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28 June 2019
The term "fast fashion" has become a buzzword in discussions about consumerism, environmental sustainability, and ethical responsibility. It refers to the rapid production of inexpensive clothing that mirrors the latest trends, designed to move swiftly from catwalks to retail shelves. By offering affordable, trendy items, fast fashion has revolutionized the clothing industry, making it more accessible