would call for fast fashion brands to change their ways or face fines and persecution. In mid-2023, reports Vogue , “the European Union has backed a raft of new regulations to ‘end fast fashion’, including policies designed to make clothes more durable, easier to reuse, repairable and recyclable.” In light of a looming climate catastrophe, industries like fashion that are responsible for such alarming amounts of waste and carbon emissions must be regulated if we are to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of this century as outlined by The Paris Agreement in 2015. While these regulations are emerging and still don’t go far enough , critics say, it’s a step in the right direction.

What can we do?

Shift our consumption habits.

This quote by British designer Vivienne Westwood says it best: “ buy less, choose well, make it last .”

Buying less is the first step—try to fall back in love with the clothes you already own by styling them differently or even “flipping” them, or taking them along to a clothes swap with friends so you each get pieces “new to you”.   Creating a capsule wardrobe is also worth considering on your ethical fashion journey, or even renting outfits for special events so you’re not buying something new to wear once. 

Choose well is the second step, and choosing high-quality garments made of lower-impact materials is essential here. There are pros and cons to all fibre types, as seen in our ultimate guide to clothing materials, but there is a helpful chart at the top to refer to when purchasing. Choosing well could also mean committing to shopping your closet first, only shopping second hand , or supporting more sustainable brands like those below.

Finally, we should make it last and look after our clothes by following the care instructions ,  wearing them until they are worn out , mending them wherever possible , then  responsibly recycling them  at the very end of their life.

Get educated on the big issues

Learning more about the issues with fast fashion and how moving towards more sustainable fashion can make a real difference is key in any consumer’s journey. Here are some resources to get you started:

• A Beginner’s Guide to More Sustainable Fashion
• How to Encourage Your Friends to Shop More Ethically and Sustainably
• Happy Listening: the Best Ethical Fashion Podcasts
• Must-Read Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Books
• Sustainable Fashion Documentaries You’ll Be Glad You Watched

Learn about fast fashion’s responsible alternative, slow fashion

Here are some of our favourite brands giving fast fashion the flick and embodying a slow, circular, more sustainable way of wearing:

Dutch denim brand MUD Jeans is all about sustainability. Not only does it offer a repair service, but it also provides a rental service where you can lease a pair of jeans for up to a year. MUD Jeans uses a combination of GOTS certified organic cotton and post-consumer recycled cotton.

MUD Jeans are available in a range of sizes, usually from W25 L30-W33 L32 for women and W28 L34-W36 L34 for men.

See the rating .

Shop MUD Jeans .

Whimsy + Row

Whimsy + Row is a US-based lifestyle brand born out of a love for quality goods and responsible practices. Since 2014, its mission has been to provide ease and elegance for the modern woman. Whimsy + Row utilises deadstock fabric, and by limiting each garment to short runs, the brand also reduces packaging waste and takes care of precious water resources.

Find most products in XS-XL, with an extended sizing range up to 3XL.

Shop Whimsy + Row .

Shop Whimsy + Row @ Earthkind .

A.BCH is a Melbourne-based, Australian-made fashion label for individuals who care about garment provenance. It utilises renewable, organic, and recycled materials.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL, or customise to fit you.

Shop A.BCH .

Organic Basics

Organic Basics offers high-quality more sustainable fashion basics for men and women in organic materials. The Denmark-based brand puts sustainable thinking at the centre of everything—it only chooses fabrics that care for our environment, and only ever partners with factories that care about their impact.

Organic Basics' clothes are available in sizes XS-XL.

Shop Organic Basics .

Kings of Indigo

Kings of Indigo makes quality denim, tops, and accessories inspired by American classics with a Japanese eye for detail. The brand uses GOTS organic cotton as well as recycled cotton and wool, and avoids all chemicals from the REACH chemical list .

Offered in sizes XS-L.

Shop Kings of Indigo .

Born in Byron Bay, Australia, Afends is a more responsible brand leading the way in hemp fashion. Drawing inspiration from the environment, streetwear, and surf culture, Afends’ mission is to create more sustainable clothing through innovation, action, and positive change. As true hemp advocates, it purchased 100 acres of farmland called Sleepy Hollow to grow its own hemp crops and ignite the hemp revolution.

Find most of the range in sizes XS-XL.

Shop Afends .

Artknit Studios

Artknit Studios creates timeless knitwear in 100% lower-impact materials, made responsibly by Italian makers. Its partners are committed to anti-waste practices using only certified and locally-sourced fibres, true to the brand's motto of "buy less, buy better".

Find items offered in sizes XS-L.

Shop Artknit Studios .

Shop Artknit Studios @ Urbankissed.

Outland Denim

Outland Denim makes premium denim jeans and clothes, and offers employment opportunities for women rescued from human trafficking in Cambodia. This Australian brand was founded as an avenue for the training and employment of women who have experienced sex trafficking.

Find most of the brand's range in US sizes 22-34.

Shop Outland Denim .

Harvest & Mill

Harvest & Mill pieces are grown, milled, and sewn exclusively in the US, supporting American organic cotton farmers and local sewing communities. The brand makes basics for everyone, always ensuring they are not dyed or bleached, greatly reducing the use of water, energy, and dye materials. Even better, by cultivating different varieties of cotton, the brand is able to bolster biodiversity, which is essential for ensuring healthy ecosystems and keeping our planet resilient in the face of climate change.

Shop the range in sizes S-XL.

Shop Harvest & Mill .

Mashu is a British more sustainable vegan accessories label specialising in handbags. Mashu’s environmental rating is "Good", crafting its exterior with vegan leather alternatives while its interiors feature vegan suede made from recycled polyester, ensuring you never have to sacrifice your morals for style again.

Shop Mashu .

Editor's note

Feature image via Unsplash, other images via Fashion Revolution and the brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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The ultimate guide to vegan fashion, the ultimate guide to ethical and sustainable menswear, better brand edit: more sustainable men’s tailoring, ethical brand ratings. there’s an app for that..

Wear the change you want to see. Download our app to discover ethical brands and see how your favourites measure up.

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How Fast Fashion Is Destroying the Planet

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By Tatiana Schlossberg

• Sept. 3, 2019

FASHIONOPOLIS The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes By Dana Thomas

There is that old saying, usually attributed to Yves Saint Laurent: “Fashion fades, style is eternal.”

Literally speaking, that actually may no longer be true, especially when it comes to fast fashion. Fast-fashion brands may not design their clothing to last (and they don’t), but as artifacts of a particularly consumptive era, they might become an important part of the fossil record.

More than 60 percent of fabric fibers are now synthetics, derived from fossil fuels, so if and when our clothing ends up in a landfill (about 85 percent of textile waste in the United States goes to landfills or is incinerated), it will not decay.

Nor will the synthetic microfibers that end up in the sea, freshwater and elsewhere, including the deepest parts of the oceans and the highest glacier peaks. Future archaeologists may look at landfills taken over by nature and discover evidence of Zara.

And it is Zara and other brands like it that have helped plant flags on the farthest reaches of the planet. In “Fashionopolis,” Dana Thomas, a veteran style writer, convincingly connects our fast-fashion wardrobes to global economic and climate patterns and crises, rooting the current state of the fashion biosphere as a whole — production methods, labor practices and environmental impacts — in the history of the garment industry.

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What Is Fast Fashion? How It's Destroying the Environment

Your favorite clothing brand might be more dangerous to the planet than you think.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

When it comes to clothes shopping, more consumers these days are looking to wear pieces that make them look good and feel good about their purchase. If you're someone who is interested in becoming a better-informed and more sustainable shopper , you’ll need to learn about the dangers of fast fashion and what to look for when shopping for sustainable clothing. To help you make more informed shopping choices, the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab's fiber scientists and sustainability experts have done the research to help educate consumers about fast fashion — here's everything you need to know about the facts and key issues, according to our pros.

What is fast fashion?

"Fast fashion" is a buzzword you may be hearing in reference to certain popular clothing brands – but its exact definition isn’t always clear. Here's how the GH Institute sustainability experts define fast fashion:

Fast fashion refers to the relatively new phenomenon of rapidly producing high volumes of cheap, trendy clothing that match runway and celebrity styles. The idea is to get the clothes into the hands of the consumer as soon as an item becomes trendy; the consumer then only wears the item a few times before discarding it.

Fast fashion doesn’t exist in a vacuum – it includes the design, manufacturing and marketing methods that lead to massive landfills filled with gently used clothing items that are fully functional, just no longer “in fashion.” It's estimated that nearly $183 million worth of clothing ends up in landfills each year .

Why does fast fashion exist?

With the insurgence of social media and online shopping, the demand for clothes inspired by straight-off-the-runway trends without the runway price tags has grown. And with advancements in textile technology, synthetic fabrics are easier and cheaper to mass produce than less environmentally costly fabrics. Plus, more consumers are now avoiding wearing pieces multiple times as they want their social media accounts to show different outfits, just like their favorite celebrities. It’s hard to resist the ease of purchasing anything you want in just a few clicks and having it conveniently delivered right to your door — no matter the environmental cost.

Brands began producing more and more pieces, faster and faster, with dangerous results.

Historically, this is not how clothing production was done. Before the invention of the sewing machine during the Industrial Revolution, producing clothes was a slow, expensive and painstaking process. But with new technologies, fashion production started to increase dramatically, often leading to tragic sweatshop disasters. But for decades, the fashion industry ran on a limited schedule, producing new pieces only four times a year. Designers would plan pieces months and months in advance, trying to predict what trends the consumers would want when the styles finally launched into stores.

So, when did the concept of fast fashion start? The phenomenon became fully solidified in the mid-2000s when brands started launching tons of “micro-seasons” with new products available nearly every week. It became easier and easier for consumers to see a celebrity wearing an expensive piece and then go buy a cheap dupe just a few weeks later — with two-day, free shipping to boot. These expectations from the consumer led to brands producing more and more pieces, faster and faster, with dangerous consequences.

Why is fast fashion bad?

As a consumer, it may feel that fast fashion is actually beneficial: you get the stylish clothes you want faster, more conveniently and for less money. However, there are several key negative impacts of fast fashion’s rise in popularity.

Environmental impact:

Because fast fashion requires massive amounts of production, there are many environmental issues created by these supply chains. To start with, fast fashion pieces use environmentally costly materials like synthetic fabrics, which can create toxic waste during production that seeps into the local environment, hurting animals and people who live there. It’s estimated that the textiles industry produces over 1.2 billion tons of CO2 per year from manufacturing, processing and shipping —with the expectation that this will increase to nearly 3 trillion tons of CO2 by 2030 ! Plus, nearly 1.5 trillion liters of water are used to produce new clothes every year (water filled with toxins is then released into local communities) — which is very dangerous during today’s global water crisis.

Then, once these clothes make their way into people’s homes, consumers wash them, which releases microfibers and microplastics from synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon into the water. Aquatic organisms then eat these tiny particles, eventually putting plastic back into the food we eat. And of course, as previously mentioned, much of this clothing will end up in landfills after just a few wears, creating massive textile waste.

Exploiting workers:

Many shoppers don’t realize how much people are involved in clothing production. From making the textile, cutting the fabric to sewing it all together, people make all the clothes you buy — not machines. The people in fast fashion factories face dangerous working conditions with exposure to toxic chemicals, poor air quality and overcrowding, leading to tragic factory accidents, like the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013 that killed over 1,000 workers in Bangladesh, and long-term health complications. Plus, most factory workers aren’t properly compensated. It’s difficult to trace where exactly fast fashion companies are producing clothes, so it’s hard to determine if they use child or slave labor during production.

Consumer culture:

As people continue to ask for brands to produce clothes at this pace, the permanent damages to the environment and people will only get worse. The new expectations shoppers have are forcing more and more brands to move towards a fast fashion model. Consumers now shop with the expectation that clothes should cost under $20 instead of appreciating the amount of work that goes into fashion production and being comfortable paying a higher price. Overall, the carbon footprint of the fashion industry will only increase unless consumer culture changes dramatically — or brands face harsher punishments for environmental and ethical violations.

Do sustainable fast fashion brands exist?

In short, no — there is no such thing as sustainable fast fashion. By its nature, fast fashion cannot be sustainable, as the speed and scope of production cannot be maintained with safe labor practices and environmentally conscious choices. However, some fast fashion brands are launching more sustainable collections that use recycled materials, organic textiles or other more environmentally friendly production methods. But be careful not to fall victim to greenwashing ! As “sustainable” becomes a buzzword consumers are looking for, more brands are using “green” phrases in their marketing without making any meaningful changes.

How to avoid fast fashion

If you're looking to wear truly sustainable clothing, opt for pieces that are made with 100% sustainable textiles like recycled synthetics, organic cotton and lyocell — and not just a small percentage. Shop our sustainable fashion brands guide to find brands you can trust. And of course, secondhand pieces will always be more sustainable than buying something new.

Of course, trying to make sustainable shopping choices in today’s world can feel overwhelming. Here’s some more advice from GH textile pros on how to be a more conscious shopper:

• Shop secondhand: Visit local secondhand stores in your area where you’ll likely find many pieces from popular fast fashion brands. Wearing secondhand clothing is the best way to avoid contributing to dangerous fashion production practices. To find trendy secondhand pieces online, our experts love apps like ThredUp , Poshmark and Depop . You can also sell your used clothes online, giving them a second life.
• Keep your clothes in great condition: Shopping less is the best way to lessen your environmental impact. Treat your clothes well by washing them according to their care label (only when needed) and mending small holes and tears. It’s also best to store your clothes properly (i.e. sweaters folded in a drawer and dresses hung in a closet) to prevent stretching or sagging.
• Buy clothes that’ll last long term: A trendy piece may be appealing, but if you think you’ll want to toss it in a few months, avoid buying it in the first place. Invest in classic pieces that you will love for years to come. Buying a piece from a less sustainable brand that you know you will wear long term is a better environmental choice than buying an item you don't totally love from a sustainable brand, just to throw it out.
• Look for transparency: Brands that are making real efforts towards sustainable production will have clear information on their sites. Look for percentages and clear explanations of claims. For example, if the product claims to be made with recycled content, look for a specific percentage — this will let you know, potentially, if there's only a tiny amount of recycled content, which won't have a huge environmental impact. Keep your eye out for environmental emblems from established, third-party organizations that verify brand’s claims to avoid being duped. Keep in mind that most certifications have specific criteria, so even if a product has a third-party emblem, it doesn't mean the product is sustainable or ethical in every way.

Environmental Emblems to Look for on Clothing

Business meets high social and environmental performance standards.

No concerning chemicals in the supply chain or process.

Cradle to Cradle Certified®

Achievement across five sustainability categories.

Meets environmental and social requirements.

Fair Trade Certified

Meets rigorous social, environmental and economic standards.

Meets internationally agreed social, environmental and economic standards.

Comes from responsibly managed forests.

Green Good Housekeeping Seal

Meets environmental impact and social responsibility standards.

The entire textile production process is organic.

Made with safe ingredients and without known toxic chemicals.

Tested to ensure no harmful levels of chemicals.

Certified to use less water and save energy.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we've built a unique expertise on the topic of sustainability that shows up in how our experts test and recommend products. From launching the Green Good Housekeeping Seal in 2009 and GH's Sustainable Innovation Awards in 2019, helping readers make more sustainable choices is a top priority for us.

Emma Seymour has a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University and has been testing clothing and footwear for more than three years at the GH Institute. Emma has written multiple features on sustainability issues, including stories about sustainable denim and greenwashing .

Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute 's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance. 

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Fast Fashion and Ethical Consumption Essay (Literature Review)

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Introduction

Outline of the topic, methodology reflection, literature review, analysis and critical discussion (implications), conclusions, reference list.

The industry of fast fashion offers a wide range of available garments, which makes it attractive for many people around the world. The widespread consumption of cheap clothing is used by companies to maximise their profits and sell as many products as possible. The global apparel market grows rapidly by 3-6% per year (O’Connell, 2019).

Chang and Jai (2015) state that this dominant business model promotes greater consumption that is led by the claims for the so-called democratisation of fashion when the latest trends are made available for all consumers. In this context, fast fashion is understood as cheap clothing that was created based on celebrity culture and high street stores (Chang and Jai, 2015). The main idea behind fast fashion is to copy and produce clothing for the mass market as soon as possible, catching the moment of their popularity.

Fast fashion leads to overproduction and overconsumption that compose one of the key problems in the 21st century. Stringer, Mortimer and Payne (2020) emphasise that a lack of sustainable consumption, environmental pollution, and changing consumer preferences compose the adverse consequences of these problems. Considering that globalisation facilitates international relations, fast fashion develops across the countries.

Western companies, such as Gap or Walmart, tend to cooperate with the developing countries due to cheap labour; Bangladesh, Cambodia, and China are the leading exporters for fast fashion (Taplin, 2014). A lack of ethical consumption minors global morality and erodes society since those who buy do not think about the influence of their purchasing decisions, while those who produce have to work for minimal wages in dangerous environments.

The environmental impact of fast fashion is another concern that is discussed in the literature. Many retailers use the cheapest fabrics that are produced from fossil fuels, which promote global warming, and the use of microspheres multiplies plastic trash (Zamani, Sandin and Peters, 2017). The use of these materials requires a lot of water and electricity, which can result in soil quality and biodiversity issues. Bowers (2019) reports that the fast fashion industry produces 10% of carbon emissions and causes 20% of water pollution, while 85% of garments is sent to landfills annually.

At the same time, fast fashion encourages the culture of throwing away and overconsumption. Such clothing implies rapid obsolesce and the need to constantly buy more products as a way of satisfaction (Kim, Park and Glovinsky, 2018). The pressure on the environment and people is enormous, and it is likely to grow without changing people’s attitudes towards fast fashion. Therefore, it is critical to pay attention to how fast fashion impacts society, understanding the current trends and gaps.

The issue of fast fashion is of contemporary, topical, and academic interest since it should be considered from different perspectives. For academics, research is the main instrument to identify underlying problems and suggest decisions. The organisation and structuring of the existing literature is another beneficial step towards determining the areas to improve the identified situation.

For policymakers, the findings of academics seem to be useful to adjust the policies for reducing environmental pollution and making the choices of consumers more deliberate. In turn, practicing managers may gain valuable insights by understanding the buying intentions of customers and the ways to make consumption more sustainable (Li et al. , 2014). A collaborative approach to the solution of the given problem seems to be the most relevant option.

The research shows that society tends to become more and more aware of the need to reconsider purchasing behaviours. The emergence of calls for sustainable consumption and environmental pollution prevention tend to be pronounced within the last decade (Li et al ., 2014). In this connection, both the production end and consumers should transform their approaches to fashion consumption. Consequently, it is important to understand motivations that underpin customers’ choices and also explore the impact of fast fashion on the environment.

One of the promising areas for improvement is the concept brand sustainability, which may increase customer loyalty and the perceived value of clothing. By paying attention to how companies build their business models and integrate environmental issues, it is possible to better understand the problem and come up with pertinent solutions. Without further research and practical actions, the identified issues would escalate, leading to disruptive outcomes. In other words, the timeliness of this review is justified by the urgent nature of the mentioned problems.

The main advantage of this narrative literature review is the presentation of a variety of perspectives. As stated by Bhattacharya (2017), reviews encourage scholarly discussions that, in turn, stimulate both scholars and readers to ponder over the target problem.

Another benefit is associated with the method of information collection and analysis, which is transparent and reproducible by others. The qualitative nature of the review also allows for detailed explorations of the context, methods, and results of the studies. However, the disadvantages of this narrative review comprise the risk of biased conclusions that can be caused by the subjectivity of a researcher, as well as the potential failure to merely describe data instead of synthesis (Maruyama and Ryan, 2014). The limitations that should be mentioned are the restricted number of articles under the review and the journals included in the ABS list.

A narrative literature review is selected to analyse and synthesise available information on the impact of fast fashion on society. The findings are structured in three tables (streams), each of which focuses on a particular sub-topic, including ethical consumption, environmental impact, and customer preferences and intentions. The investigation of three areas is useful for presenting a broad perspective on the issue being reviewed.

Based on the condensed format of data in tables, the details are discussed in a written format. Consistent with Juntunen and Lehenkari (2019), this narrative literature review pulls different pieces of evidence into a readable version. The integration of articles is expected to reveal the gaps, tendencies, and limitations that exist in the contemporary literature.

For this literature review, data is obtained from academic articles published in peer-reviewed journals and enumerated on the ABS list. The use of this academic journal guide ensures that information is of high quality. In addition, all of the reviewed articles are empirical as they include data collection and analysis. The inclusion criteria are the relevance to the target topic, study design, and publication date (2013-2020). Among the exclusion criteria, there are systematic reviews, conceptual papers and outdated sources.

Before including a study in the review, the abstracts were thoroughly examined and integrated according to common issues being researched. This allowed the researcher to use the time more effectively, avoiding non-pertinent sources. After that, the full texts of the selected articles were read to make sure that all the necessary details will be noted. In the process of writing this report, some supporting articles were found and cited to make the paper more comprehensive and beneficial to accomplish the goal of clarifying implications for managers, management education and policy makers.

The Discover search engine was used to search the relevant literature and select the articles that fit the inclusion criteria. The key words for the stream of ethical consumption involved such words as “ethical consumption”, “sustainable consumption” and fast fashion consumption. The query returned 9,456 articles, of which 10 were selected due to their potential contribution to the theme of this literature review paper.

For the second stream of fast fashion impact on customers’ behaviours, the following search key words were considered: “fast fashion”, “hedonism”, “utilitarianism”, “circular clothing perception”, and “awareness of sustainable clothing”. After filtering 6,254 findings, 11 studies were included in the review.

The third stream of the review focuses on the role of fast fashion in environmental pollution. It turned out that this sub-topic included plenty of technologic and environmental studies, but the relations between the mentioned issues were researched insufficiently. The initial return of 12,262 sources was sorted based on both exclusion and inclusion criteria to arrive at 10 articles. The repeated sources were also eliminated, and common sense was applied to avoid out of topic studies.

The fast fashion literature includes a range of academic articles that explore several companies and resources to identify the current tendencies and problems. Considering the nature of collected articles and the themes they highlight, it was decided to organise this literature review according to the following three streams: ethical consumption, environmental impact and customer preferences / intentions. Namely, the streams are summarised in the format of tables.

Ethical Consumption

Ethical customer identification: motivation.

Fast fashion revolutionised the clothing industry by making it more accessible to different categories of customers. This low-cost production is made of cheap materials and rapidly replaced by new models, which creates overconsumption threats (Coskun, Gupta and Burnaz, 2020; Pantano, Giglio and Dennis, 2019). With the emergence and rapid development of sustainable consumption agenda, many researchers turned to focusing on the links between fast fashion and ethical consumption.

In their study, McNeill and Moore (2015) employed the developmental theory, which implies that human cognition can be classified to stages, to understand the attitudes of customers regarding sustainable consumption. The data was collected by means of open-ended interviews with 28 participants (Table 1). The authors arrived at the conclusion that there are three types of customers with various values. In particular, “self” consumers are oriented towards hedonistic principles that declare the importance of pleasure (McNeill and Moore, 2015). “Sacrifice” consumers try to decrease their influence on the world, while “social” clients are engaged in social image concerns.

A more detailed customer identification of ethical consumption of clothing is presented by Bly, Gwozdz, and Reisch (2015) and Reimers, Magnuson and Chao (2016). These scholars focused on the research of the so-called sustainable fashion consumption pioneers, who tend to actively engage in the discussion of the need to buy green apparel. Using passive netnography and semi-structured interviews, it was revealed that for them, ethical consumption means decreasing measurable environmental or social impact (Bly, Gwozdz, and Reisch, 2015).

In other words, for people valuing green consumption, the concepts of fashion and one’s personal style are much wider compared to average customers, who cannot imagine their lives without the constant purchase of fast fashion clothes. At the same time, Reimers, Magnuson and Chao (2016) add to the evidence by investigating how consumers identify and measure sustainability of fast fashion. They reported that environmental responsibility, animal welfare, employee welfare and slow fashion attributes are the key areas of concern.

Customers’ Perception Patterns

While speaking about how customers perceive ethical consumption, it is beneficial to review several studies that study eco-friendliness in the context of fast fashion. Blasi, Brigato and Sedita (2020) reviewed the accounts of Twitter users to test the hypothesis that greater eco-friendliness improves a brand’s image. The authors applied a novel data mining technology to synthesise social media conversations. Such key words as style, glamour, fashion, ethical business and environment were targeted.

As a result, they computed the similarity and found the correlation between luxury brands’ images and positive perceptions of customers. However, this correlation is weaker for fast fashion brands, which indicates the insufficient consideration of ethical clothing from retailers (see Table 1 for details). The potential extension of H&M and Zara was examined by the above authors based on the online survey that was completed by 598 customers (Hill and Lee, 2015). It is essential to note that customers consider that fast fashion can be sustainable.

Another issue discussed by McNeill and Moore (2015) refers to the perceived barriers to ethical consumption of fast fashion. The authors rationally state that the fear to look worse and less fashionable, social conditioning and costs that can be significantly higher. In turn, the barriers that impede customers from ethical consumption are investigated by Wiederhold and Martinez (2018), who focus on 13 participants from Germany (Table 1).

In both articles, it is emphasised that green purchasing behaviour is a trend, but there is a gap between customers’ views and their purchasing. The analysis of interviews allowed revealing the following list of barriers: barriers are price, transparency, availability, knowledge, consumption habits, image and inertia. Price and a lack of proper information are regarded as the most widely discussed barriers, which means that better awareness of consumers and more affordable prices would improve the situation. These inhibiting determinants are noted as useful for retailers and managers to consider them while planning new collections and interacting with customers.

A lack of sustainable fast fashion is mentioned by customers as one of the most challenging issues on the way to green apparel purchasing. Consistent with Wiederhold and Martinez (2018), Lundblad and Davies (2015) found that ethical brands are rarely presented in this sector. The interviewees’ concerns refer to the association between trendy designs and synthetic fabrics.

More to the point, the majority of ethical brands look non-fashionable, boring, and alternative, as reported by consumers (Wiederhold and Martinez, 2018). This leads to the distorted perceptions of green apparel as of poor image clothing. The means-end approach that was employed by Lundblad and Davies (2015) also showed that the need for self-expression and self-esteem play a critical role in the fact that customers underestimate sustainable fashion consumption. The details of the above study are given in Table 1.

Sustainable Marketing Activities

The study of sustainable marketing activities can be identified as another area of research even though it is not sufficient yet. According to Jung, Kim and Kim (2020), brands’ sustainable approaches improve customers’ satisfaction and trust. This article adopted the quantitative method of data collection and analysis to determine the key characteristics of sustainability increase in the fashion industry. The ethical brand image was confirmed to impact brand loyalty and customer satisfaction, which is also stated by other articles involved in this literature review.

Stringer, Mortimer and Payne (2020) and Turker and Altuntas (2014) claim that supplier amenableness with their code of conduct is one of the ways to build a sustainable product. Such values as self-transcendence and openness to changes are two more aspects that make a positive influence on customer awareness. Authenticity and trust were also found to be linked with the purchasing intentions of customers, who are interested in fast fashion ethical consumption (Jung, Kim and Kim (2020). As it can be understood from the last three studies, companies have not yet adopted ethical approaches, while they tend to be increasingly interested in the future changes.

The issue of ethical consumption of fast fashion products is widely explored in the academic literature, which points to the interest among scholars and practitioners. The articles included in this stream are varied in their focus of analysis and areas of coverage. Since these studies reflect the key findings of the recent research, it is possible to state that they are influential regarding the required changes.

It becomes transparent that the call for a more ethical clothing consumption contributes to further studies. The awareness of customers’ perceptions, attitudes, motivational factors and barriers allows for understanding how to promote sustainability. The practical implications for managers, policy makers and retailers are clarified in the Analysis and Critical Discussion section of this paper.

Table 1. Fast fashion and ethical consumption

Impact of Fast Fashion Industry on Changing Consumer Preferences and Intentions

Responsiveness to consumer needs.

The increased responsiveness to the demands of customers is one of the key features of fast fashion. The process of developing and launching new products is quite rapid as retailers are likely to present new clothes and accessories weekly or even daily (Gabrielli, Baghi and Codeluppi, 2013; Miller, 2013). This requires involving a range of actors, such as designers, managers, marketers, textile and technical specialists, et cetera. Such a collaborative approach to fast fashion products impacts customers by making them savvy for continuous purchasing.

There is a range of ways to interact with customers and collect data regarding their expectations. For example, Payne (2016) listed celebrity styles and magazines, sales data and other brands as the determining factors (Table 2). Accordingly, fast fashion companies strive to support the modern negative trend of overconsumption (Payne, 2016). Although some brands offer recycled clothes, others seem to disregard the calls for sustainable consumption.

Emotional Connection

The loyalty to fast fashion brands is one of the major areas of concern that are presented in the academic literature. According to the mixed method study by Kim, Park and Glovinsky (2018), customer involvement allows for changing their consciousness and improving their trust to the brand. This study included 306 female participants, who were interviewed for collecting the necessary data.

The emotional connection is also stressed by Gabrielli, Baghi and Codeluppi (2013), stating that the analysis of fast fashion from the standpoint for a customer is poorly researched, while this approach has a great potential to clarify the preferences of particular consumers. This exploratory study included 64 consumers who were asked to share their attitudes towards fast fashion clothing (Gabrielli, Baghi and Codeluppi, 2013) (Table 2). The main benefit of this article is that it introduces a new perspective on evaluating customers’ intentions. By being aware of this perspective, it is possible to better comprehend their needs and influence their purchasing decisions.

To remain aware of the fast fashion industry, customers visit online sources, celebrity blogs and online stores. The statistical analysis conducted by Payne (2016) showed that consensus was targeted by the companies to gather relevant information from inspiration sources and interpret it with regard to customers’ preferences. This method is mentioned as useful for not only providing customers with a wide choice of options but also motivate them to look better.

Embodiment is another method that is applied by fast fashion retailers either deliberately or unconsciously, thus tapping to their interests. The so-called gut feeling is reported by the interviewed designers (Payne, 2016). Linking the above article with the rest of the literature, one can refer to the statement that ephemeral fashion and uniqueness drive customers’ pleasure seeking-activities (Miller, 2013). It is clear that hedonistic consumer responses are caused by the appeal to have fun and enjoyment and develop one’s fantasy. For example, Zara launched the mobile application that allows customers to mix clothes and see prices without visiting their stores.

Hedonistic Consumption and Purchase Urgency

Along with inviting customers to have a pleasant experience, fast fashion creates a sense of urgency for purchasing. In this connection, Mrad et al. (2020) explored the phenomenon of brand addiction, concluding that hedonic consumption is associated with the transfer of symbolic meaning and emotional excitement, a stream of fantasies, feelings and impressions, regardless of the connection with the direct attributes of the purchased product. Su and Chang (2018) also stressed that the fantasy aspect of hedonistic consumption refers to a consumer’s reproduction of emotional images.

In turn, by means of focus groups and interviews, Zarley Watson and Yan (2013) pointed to utilitarianism, self-image congruence and remorse avoidance as the driving forces that make customers purchase more (Table 2). As noted by these authors, the continued satisfaction with the purchased product is another issue that was found to be useful for brand loyalty.

The belongingness to the fast fashion trend does not prevent it from the opportunity of being perfectly combined with the clothing of the luxury segment, because it has a rich palette of colours and line-up (Zarley Watson and Yan (2013). Namely, it is not complicated to create such collaboration as fashion brings trends to people, high design is a of peak state, a starting point, and fast fashion is a flow directed specifically towards a consumer. A customer can always come and choose an ultra-fashionable cloth for a special price, depending on his or her preferences.

Zarley Watson and Yan (2013) and Shen, Choi and Chow (2017) claim that it is convenient, especially since the choice is always huge, these things are easy to combine with each other and complement, and they are available. The motive of pleasure is becoming more and more important in the consumption of fast fashion and luxury fashion as well (Shen, Choi and Chow (2017). For example, a growing number of jewellery purchases are made by women not for the purpose of long-term investments or the acquisition of symbols of social success, but for the sake of satisfying the desire to pamper and please themselves.

Business Strategies: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

The available literature on the impact of fast fashion on customer intentions is associated with the business strategies. Camargo, Pereira and Scarpin, (2020) compared fast fashion and emerging ultra-fast fashion, which refers to online stores and a focus on social media, to understand the differences in their supply chain management. The authors reported that the new fast fashion trend prevents excess inventory, works with local manufactures and uses a set of lean and agile strategies (see Table 2 for details).

On the contrary to fast fashion’s poor stickiness to sustainable consumption, ultra fashion is likely to make customers closer to their preferred clothes, allowing practising ethical purchasing behaviours (Camargo, Pereira and Scarpin, 2020). However, the other side of this trend is even faster production rates and greater overconsumption. These results can be supplemented by the findings of Chang and Jai (2015), proposing that corporate social responsibility of fast fashion retailers can be achieved via proper positioning that prioritises a positive impact on society. The use of the between-subject Web experiment, allowed the authors to find that corporate social responsibility correlates with the intentions of customers to buy clothes, along with brand equity and price value.

Reuse and recycle trends compose one more area of impact fast fashion retailers made on their consumers. The online consumer interviews (Owela) with 83 participants was conducted by Vehmas et al. (2018) with the purpose of examining the changes in customers’ perceptions regarding circular clothing (Table 2). It was discovered that the offers of sustainable clothing lines find responses and activity from consumers, who ask for more information about circular products. Therefore, communication of these issues should be timely and comprehensive, including all the aspects that are of interest for target audiences (Cook and Yurchisin, 2017; Chang and Fan, 2017).

In general, research on the impact of companies on customers’ views of recycled clothes is limited. The majority of studies lack the identification of customers being interviewed, while some of them included college students and different age consumers. Therefore, the insights provided in this stream can be used by scholars to conduct further studies for addressing the existing gaps.

Table 2. Impact of Fast Fashion Industry on Changing Consumer Preferences and Intentions

Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion

Fast fashion’s negative environmental imprint.

The industry of fast fashion is one of the largest sectors that make a significant negative environmental imprint (Belzagui et al., 2019). The studies by Haseeb et al . (2020) and Zamani et al. (2015) point to the enormous resource consumption and toxic production processes that are the main environmental concerns.

In turn, Mukherjee (2015) adds that greenhouse gas emissions impact the air pollution since synthetic textiles are made of polyester and other products. The production of clothing is extremely damaging to the environment. The share of light industry in CO2 emissions is higher than that of aviation and shipping combined (Mukherjee, 2015). Over the past 15 years, fast fashion apparel sales worldwide have doubled, while their average life has dropped dramatically (Haseeb et al ., 2020). The textile industry produces over a billion tonnes of CO2 annually, more than all international air travel and shipping (Shirvanimoghaddam et al. , 2020).

Considering that environmental pollution is a critical problem, fast fashion businesses should contribute to its minimization. It should be added that there is the pollution of the oceans by microplastics from textile fibres and the use of toxic chemicals. Polyester, nylon, acrylic and other synthetic materials are forms of plastic that make up 60% of the material from which clothes are made (Shirvanimoghaddam et al. , 2020).

These fibres contribute to the subtle but pervasive plastic pollution of the ocean. A single load of laundry can drain hundreds of thousands of textile from our clothing into the plumbing (Arrigo, 2020). It is a global problem: synthetic fabrics are common in developing countries that do not have powerful treatment facilities; the garments will take hundreds of years to completely decompose.

Ways Businesses Can Improve Their Impact

These commitments indicate that major fashion manufacturers have realised that sustainability is in trend today. However, this is not just a marketing issue as it also concerns production and after use processes. Ganesan et al. (2015) see the transition to sustainable production as inevitable. The global demand for clothing is constantly growing – not least due to the emerging Asian and African markets. At the current rate of apparel production, by 2050, its volume is expected to triple (Arrigo, 2020).

According to a study by Mair, Druckman and Jackson (2016), if the textile industry does not change, the environmental impact will be catastrophic. The solution to the problem is waste-free production: one of the actively explored ways to make the garment industry greener is the so-called circular economy. It suggests that the resources used in production should be used as long as possible. Ideally, such a scheme should only work with renewable energy sources. In terms of ethical consumption, Joung and Park‐Poaps (2013) note that donation and resale are the most widely cited opportunities.

Despite the fact that the governments of different countries are already passing laws prohibiting the use of plastic bags and disposable plastic items, the problem is far from being solved. The main result is that the problem has become widely discussed, and the environmental agenda has become relevant not only for small eco-brands, but also for companies of the higher level, such as Zara, Nike, H&M and others (Bick, Halsey and Ekenga, 2018).

In contrast to the fast fashion that has emerged in recent decades, slow fashion is rapidly developing – a movement that calls for observing the above rules. The term was coined by the writer and designer Keith Fletcher. The movement rejects mass production and only recognises things that are individually handcrafted. The followers of slow fashion prefer to buy vintage items, boycott the mass market and choose universal clothes that will be stylish regardless of fashion trends and the latest design solutions (Akhter, Rutherford and Chu, 2017; Park and Lin, 2018). The representatives of this direction learn to sew, repair and recycle clothes on their own to buy less.

Speaking of the environmental impact of fast fashion, it is also important to pay attention to the position of workers in textile plants. To reduce costs, fast fashion companies are outsourcing their production to economically developing countries, where labour is much cheaper, and related policies are almost absent (Iran and Schrader, 2017; Niinimäki et al., 2020). Repeated scandals due to poor working conditions, disregard for basic safety measures, low wages, workplace violence and the use of child labour created discussions. For example, in 2013, the explosion occurred at a textile factory on the outskirts of the Bangladesh capital – Dhaka.

According to Taplin (2014), citing information from the detailed content analysis of reports, a gas boiler exploded. At the time of the collapse, there were several hundred people inside the building, including workers of the textile factory. The inadequate approach to workers is also mentioned by Mair, Druckman and Jackson (2016), who used a sub-system global multi-regional input output analysis and found that Western European workers have low wages. These studies demonstrated that not only environmental impact but also social footprint of textile factories is negative.

Table 3. Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion

Thus, the literature review revealed that today, customers’ purchasing preferences are driven by a range of factors, including hedonism, sustainable consumption, social image, and so on. In their turn, businesses try to meet and anticipate their customers’ expectations to enrich their experience. Since the industry of fast fashion tends to grow, and its’ environmental impact is adverse, there is a need to formulate recommendations for different stakeholders, such as managers, designers, policy makers, and researchers.

Marketers and Managers

The studies included in this literature review allow for clarifying practical implications for managers who work directly with customers. Speaking more precisely, the motivations and barriers of consumers to follow green purchasing should be understood by companies who decided to shift towards sustainability. Even though the prices of ethical clothing can be higher, it is important to explain to customers that they are more durable and contributing to the environment protection.

In this connection, proper sustainability communication is the key recommendation for managers and leaders of fast fashion retails (Wiederhold and Martinez, 2018). For example, the value of unique designs, natural materials and health benefits can be included in the appealing message to customers. In other words, the creation of emotional benefits and application of appropriate communication strategy should be prioritised. Considering the growing digitalisation of society, social media, blogs and other online means of communication can be implemented.

Speaking of the implications that are related to the environment, one should state that manufacturers must take responsibility for the entire supply chain and control the initial stages. Bly, Gwozdz, and Reisch (2015) argue that fast fashion has affected the economies of developing countries, giving people jobs but violating workers’ rights. It is important to do the best to use less water in the production process and definitely share with all our best practices.

The ambitious package of solutions also includes a variety of measures to set new standards for manufacturers of fabrics, washing machines and detergents and to stimulate a culture of less consumption through taxes and increased liability of manufacturers and sellers of clothing (Reimers, Magnuson and Chao, 2016). The next direction is to extend the life of clothes through the mutual exchange of used clothing on special websites or the return of old clothing in the store in exchange for a new one at a discount.

To meet the demands of those customers who want to look fashionable and purchase clothes at an affordable price, retailers can change their business models towards ultra-fast fashion. The presentation to local manufacturers and avoidance of excess inventory are likely to be useful to make their products more sustainable to prevent environmental pollution. In addition, such a decision can increase a brand’s image and strengthen customer loyalty (Joung and Park‐Poaps, 2013).

For new start-ups, it is also a promising way to use their limited resources and handle the challenges of the highly competitive fashion industry. For practitioners, it seems to be critical to carefully adopt proper positioning strategies so that their customers would be involved. For example, they can be engaged in the process of product creation that is achievable by requesting feedback regarding the existing products and expected new clothing lines (Park and Lin, 2018). The appeal to customers’ creativity and imagination can also be viewed by managers as the potential features to implement in their positioning strategies.

The evidence on brand addiction and customer involvement shows that managers need to pay attention to building trustful relationships with customers. Different communication channels can be applied to reach them, and interact to interpret their needs and design products accordingly, also using inspiration sources such as designers and luxury brands. The cooperation of fast fashion and luxury fashion retailers is another recommendation for practitioners to take into account to create unique products with several price and form options (Shen, Choi and Chow, 2017).

As for management education, the analysis of the current cooperation’s can be included in the curriculum so that students better understood this promising strategy. Studies conducted showed that the attitude to fast fashion among the majority of consumers, especially young ones, is ambiguous. For now, most consumers are not ready to give up the benefits of fast fashion, but the attitude towards fashion is becoming more and more conscious.

Fast Fashion Designers

It should be noted that consumer demand is starting to shift, with more focus on products that are less dependent on natural resources. Designers should increasingly respond to this to become an active part of the market. Fashion can be more sustainable, and people in the supply chain can be fairly rewarded (Hill and Lee, 2015). To create this positive effect, it is vital to rethink how design is created, resources are obtained, production operates, and clothing is consumed and distributed. Designers are the source of inspiration for every model they create, and the ethics and sustainability of a product ultimately depend on themselves.

In other words, designers and retailers can have a positive impact on the fast fashion industry by sourcing and selecting materials, using different design techniques and choosing a place of production. They can even influence customers at the stage of clothing use, as well as the final disposal methods (Lundblad and Davies, 2015). By looking at the environmental aspect of the production, distribution and post-consumption, it is possible to make environmental protection and sustainability the great sources of inspiration.

Policy Makers

There are calls for the governments to invest in sustainable fashion and develop standards for the durability of garments, and for manufacturers, to become more responsible. According to Gabrielli, Baghi and Codeluppi (2013), consumers need to reconsider their approach to buying clothes to perceive fashion and clothing more as a functional product than as entertainment, and be willing to pay a higher price for clothing, which takes into account the impact of fashion on the environment.

At the same time, attention should be paid to the employees working in textile factories to ensure that they have appropriate wages and safe working environments (Druckman and Jackson, 2016). In the stores, managers should be attentive to customers’ requests, being ready to provide information about the place of production and fabrics used in the clothes.

Researchers

Future research is necessary to explore the perceptions and existing knowledge of consumers with the aim of designing appropriate product sustainability communication strategies. One of the extensive areas to explore refers to the extent to which customers are ready to pay more for ethical clothes in the fast fashion market. For those who value fashionable apparel more than a sustainable approach to society, certain measures should be researched to show them that their contribution is critical.

In a larger context, overconsumption should be discussed regarding its current amount and expected consequences, as well as the ways to stop unconscious purchasing behaviours. In this connection, there is a need to create the cooperation across countries, governments and companies since only a comprehensive approach can help in resolving the problem of the adverse impact of fast fashion on society and environment.

To conclude, it should be emphasised that this literature review was expected to integrate the relevant evidence and present it to the readers to identify implications for practitioners, policymakers and management education. The use of sustainable fast fashion clothing is not only a tendency that wearing dresses made from recycled materials becomes fashionable and prestigious. Instead, the concept of ethical clothing is slowly but surely shifting towards the concern for the health of the planet and humanity, which is expressed in the increasing interest regarding the protection of the environment.

Thus, despite fast fashion overconsumption, a more conscious culture of buying clothes is beginning to form across the world, and a course has been taken to ensure that the concept of fast fashion includes designs as a more meaningful, responsible and environmentally friendly approach to clothing.

The coverage of the literature that is provided in this report is appropriate since it includes more than 30 empirical articles. All of the sources were thoroughly studied and sorted according to their pertinence to the topic being discussed, research methods and high quality. Data collection and analysis are the integral parts of all the articles included. The sample sizes are the weaknesses of this review since many articles focused on a limited number of participants and reports.

As for the geographical area of coverage, such countries as Sweden, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Vietnam and Western Europe in general were mentioned. Thus, this review seems to contribute to a wider body of evidence by presenting a detailed review of available academic literature.

Learning Statement

While working on this narrative literature review, I have learned that it is a complex process that requires collecting relevant sources and synthesising them to achieve the stated goal. For this project, the topic of fast fashion’s impact on society was chosen, with such streams as ethical consumption, the impact on customer preferences and intentions and environmental influence. The most challenging issue was related to reviewing the articles and revealing common features, difference and gaps existing in the literature.

A review of sources and literature always began with a description of the relevance of the studied problem. I tried to describe the existing views on the problem, the main representatives and their achievements. The bulk of the review of the literature was created based on publications containing direct research materials. In accordance with the guidelines, the review started with a brief description of the main results and conclusions drawn in the articles, which are applicable to the research topic. I understood that it is not necessary to reproduce all the data in its entirety (tables, conclusions and so on) as it is better to restrict to only individual indicators, facts, results that have the greatest value for research.

The review of sources and literature was analytical, which allowed making the presentation of facts critical, but without personal judgements. In this connection, the literature analysis was established around the problem, not articles. In carrying out the analysis, I emphasised both the similarity in the practical results, along with discrepancies and insufficient coverage of certain issues. Analysing the sources, it is required to identify weaknesses in the works, finding previously unexplored aspects. At the same time, I did not state my vision of the issue since the central task of analysing the literature is to identify problems and familiarise with the present state of the research area.

The use of the tabular analysis was the main issue that contributed to the structuration and organisation of information from the review articles. It is possible to suggest that without this strategy, I would probably spend much more time and efforts to reveal key information and compare it across the articles.

Therefore, I believe that the use of this analysis strategy was quite important for the successful completion of this report. Since the tables were created for all three streams, it allowed for keeping data clear and easily finding the key trends of the literature. The analysis and interpretation of the studies were directed towards discussing the current significance of outcomes and their relation to the future research needs.

Considering that there were a lot of articles, the coordination of ideas was the difficulty I faced. The guidelines regarding the content of the narrative literature review imply no specific issues to be included, which made it quite challenging to decide personally. I was confused to start the review as I though it can be incorrect. However, my critical thinking skills allowed me to detect differences and similarities across the articles, which can be found in the report. I have learned that it is critical to constantly review the results of the tabular analysis to remain focused on the ideas being discussed.

After completing this report, I can state that I would organise the process of writing the narrative literature review differently. Although it was not required by the instructions, I would probably identify the connections across the three streams to reflect on the interdependent nature of the topics.

In my point of view, such an approach would promote greater awareness of how fast fashion impacts society across various dimensions. I will do my best to make my future literature review would be more elaborate and detailed. I believe that this experience is of great importance for practising organisation, critical review and argumentation skills. Thus, this assignment was significant for me to practice my skills and apply my theoretical knowledge in practice.

Along with my personal benefits that are mentioned above, this narrative literature review will be useful for other students and scholars, who can employ its result to determine the areas for further research. Based on this report, it is possible to understand that the fast fashion retailers should change their business models to make production and clothing sustainable and ethical. The ways to achieve this goal, related challenges and the attitudes of customers are the potential gaps to study. In addition, my future employer seems to benefit as well since this research shows my analytic and critical thinking skills that I can apply in my work.

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• Analysis of Developing Fashion Trend
• Examining Vintage Luxury Fashion
• Art Movements. Textiles in the Bauhaus
• Martin’s Textiles Company Analysis
• Textile Sourcing in China
• Advances in Fiber for Wearable, Durable Nonwovens
• Channel Overview of Kate Spade
• Fashion Clothing Designs: The Golden Mean Ratio
• California Fashion Brand Juicy Couture
• 20th Century Dress and Culture – Punk Fashion
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Human Impact — Fast Fashion

Essays on Fast Fashion

Fast fashion essay topics.

Fast fashion is a multifaceted subject that can be explored from numerous angles. Topics for essays can include the environmental impact of fast fashion, focusing on how the industry's rapid production cycles contribute to pollution and waste. Another compelling topic is the examination of labor practices within fast fashion supply chains, shedding light on the exploitation of workers in developing countries. Essays could also delve into the psychological effects of fast fashion on consumers, exploring how constant trends and social media pressure influence buying behavior. Additionally, comparing the economic benefits of fast fashion to its social and environmental costs can provide a balanced perspective. Lastly, discussing the potential solutions and alternatives to fast fashion, such as sustainable and ethical fashion practices, can offer a forward-looking view on how the industry might evolve to meet the demands of conscientious consumers.

How to Choose Fast Fashion Essay Topics

Choosing a fast fashion essay topic involves several key considerations. First, consider your personal interest and passion for specific aspects of fast fashion, as writing about something you are passionate about will make the research and writing process more engaging. Next, think about the current relevance and public interest in the topic. Topics that are widely discussed in the media or have recent developments can provide a wealth of up-to-date information and a larger audience for your essay. Additionally, assess the availability of credible sources and data to support your arguments. A topic with abundant research materials will allow for a more comprehensive and convincing essay. Lastly, consider the scope of the topic. Ensure it is neither too broad nor too narrow to fit within your essay's word limit, allowing for a thorough exploration without being overwhelming or superficial.

Popular Fast Fashion Argumentative Essay Topics

• Fast fashion's environmental impact: Is it a significant contributor to global pollution?
• Do the economic benefits of fast fashion outweigh its social and ethical costs?
• Is the exploitation of labor in fast fashion supply chains a necessary evil for affordable clothing?
• Does fast fashion promote a culture of wasteful consumerism and disposable clothing?
• Are sustainable fashion practices a viable alternative to the fast fashion model?
• How does fast fashion affect mental health and self-esteem through constant trend changes?
• Should governments regulate the fast fashion industry to enforce environmental and labor standards?
• Is the rise of fast fashion responsible for the decline in traditional fashion craftsmanship?
• Can fast fashion brands genuinely adopt sustainable practices without compromising their business models?
• Does fast fashion play a role in reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes through marketing and product design?

Fast Fashion Thesis Statements

Here are five thesis statements exploring different aspects of fast fashion:

• Fast fashion's emphasis on rapid production and low-cost clothing significantly contributes to environmental degradation, making it a major driver of pollution and waste in the fashion industry.
• The exploitative labor practices in fast fashion supply chains highlight the industry's reliance on cheap labor, often at the expense of workers' rights and fair wages in developing countries.
• Fast fashion's relentless promotion of consumerism fosters a culture of disposable clothing, undermining efforts towards sustainability and responsible consumption.
• The psychological impact of fast fashion on consumers, driven by constant trends and social media influence, perpetuates a cycle of instant gratification and financial strain.
• While fast fashion provides affordable clothing options for consumers, its long-term social and environmental costs call for a shift towards more ethical and sustainable fashion practices.

Prompt Examples for Fast Fashion Essays

The rise of fast fashion.

Discuss the evolution and growth of the fast fashion industry. How has it become a dominant force in the fashion world, and what are the key characteristics of fast fashion brands?

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

Analyze the environmental consequences of fast fashion. How does the rapid production and disposal of clothing contribute to issues like pollution, waste, and resource depletion?

Labor Practices and Ethical Concerns

Examine the labor practices and ethical concerns associated with fast fashion production. What are the working conditions for garment workers, and how do issues like sweatshops and exploitation intersect with the industry?

Consumer Culture and Fast Fashion

Discuss the role of consumer culture in driving the fast fashion industry. How do marketing strategies, consumer demand for low prices, and the "buy now, wear once" mentality contribute to its success?

Alternatives to Fast Fashion

Explore alternatives to fast fashion and sustainable fashion practices. What are some initiatives and movements aimed at promoting ethical and eco-friendly clothing choices?

Impact on Local Industries

Analyze how fast fashion affects local and traditional fashion industries. How do smaller businesses and artisans contend with the competition posed by large, fast fashion corporations?

Hook Examples for Fast Fashion Essays

Anecdotal hook.

Picture this: a whirlwind of shopping sprees, constant style changes, and overflowing closets. Fast fashion has transformed the way we consume clothing. Let's delve into this fashion frenzy.

Question Hook

Is fast fashion a blessing or a curse for the fashion industry and the environment? How does it impact our society's perception of clothing and its consequences?

Quotation Hook

"Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life." These words from Bill Cunningham highlight the role of fashion in our lives. But does fast fashion offer authentic armor or mere illusion?

Environmental Impact Hook

Behind the glamour of fast fashion lies a trail of environmental destruction. Explore the ecological footprint left by the industry and the urgent need for sustainable alternatives.

Consumer Behavior Hook

Fast fashion isn't just about clothes; it's a reflection of our changing consumer behavior. Analyze how the desire for instant gratification and constant novelty has fueled this phenomenon.

Labor and Ethics Hook

Beneath the fashionable exterior are stories of exploited labor and questionable ethics. Delve into the working conditions and ethical dilemmas associated with fast fashion production.

Alternatives and Solutions Hook

Amid the fast fashion frenzy, alternatives are emerging. Explore innovative approaches to fashion that prioritize sustainability, ethics, and a more mindful approach to dressing.

Fashion in The 1980s: a Decade of Boldness and Individuality

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The Negative Impact of Fast Fashion on The Environment and The Society

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The Ethical Quandaries of Fast Fashion: an Argumentative Examination

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How Consumerism is Bred in The Fast Fashion World and Fashion Cultures

The detrimental effects of fast fashion on the fashion industry, navigating the fast fashion landscape.

Fast fashion is a term used to describe the contemporary model of clothing production and consumption characterized by the rapid production of inexpensive, trendy garments that are quickly replicated and made available to consumers. It refers to the accelerated speed at which fashion trends are introduced and adopted by the market, resulting in a constant cycle of new styles and collections.

• Speed and Agility: Fast fashion companies like Zara, H&M, and Forever 21 have streamlined their production processes to quickly bring new designs to market. This agility allows them to respond swiftly to changing consumer preferences and fashion trends.
• Cost Efficiency: By outsourcing production to countries with lower labor costs and using less expensive materials, fast fashion brands can keep prices low, making fashionable clothing accessible to a broader audience.
• High Volume and Turnover: The fast fashion model thrives on high sales volumes and frequent turnover of inventory. Stores regularly update their stock with new items, encouraging consumers to purchase more frequently and dispose of old clothing.
• Consumer Demand: Fast fashion capitalizes on the desire for up-to-date styles at affordable prices. The constant influx of new items creates a sense of urgency among consumers to buy before the next collection arrives.
• Environmental and Social Impact: While fast fashion makes trendy clothing affordable, it has significant environmental and social consequences. The industry is known for its excessive use of resources, production of waste, and poor labor practices in garment factories.

Fast fashion emerged in the 1990s to meet the growing demand for affordable, trendy clothing. It leveraged advancements in technology, globalization, and changes in consumer behavior. Key factors included fast production techniques and outsourcing to low-wage countries, enabling rapid and inexpensive garment production. Global supply chains and improvements in transportation and communication facilitated quick responses to consumer trends. Social media and the desire for instant gratification further fueled demand. Although fast fashion made trendy clothing accessible, it also faced criticism for its negative social and environmental impacts.

Zara, H&M, Shein, C&A, Peacocks, ASOS, Forever 21, Uniqlo, Primark, Topshop, Fashion Nova

Fast fashion in the US offers affordable, trendy clothing through numerous well-known brands. Its popularity stems from low-cost, rapidly produced garments. However, this model raises concerns about environmental sustainability and unethical labor practices. Efforts to address these issues include sustainable fashion initiatives promoting eco-friendly materials, ethical production, and consumer awareness to encourage more responsible fashion consumption.

• Affordability
• Trendy Styles
• Variety and Choice
• Economic Impact
• Environmental Impact
• Exploitative Labor Practices
• Disposable Culture
• Lack of Transparency

Fast fashion has garnered significant media attention for its environmental and ethical issues. Documentaries like "The True Cost" (2015) expose exploitative labor conditions and ecological damage. Media outlets, such as The Guardian, highlight these concerns and advocate for sustainable alternatives. Social media influencers and activists also raise awareness, using hashtags like #whomademyclothes and #slowfashion to demand transparency and promote ethical fashion. This widespread coverage emphasizes the need for responsible consumer choices and more sustainable industry practices.

• According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the fast fashion industry is responsible for around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than the emissions from international flights and maritime shipping combined.
• The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that the equivalent of one garbage truck full of textiles is landfilled or burned every second. This amounts to approximately 92 million tons of textile waste generated each year, with the majority coming from fast fashion production and consumption.
• The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water worldwide, with estimates suggesting that it takes around 2,700 liters of water to produce a single cotton t-shirt.

The topic of fast fashion is crucial because it impacts the environment, labor practices, and consumer behavior globally. Addressing these issues can lead to more sustainable and ethical fashion practices. Understanding fast fashion helps consumers make informed choices and advocates for industry change. Exploring fast fashion essay topics can raise awareness and promote responsible consumption.

1. Cline, E. L. (2012). Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. Penguin. 2. Fletcher, K. (2014). Sustainable Fashion and Textiles: Design Journeys. Routledge. 3. Fuad-Luke, A. (2009). Design Activism: Beautiful Strangeness for a Sustainable World. Earthscan. 4. Gwilt, A., & Rissanen, T. (2011). Shaping Sustainable Fashion: Changing the Way We Make and Use Clothes. Earthscan. 5. Hethorn, J., & Ulasewicz, C. (Eds.). (2008). Sustainable Fashion: Why Now?: A Conversation Exploring Issues, Practices, and Possibilities. Fairchild Books. 6. Hess, M., & Slade, E. (Eds.). (2013). Sustainable Fashion: Past, Present, and Future. Bloomsbury Publishing. 7. Seo, J., & Taylor, A. (Eds.). (2020). Sustainable Fashion: Consumer Awareness and Education. Springer. 8. Shaw, D., & Hardie, B. (2017). Fashion Ethics. Routledge. 9. Sinclair, C. (2014). Sustainable Fashion: Past, Present and Future. Berg Publishers. 10. Tungate, M. (2014). Fashion Brands: Branding Style from Armani to Zara. Kogan Page.

Relevant topics

• Water Pollution
• Air Pollution
• Ocean Pollution
• Deforestation
• Climate Change
• Global Warming
• Natural Disasters

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Fashion's Cultural-Appropriation Debate: Pointless

Waves upon waves of backlash haven't stopped Western designers from continuing to swipe recklessly from other cultures. Critics should change the subject by examining the histories of what gets swiped—and more importantly, what doesn't.

Since around 2007, I’ve written about the politics of race, gender, and class in fashion. These writings have been published in scholarly journals and popular media sites, including the research blog I co-founded called Threadbared . As a result, a regular and happy feature of my everyday life involves responding to media and public inquiries about fashion trends, events, or news items that have a distinct racial dimension.

But I have to admit: I’m getting tired of fashion criticism.

This is not because I’ve grown tired of thinking and writing about fashion. And it’s certainly not because I no longer think fashion is an important cultural and social activity.

What I’m weary of is the predictable, limited, and unhelpful manner in which people talk about race in fashion.

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Typically, it begins with a fashion event that raises issues of race, gender, or class: a new designer collection in the genre of “exploitation chic,” a blackface / yellowface / redface magazine spread, the use of people of color as props on the runway, etc. This event, which is almost immediately shared widely online, typically elicits two major responses. Critics bring charges of “cultural appropriation” and implicitly or explicitly suggest that racism is part of why the event happened and is being paid attention to.  Defenders, in increasingly strained tones, take the position of “cultural appreciation.” They say that drawing inspiration from the bodies, cultural practices, and cultural objects of people of color are acts of appreciating, admiring, even loving racial difference and diversity.

The popular chorus of cultural appropriation! cultural appreciation! quickly becomes a performance, in which neither side misses a cue nor forgets a well-learned line. This continues for several days and maybe weeks until it peters out or until the next racist fashion event crops up—whichever comes first. The debate around the event often gets more press and social-media attention than the event did itself, and nobody seems to change opinions for the next go-round.

Of course, I’ve contributed to this cycle. On Threadbared , the term “cultural appropriation” appears 142 times. That’s because critiques of cultural appropriation do have their use. They have been an important strategy, in Richard Fung’s words , “to redress historically established inequities by raising questions about who controls and benefits from cultural resources.” Acts of cultural appropriation often deepen existing divides between haves and have-nots, who’s in and who’s out, who has power and who doesn’t. Commenting on the appropriation of Native voices by white Canadian novelists, M.T. Kelly has poignantly observed, “Again and again, papers have been written, careers built, tenure granted, royalties issued, and yet the people upon whom this is based are left behind on the reserves with nothing.”

Cultural appropriation controversies happen outside of fashion, as well. Debates similar to those I’ve just described have sprung up in recent days around the likes of the Flaming Lips , Miley Cyrus , and the Coachella crowd . Grantland went so far as to name “cultural appropriation” as the pop-culture phenomenon that “won” 2013 .

But there’s a big problem with critiques of cultural appropriation.  They reaffirm the very thing they intend to oppose: white Western domination over and exploitation of culture at the expense of everyone else.

For an example of what I mean, let’s look at a fashion trend that fashion bloggers, journalists, and others unofficially dubbed “Chinatown chic” and, alternatively, “migrant worker chic.” The trend emerged about a year ago during the Céline and Stella McCartney Fall 2013 ready-to-wear shows in New York City. Both collections included looks featuring bright, graphic plaid prints reminiscent of the large plastic woven tote bags that you see all over Canal Street. (It should be noted that Marc Jacobs presented a near-exact precursor to the trend in the Louis Vuitton Spring 2007 ready-to-wear collection, featuring $1,900 tote bags.)

Not long after, the same garments appeared on the bodies and feet of the fashion elite. A series of photographs posted to Phil Oh’s highly celebrated blog Street Peeper showed members of the New York and Paris fashion glitterati wearing the conspicuous design pattern on their skirts, sneakers, tops, and coats. The trend reached peak ubiquity when more affordable versions of the luxury garments appeared on the shop floors of mass market retailers Zara and TopShop—all featuring the print design that Oh nicknamed, “‘Chinatown bag’ plaid.”

But U.S. Chinatowns are far from the only places where these bags circulate. Manufactured in China and sold for as little as a dollar each, their cheap price tag and their high durability make them popular carryalls for poor migrants around the world. In China, they’re colloquially referred to as “mingong” bags, named after the migrant workers who tote the shiny, bright carryalls on their long journeys between home and work. In Germany, they’re called “Türkenkoffer” or Turkish suitcases, while in Trinidad they’re known as “Guyanese Samsonite.” In Nigeria, Ghana, and across West Africa, the same bags are called “Ghana Must Go bags,” a moniker rooted in the mid 1980s when the 1983 Expulsion Order in Nigeria gave Ghanaian immigrants 14 days to flee with whatever belongings they could carry. In England, they’re simply “Bangladeshi bags” or “refugee bags,” and in South Africa, where they’re most strongly associated with internal migrants, the bags are known as either “Unomgcana” (literally, the one with lines) in Xhosa or “China bag” in English. A journalist for the British newspaper The Telegraph insists that the sobriquets are “telling” of a plural yet shared experience of being from and wanting to get out of, in her words , “some poverty-stricken hell hole.” But, as I’ll explain, the various names given to these bags conceal more than they tell about the complex mix of sources that make up the so-called migrant-worker-plaid trend.

Public reactions to the Céline and Stella McCartney collections were largely mixed. A writer for Vogue UK cheered Phoebe Philo (creative director of the Céline house) for “reinventing” the laundry bag in ways that were “insanely elegant and very clever.” Hamish Bowles, European editor-at-large for the US edition of Vogue, concurred , calling the collection “supremely elegant.” Likewise, Radar magazine commended the designer for giving the “refugee bag pattern” “a 180 … metamorphosis to high-end.”

But many others saw it as a continuation of the fashion industry’s long history of poaching from marginalized peoples. Diana of the blog Hanger Hiatus views the Céline pieces as an “inevitable” occurrence given fashion’s “rampant culture-sampling.” In a blog post examining street-inspired fashion including the Céline and Louis Vuitton pieces, editors of the academic journal Vestoj: The Journal of Sartorial Matters describe appropriation practices in terms of “smuggling.” They note later on in the blog post that fashion’s appropriations depend on a one-way power flow from the top down: “While fashion corporations are keen to crack down on illegal copying, it’s interesting to note that the ever-fine line between appropriation and copying in high fashion continues to be toed for effect.”

None of the critics leveling charges of appropriation, though, questioned the basic premise that the collections exemplified a high-low cultural fusion—high culture being Euro-American fashion design, and low culture being Asian street culture. But the truth is that the plaid originates not in Chinatowns, or even in China, or even in street culture. Rather, the design comes from the elite and, indeed, fashionable culture of Indonesian public life where it has been produced, consumed, traded, and sold for centuries.

As early as the 16th century, the Bugis coastal plains people (from the southern peninsula of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi) were weaving, trading, and selling silk sarongs with the plaid motif for indigenous and international consumption. Today, as before, the plaid designs are invested with considerable symbolic meaning for Sulawesians. Elizabeth Morrell’s extensive research shows that the size of the plaid indicates the social and political status of the individual while its simple, open, and repeating pattern is expressive of Islamic principles of “geometry, rhythm, and light.” Often reserved for formal and celebratory occasions, the textiles represent both secular and spiritual forms of Indonesian culture.

The textiles were so much coveted worldwide that knockoffs were rampant, Morrell writes in Securing a Place: Small-scale Artisans in Modern Indonesia :

From at least the mid-seventeenth century, plaids were produced in India for European merchants to sell in direct competition with the Indonesian weaving trade, perpetuating the Indian textile producer’s practice of imitating the indigenous styles—including Javanese batik motifs—preferred by specific target export markets … [the red and blue checkered design] was imitated by weavers on the Indian Coromandel coast, in cloth which was “not so well wove, but of brighter colors.”

To compete against the more powerful English and Dutch trading companies (who traded in Indian copies of the textiles), indigenous textile artisans expanded their production to include cheaper and faster versions made of a coarser cotton “polish[ed] with shells and rice starch to recreate the [silky] sheen.” Today, manufacturers of the tote bags recreate the signature sheen of this textile using plastic polymer-based materials.

This rich aesthetic and social history of the plaid design is entirely left out of the discussions about its appropriation. That’s because the terms of the appropriation debate block this history from view. Responding to Jacobs’s 2006 collection, a blogger critical of fashion’s appropriations resignedly described the Louis Vuitton replica bags as just another example of the industry’s practice of “slumming”: “This is nothing new in fashion; slumming is a trope in the rarefied heights of haute couture. In recent years we have seen much appropriation of the sort.” Note that while he questions the ethics of the fashion industry’s appropriation of others’ cultural artifacts, he doesn’t question the idea that that artifact originated in a slum. His critique of cultural appropriation proceeds as if there are only two places in the world: “Western capitalist institution” and “slum.” Which, of course, reaffirms the very geocultural power relations he’s trying to critique.

This is the problem with cultural-appropriation critiques. They depend on reductive binaries—“high culture” and “low culture,” and oftentimes, “first world” and “third world”—that preserve the hierarchical relations between the fashion industry and the cultures being appropriated. This is related to the problem with cultural-appreciation defenses. Producers and consumers of culturally appropriated objects often present them as examples of healthy cosmopolitanism, of an openness to diverse global sources of inspiration. But the Indonesian plaid example shows that such production and consumption of “diversity” can often—intentionally or accidentally—obscure the actual diversity and complexity of the cultural object being copied.

Instead of the appropriation discourse, I suggest that critics and designers engage in an “inappropriate” discourse, one that reframes the debate to include all the things that are not carried over when white Western creators swipe from elsewhere. Rather than obsess over whether certain practices and forms of cultural appropriation are “good” or “bad,” “racist” or “post-racial,” respectful or not, inappropriate discourse asks what is not appropriate-able, what cannot be integrated into and continue to maintain the existing power structure of the high fashion system, and why. In doing so, we truly challenge the idea of the absolute power and authority of the West to control how the world sees, knows, and talks about fashion.

The idea that an Asian country like Indonesia might be the deliberate, self-aware originator of a fashion trend, rather than simply the third-world site for manufacturing cheap commodities, is an “inappropriate” one: It doesn’t correspond with the binary of high and low culture at the heart of cultural appropriation critiques. An “inappropriate” critique would point out that Western fashion designers are not only extraordinarily late to this plaid trend, they are following the followers of the trend. By locating the source of their inspiration in the Chinese-made bags (which are themselves based on cheap copies of the Bugis textiles), Philo, McCartney, and Jacobs are following in the tradition of earlier European and Asian trading companies who were already copying this textile. These illustrious Western fashion designers are, in effect, knocking off knock offs. The only thing “reinvented” by the Céline, Stella McCartney, and Louis Vuitton pieces is the notion of the Western fashion industry as the most important site of design innovation—an idea that is itself an invention.

Even without knowing the textile history of the Céline, Stella McCartney, and Louis Vuitton pieces—in fact, taking for granted the Chinatown origins of the prints—an inappropriate critic might ask how Chinatown residents benefit financially and socially from a high-fashion craze that references their cultural practices, everyday lives, and bodies. Does that craze afford them new opportunities to actively and genuinely participate in the fashion system (as designers, consultants, consumers, or in some other capacity)? Or does it only worsen their historical exclusion? In other words, how deep does the ballyhooed “cultural appreciation” run?

A favorite cliché among fashion elites is that commercialism is a bad word. The idea is that fashion is, first and foremost, art. Questions and critiques that follow the economic bottom line of fashion companies—who profits, how, and how much—are inappropriate. Yet since trying to parse out what is an appropriate trend or not hasn't seemed to help anyone, the inappropriate is exactly what we need right now.

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Essay on Fashion for Students and Children

500+ words essay on fashion.

Fashion refers to anything that becomes a rage among the masses. Fashion is a popular aesthetic expression. Most Noteworthy, it is something that is in vogue. Fashion appears in clothing, footwear, accessories, makeup, hairstyles, lifestyle, and body proportions. Furthermore, Fashion is an industry-supported expression. In the contemporary world, people take fashion very seriously. Fashion is something that has permeated every aspect of human culture.

History of Fashion

The origin of Fashion is from the year 1826. Probably everyone believes Charles Frederick to be the first fashion designer of the world. He also established the first Fashion house in Paris. Consequently, he began the tradition of Fashion houses. Furthermore, he gave advice to customers on what clothing would suit them. He was prominent form 1826 to 1895.

During this period, many design houses hired artists. Furthermore, the job of these artists was to develop innovative designs for garments. The clients would examine many different patterns. Then they would pick the one they like. Consequently, a tradition began of presenting patterns to customers and then stitching them.

At the beginning of the 20th century, new developments in Fashion took place. These developments certainly began in Paris first. Then they spread in other parts of the world. Consequently, new designs first came into existence in France. From Paris, they went to other parts of the world. Hence, Paris became the Fashion capital of the world. Also, Fashion in this era was ‘haute couture’. This Fashion design was exclusively for individuals.

In the mid-20th century, a change took place. Now Fashion garments underwent mass production. There was a significant increase in the rate of production of Fashion garments. As a result, more and more people became involved with Fashion garments. By the end of the 20th century, a sense of Fashion awareness was very strong. Now people began to choose clothes based on their own style preference. Hence, people began to create their own trends instead of relying on existing trends.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Fashion Trend

Political influences certainly play a major role in influencing Fashion. Many politicians become fashion symbols. Notable examples are First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Diana. Also, political revolutions make a huge impact on the Fashion trend. For example, in 1960’s America, liberal clothing styles became popular among the younger generation. This was due to the Liberal revolution.

Another significant factor which influences Fashion trend is technology. There certainly has been a rapid growth of technology in the Fashion industry. For example, wearable technology has become a popular Fashion trend. Furthermore, 3D printing technology and the internet have also made an impact on Fashion.

Social influences are probably the strongest influences on the Fashion trend. Many music stars strongly influence Fashion choice. For example, wearing hoodies became famous due to rap musicians. Furthermore, movie and television actors create a big impact on Fashion. Many youngsters love to emulate the Fashion sense of their favourite celebrity.

To sum it up, Fashion certainly has become a part and parcel of human life. It certainly is a force that is here to stay. Most noteworthy, Fashion has immersed every place on Earth.

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Fashionhance

Is Fashion Really Harmful to Society? The Answer Will Surprise You

Fashion is one of the ways to express yourself and exhibit to the world more about who you are. We all agree that the fashion industry has become very popular and influential, but how does it affect our society? This Fashionhance write-up will talk more about the impact of fashion on society.

So Much For Fashion! Victorian women would cover themselves in wet muslin cloth, so that their dress would fit them perfectly. Due to this practice, many women would often fall sick, and some used to die. We are constantly surrounded by fashion, it has become an everyday kind of thing you need to deal with. Fashion is a term that applies to clothing, accessories, hairstyle, footwear, body piercings, and furniture. The concept of fashion is not new to mankind, it is just that the definition of fashion has changed and more evolved. During the Egyptian era, both men and women used to line their eyes with Kohl for various reasons. But it was a trend back then and followed by everybody.

Fashion is like a wind and is changing rapidly. From school-going kids to working professionals, everybody wants to look their best. Fashion is promoted mostly by TV advertisements and celebrities. Many people define their fashion statement as comfort. They wear whatever they feel comfortable in. Of course you need to consider the occasion too. You can’t wear a jogging suit and go for a wedding, similarly you won’t wear a skirt to go for jogging. If we are living in a society, then it is not a bad thing to follow fashion trends, but it should be done in a limit.

Positive Impact of Fashion ► Fashion has become one common language for people all over the world. Our world is enormous, an integration of various cultures. Fashion helps to connect people internationally, because it travels from one city to another.

► Designers are able to produce and set new trends for people who are enthusiastic and ready to experiment with their look. This gives designers a satisfaction when they see their designs in the market, starting a trend among the people.

► The fashion industry is very competitive and there are many designers who offer the same thing like the others. It is always refreshing to see a new designer exhibit new and unique designs. It gives young and aspiring fashion designers a platform to exhibit their talent.

► Sometimes, fashion can be an inspiration for many to discover their hidden potential, it persuades individuals to attend fashion schools and make something out of their career, if they have an inclination towards this field. Fashion inspires you to expand your knowledge and creativity to turn your hobby into a career.

► One of the first things which people notice is your appearance. The way you dress up speaks a lot about you, fashion is one of the means through which you express yourself. Fashion gives you the liberty to mix and match clothes according to your mood, liking, and attitude.

► We all are attracted to people who dress up smartly and have a knowledge about the current trends. People dress up to attract the opposite sex and get noticed by someone they adore. Additionally, people also get acknowledged and stand out amongst the crowd largely due to what they wear and how they look. Those shabbily dressed or the ones lacking a sense of fashion are not very well taken, as compared to those who groom themselves well.

► Fashion is never ending, trends come and go. In fact, trends are inspired by designers, ideas of creating something new and different can come from anywhere. Take the example of the Little Black Dress, this trend never goes out. Almost every woman has a little black dress in her wardrobe purchased for that perfect evening.

► When you think about fashion, it’s not always about dressing up. Fashion opens numerous opportunities for you. You can choose to stay behind the camera and work on styling and if you prefer to be in front of the camera, you can venture fields like modeling and acting. Possibilities are endless, so one good thing about fashion is that it offers employment opportunities to those who dream about being a part of this industry.

► Additionally, following your own fashion statement makes you a more independent thinker. If you think you have the ability to carry the attire, then it fills you up with a great deal of confidence.

► It is like a magical fix for numerous issues like handling bullies and making new friends. Research claims that people who are always dressed up smartly are hardly harassed by bullies, because they feel that anybody with a high fashion sense may retaliate and can be a great threat for them.

► Fashion also helps you to make new friends easily. If you share the same interest like other people, then connecting with them won’t be difficult. You will have a common thing to base your discussions on.

► Teens get to create their own identity by following a certain trend which they like, thus they are not associated and tagged just like others. Having an impeccable and great fashion sense will easily get them a job in fashion land.

Negative Impact of Fashion ► One of the biggest drawbacks fashion has on our society is constant change. We all are aware that it changes constantly. With new year come new trends which if we don’t adopt, we are sure to be scrutinized by the fashion police in our neighborhood or school. For many fast-paced changes in fashion, it encourages people to buy clothes or other things unnecessarily. Which means splurging on things which won’t stay for long.

► Every new fashion trend is promoted in such a way that it becomes difficult for any teen or student to simply ignore it. Many fashion companies endorse celebrities to advertise for their clothing line, which results in many people buying that product. Why? Because their favorite celebrity has promoted it. They don’t care if it is right or wrong to buy it.

► The term ‘fashionsta’ sounds classy and glamorous but refers to somebody who follows fashion blindly. They want to wear it because that is the trend, they don’t care about whether it suits them or not, or if they are comfortable in it or not.

► A lot of money is wasted in buying new clothes, it indirectly promotes capitalism in society. People end up buying new clothes, when they already have old ones which they might not have worn even once. They discard old clothes to make space for new fashion trends in their wardrobe.

► “If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shabby furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shabby philosophies… It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it.” A very famous quote by Albert Einstein, he was always seen in old and worn out clothes. Clothes have the power to project us in a negative or a positive way, sometimes people judge others wrong because of the clothes worn by them.

► There is a difference between fad and style. Fad fashion trends are short-lived, they come and go within months. These are known as fads of fashion, true fashion means style. People who are ignorant about this fact follow fads of fashion rather than focusing on creating their own style.

► Stealing, robbing, and blackmailing are common ways for the youth to become fashionable. They are so attracted and addicted to fashion that they are ready to go to any length to get the look they desire. Teens have become so rebellious that they even wear things which look hideous on them.

► Apart from clothes, there are certain trends detrimental to our health. These include tattoos, body piercings, plastic surgeries, etc. Teens have become extremists, one of the negative impacts of fashion is teenagers piercing various body parts. People are ready to pierce their belly button, tongue, forehead, lips all in the name of fashion.

► The environment and upbringing also has a lot to do with how an individual gets influenced by fashion around him/her. Teens staying in the rural areas will throw on an attire completely different from a teen staying in a city.

► Many times, teens or students opt for clothes due to peer pressure, they want to blend in the crowd. This fear of being left out in the crowd has a negative impact on their mind, thus they go for such clothes.

► Nowadays, students focus more and more on fashion rather than focusing on their career. They want to know everything about fashion, but little about their school or college activities. This is one of the major negative impacts of fashion on students.

► Some girls try to look like models, so they compromise on their diet to become skinny. Also, people experimenting with their hair or skin often forget about the allergies or acne breakouts they need to face due to using such products. Being fashion-conscious can even make you anxious and depressed if you don’t feel you are dressed up to the mark.

► One of the major and worst impacts of fashion on our environment is the procedure and products used to manufacture these fashionable products. Often, animal fur is used in jackets and fur coats. Many birds are killed, and experiments are done on animals to check if the products would be allergic to humans.

On a concluding note, fashion won’t be harmful to our society if we learn to create a balance between our studies and interests. Everybody wants to look good, there is no harm in it, unless you become completely obsessed with it. Parents also need to keep an eye on their children’s activity, if they are studying or wasting their time grooming themselves. There is no harm in being fashionable, but don’t let it interfere with your lifestyle and career.

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Shein is the future of fast fashion. Is that a good thing?

The Chinese retailer is quickly becoming one of Gen Z’s favorite fashion brands, for its low prices and savvy social media use.

by Terry Nguyen

If you’ve spent some time scrolling and shopping on TikTok, you’re probably familiar with the fashion retailer Shein. From personal experience, however, “familiar” doesn’t properly contextualize how pervasive the brand is, at least online. Perhaps a more accurate description is: I am haunted by Shein. As a consumer who falls squarely within the brand’s target demographic — a woman in her 20s, who buys most of her clothes online — I encounter Shein-related content almost daily, algorithmically fed to me through Instagram advertisements, YouTube hauls, and viral TikTok recommendations.

Shein’s ubiquity, most notably on TikTok, has catapulted the retailer to cult status among young women across the globe. And while Shein is based out of China, it ships to 220 countries, with the US serving as its largest consumer market. In June, Shein overtook Amazon for the first time on the iOS App Store to become the leading US shopping app, a title it holds in over 50 countries. This comes after a pandemic year of record-breaking sales: Shein raked in close to $10 billion in 2020 , which was reportedly its eighth consecutive year of revenue growth over 100 percent. The retailer is also one of the most talked-about brands on TikTok and YouTube, and the most visited fashion and apparel site in the world, according to the web analytics platform Similarweb. Shein had enough in its coffers to place a bid to buy Topshop in January, which it ultimately lost to Asos.

Shein has collaborated with well-known musicians (Katy Perry, Nick Jonas, Lil Nas X, Tinashe) for concerts and events and, like its trendy competitors, has sponsored influencers (Addison Rae) and created capsule collections with D-list reality TV stars ( The Bachelor ’s Hannah Godwin, The Only Way Is Essex ’s Amber Turner). But Shein isn’t a brand made for and peddled by the rich and famous. In fact, it has cemented its reputation among regular people, particularly Gen Z shoppers, who promote the brand through unsponsored clothing hauls and outfit posts on social media. Friends and coworkers have recommended Shein swimwear and dresses to me in casual conversation, over text and even on Slack. On TikTok, a recent crowd favorite is Shein’s cross-wrap crop top — a $13 garment that resembles a halter top, but with a strategically placed cutout that reveals extra cleavage.

There are tens of thousands of styles on the retailer’s site, and each day, about 1,000 more are added. For context, this production pace is even speedier than the “ultra-fast” sites that dominate fast fashion’s Instagram era; Missguided and Fashion Nova, for example, reportedly release about 1,000 new styles a week. Shein’s business model, like that of its fast forebears, abides by the tenet that more is better, that excess can be made accessible through mysteriously low prices, with little care for environmental costs or transparency about its labor force.

A skilled Shein shopper can theoretically buy an entire outfit, accessories and shoes included, for $30 or less. In fact, there are entire sections on the site that help customers clinch the cheapest deals: A shopper can browse for tops under $5.99 , dresses under $9.99 , and clearance items under $5 . The wardrobe possibilities, it seems, are endless. One Twitter user recently observed that $280 spent on Shein can create a year’s worth of outfits.

Yet Shein’s emergence as a fast fashion juggernaut can’t solely be attributed to the price of its clothing or its ubiquitous internet presence. The retailer is also nowhere to be found in the physical world — at least not in brick-and-mortar stores, although it has previously hosted in-person pop-up events. Shein appeared to have sprung out of thin air into the mainstream, unlike fast fashion’s old guards, whose spacious, brightly lit stores were proof of their dominance. Yet, Shein is so far ahead of competitors like H&M, Zara, and Asos, according to an analysis by Apptopia , that it’s difficult to compare them.

So what makes Shein so special? The answer might seem simple (two words: supply chains), if not for its influence over ever-changing trends and its impact on fashion consumption. There’s no doubt that it’s Shein’s world, and we’re just shopping in it.

A brief, incomplete history of Shein

Shein was first launched in 2008 under the domain SheInside, as a site that sold wedding dresses and women’s fashion geared toward US and English-language shoppers. The retailer was started in Nanjing, a province in China, by entrepreneur Chris Xu, who specialized in search engine optimization marketing. Xu has yet to publicly express any interest in women’s fashion or clothing design (granted, it doesn’t seem like he has done many interviews in English); his expertise lies in SEO and brand marketing, key factors that have contributed to Shein’s online popularity.

During Shein’s early years, there was very little that distinguished the brand from other Chinese e-commerce retailers, except that it sold wedding gowns. According to reporting from PandaYoo , an English-language site published by Chinese bloggers, Shein sourced its products from China’s wholesale clothing market in Guangzhou, a region where many Chinese garment factories and markets are centralized. Shein wasn’t involved in any aspect of garment design or manufacturing. It operated much like a dropshipping business that sells products from third-party wholesalers directly to overseas shoppers.

It wasn’t until 2014 that Shein began to acquire its own supply chain system, transforming itself into a fully integrated retailer. That year, it purchased Romwe, another Chinese e-commerce retailer. By 2015, the company had shortened its domain name to Shein, a move that reportedly made the brand more memorable and searchable for shoppers. Yet, prior to these major changes in 2014, the company had a decent online presence and enough customers to expand its operations. It was an early adopter of social media marketing, partnering with fashion bloggers for giveaways and promoting products on Facebook , Instagram, and Pinterest as far back as 2012.

Throughout the early 2010s, Shein launched overseas sites in Spain, France, Russia, Italy, and Germany, and began selling cosmetics, shoes, bags, and jewelry, in addition to womenswear. According to a translated article from the Chinese tech site LatePost , by 2016, Xu had assembled a team of 800 designers and prototypers, dedicated to rapidly producing Shein-branded clothes. Shein also began honing its supply chain, cutting out suppliers that produced “mediocre-quality products or images,” according to a 2016 press release .

By 2017, the present-day iteration of Shein had begun to take shape. The brand advertised on daytime television shows in the US, and fashion influencers showcased Shein products and hauls alongside other retailers , like Fashion Nova and Zaful. It was, however, the retailer’s early use of TikTok and ability to market viral products that skyrocketed Shein’s popularity.

Is Shein simply “fast fashion,” or is it the future?

While venture capitalists and tech entrepreneurs tout Shein as the future of fashion, the company’s rise didn’t occur in a vacuum. Its success is predicated on a confluence of factors, from geopolitical trade policies to a decades-old, disaggregated global fashion ecosystem.

The fast fashion business model was pioneered in the 1990s by the founder of Inditex, the parent company of Spanish retailer Zara. Zara notoriously abandoned the concept of fashion seasons for a year-long cycle of production, which introduced customers to novel items every few weeks. Its success prompted other Western designers and retailers — H&M and Forever 21, to name two — to follow its lead into the next decade. Retailers migrated most of their manufacturing process overseas to countries with lax labor laws, where wages can be low and working overtime (without additional pay) is common. This, of course, made fashion companies more profitable, as shoppers became hooked on a cycle of novelty. But soon, things were about to get even faster.

• Fast fashion, explained

Toward the tail end of the 2010s, “ultra-fast” fashion brands — Asos, Boohoo, Fashion Nova, and now Shein — emerged as viable competitors to the dominant fashion empires of the previous decade. Last October, Reuters reported that investors think “Zara … is going to be crushed by fast fashion 2.0.” These ultra-fast fashion companies are able to reach millions of young shoppers directly through social media without the need for physical retail space, and relied on search traffic and customer data to foreshadow trends.

But by virtue of Shein’s location and software technology, the retailer developed a speedy edge on its competitors. Matthew Brennan, a Beijing-based writer and analyst of Chinese technology, likened its pace to “real-time” retail. That means Shein is constantly gathering and analyzing customer data and uses that knowledge to craft new designs — within as little as three days.

“Each new design is basically a bet because Shein can estimate how well a product is going to do, but it doesn’t know for sure until it sells,” Brennan explained. “Compared to its fast fashion competitors, Shein is able to take more bets, but at a lower risk. It’s able to place very small initial orders with these factories, about 100 or even smaller.” These batches were much smaller than Zara’s and that of ultra-fast fashion retailers like Boohoo, which reportedly ordered about 300 to 500 units per style . If a specific top goes viral overnight on TikTok, for example, Shein will be able to instantaneously ramp up production on the garment and place additional orders depending on demand.

Shein has spent years cultivating relationships with Chinese garment factories and manufacturers, whereas most Western brands generally outsource this work. Inditex is similarly situated close to a garment production center in the northeast region of Spain, but according to Brennan, business in China moves much faster.

“Shein doesn’t work with very large factories but [with] small to mid-sized workshops that pick up orders daily,” Brennan said. “It’s very much like an Uber system, where new orders are coming into factory owners’ phones and they receive the order. It’s very scrappy, but efficient.”

“It’s very much like an Uber system, where new orders are coming into factory owners’ phones and they receive the order”

Most retailers place a main order at the start of the season, according to Craig Ryder, director of the UK-based Supply Chain Consulting Group: “It depends on where the order is made and where it’s being shipped to, but generally, between a retailer placing an order and getting it to market, there is very limited time to order more.”

And despite Shein’s popularity, the company remains largely unknown among Chinese consumers. The Chinese apparel market is extremely competitive, and Shein’s priority from the beginning has been to export goods abroad. The retailer has also benefited from deteriorating trade relations between China and the US. China began waiving export taxes for direct-to-consumer companies in 2018 after the US imposed more tariffs, Bloomberg reported . Since Shein ships its orders directly to customers from Chinese warehouses, packages worth less than $800, or small-value shipments, generally remain duty-free. In other words, Shein has managed to circumvent paying both export and import taxes for about three years, something brick-and-mortar retailers aren’t able to avoid.

“If you’re Zara, there’s no way you’re going to get around US import duties because you’re not shipping to individuals. You’re selling to stores and importing in bulk,” Michael Horowitz, a consultant at the firm Retail ROI, told Bloomberg. “[Zara has] too much of a physical presence. It can’t get away with it.”

Still, receiving a shipment from Shein can take a week or longer, which is a prolonged timeline for most US-based retailers and, of course, Amazon. (The company does offer free shipping on all orders.) Shein has, in a sense, served as an accelerant in the fashion world. It has forced competitors to reassess the emphasis on speed to increase profit margins, at the cost of everything else.

Is Shein’s speediness ethical?

Over the past year, Shein has received backlash from customers for selling, among several offensive items, a necklace with a Buddhist swastika pendant, a phone case with an image of a handcuffed Black person outlined in chalk, and a Muslim prayer mat as a decorative rug. The company has apologized for these incidents, which Shein has spun as a lack of cultural sensitivity and understanding of its global audiences.

But these hiccups — which are offensive at worst, and weird at best — are partly a direct result of Shein’s fast production cycle. Following the completely legal copycat model of most fast fashion retailers, Shein employs workers to recreate trending designs for its own products. The artwork on Shein’s offensive phone case was replicated without permission from a 2014 drawing by French graphic artist Jean Jullien, in the wake of the Ferguson uprisings. Several designers and artists have accused the company of making blatant rip-offs of their work, but there’s little that can be done, besides drawing the internet’s attention to it.

There’s a running, unproven accusation on TikTok that Shein depends on child labor. These comments usually appear on videos of Shein hauls or styling videos, in which users try to shame well-off creators for buying from a purportedly unethical company. To be clear, there is no evidence that Shein employs children or produces an unsafe labor environment, but the company has not publicly disclosed workers’ wages or hours. In August, Reuters reported that Shein has yet to disclose information about its working conditions and supply chain to the British government, which the retailer is required to do under UK law. Shein had also previously falsely stated on its website that its factories were certified by international labor standard bodies, according to Reuters.

In China, however, LatePost reported that Shein has developed “a reputation for timely payment [to factories],” which is a rarity in the country. The retailer also appears to have a good rapport with the factory owners it employs, who were willing to relocate their operations alongside Shein in 2015.

Yet much remains unknown about Shein’s business practices, and timely payment alone should not be cause for praise or relief from consumers. What are the ethics of producing and selling thousands of garments a day at a breakneck pace, even if workers are reportedly paid on time? Shein’s business model drives — and depends on — overconsumption. Some of the most popular Shein-related TikToks feature young women buying hundreds of dollars’ worth of clothes to try on for every season or fashion TikTok trend. Sure, not every consumer can afford ethically made goods or have easy access to a thrift store, but it’s not low-income shoppers who are keeping Shein and the fast fashion industry alive.

I’ve previously written about how the fashion industry is one of the world’s most resource-intensive sectors, even though there is no official research that fully summarizes fashion’s environmental impact. The production of polyester textiles alone emitted about 706 billion kilograms of greenhouse gases in 2015, and hundreds of gallons of water go into making a single cotton garment. Most of the clothes from Shein are made from synthetic fabrics, which are responsible for releasing plastic microfibers into oceans.

The retailer has stayed mum on ethical fashion and sustainability, but it’s hard to imagine Shein embracing corporate accountability without widespread consumer pressure. Regardless, Shein seems poised to be the fashion giant of the decade, and investors are scrambling to look for other retailers that could copy its speedy supply chain. And as the fashion industry adjusts to Shein’s blinding pace, it’s safe to assume that shoppers are encouraged and expected to buy more and more. All it takes is another viral must-have product from a brand that might be the next big thing. For now, though, Shein doesn’t seem willing to give up the throne.

Update, August 10, 3:30 pm: This story was updated to include information about Shein failing to disclose its working standards to the UK government, and false claims the company made on its website about its factories’ certifications.

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Many People Like to Wear Fashionable Clothes – IELTS Writing Task 2

Updated On Aug 05, 2024

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The IELTS Writing Task 2 section, can be a difficult task for many IELTS Aspirants. Thus, you must polish your essay writing skills before attempting the IELTS exam .

Now let's look at this direct question essay - Many people like to wear fashionable clothes - with a band 9 sample answer accompanied by IELTS vocabulary which will not only boost your preparation but also enhance your word bank.

Below is a sample IELTS Direct question essay for the topic:

Many people like to wear fashionable clothes. Why do you think this is the case? Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Direct Question Essay

Introduction

Sentence 1: Each and every individual around the world likes wearing fashionable and trendy clothes. This is because they like changes in their lifestyle.

Sentence 2: State details and weigh if wearing fashionable clothes is good or bad.

Paragraph 1: Several reasons why people wear modern and trendy clothes in order to stay fashionable in the competitive fashion world.

Paragraph 2: Some people suspect that following fashion trends and wearing stylish clothes are not suitable for society. They think that it will have a negative impact on their tradition and culture. But, in reality, it actually depends on the perspective of an individual.

Clearly restate points covered in the essay.

Fashion plays a vital role in today’s world. People of all ages have become fashion-conscious. They prefer wearing branded and trendy clothes as they want to look stylish. Moreover, the selection of clothes entirely depends on an individual’s choice and a change in the way of dressing is definitely a positive impact. This essay will look into the details and weigh if the following fashion is good or bad for society.

There are a myriad of reasons why people prefer wearing trendy clothes. The predominant reason is that they want to stay in the competition, keep up with the modern world, and adjust to society. Moreover, the fashion industry has constantly been growing and releasing unique trends and styles with the help of advertisements, which attracts the attention of the younger generation who spend heavily on such fashionable clothes. According to these youngster’s perception, their personality and character level gels up when they wear fashionable outfits. Such youngsters are always following fashion in each season. Therefore, in order to survive in the competitive rat race of becoming a fashion icon in the fashion world, people wear trendy attires.

Some people suspect that following fashion trends and wearing stylish clothes are not suitable for society. They think that it will have a negative impact on their tradition and culture. But, in reality, it actually depends on the perspective of an individual. In my point of view, it would be apparently wrong to judge a person based on their way of styling and clothing as it’s a personal choice. However, youngsters should avoid spending exorbitant amounts of money purchasing fashionable clothes as the fashion trend changes every now and then.

To reiterate, dressing up according to the latest fashion trend is good until an individual feels confident and comfortable wearing them. Because at the end of the day, fashionable or non-fashionable clothes don’t matter. All that matters is comfort, self-confidence, and relief.

Meaning: being the only one of its kind Eg: A unique piece of jewellery caught my mother’s attention.

Meaning: form an opinion or conclusions about Eg: Some people judge others by their looks.

Meaning: a way of life in which people are caught up in a fiercely competitive struggle for wealth or power Eg: In order to remain active in the rat race of becoming a CEO, John performed his duties very well.

• Competitive

Meaning: relating to or characterized by competition Eg: It was tough for Johnny to get a job in the competitive corporate world.

Meaning: the way in which something is regarded, understood or interpreted. Eg: Everyone has a different perception towards life

Meaning: continue to live or exist especially in spite of danger or hardship Eg: Despite the fatal accident, the couple survived.

• Predominant

Meaning: present as the strongest or main element. Eg: The predominant ingredient to bake a cake is flour.

Meaning: a countless or extremely great number of people or things Eg: The institute offered a myriad of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Meaning: a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration. Eg: Rose was delighted when she met her fashion icon.

Meaning: having knowledge of something Eg: The villagers were conscious of the epidemic.

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Janice Thompson

Soon after graduating with a Master’s in Literature from Southern Arkansas University, she joined an institute as an English language trainer. She has had innumerous student interactions and has produced a couple of research papers on English language teaching. She soon found that non-native speakers struggled to meet the English language requirements set by foreign universities. It was when she decided to jump ship into IELTS training. From then on, she has been mentoring IELTS aspirants. She joined IELTSMaterial about a year ago, and her contributions have been exceptional. Her essay ideas and vocabulary have taken many students to a band 9.

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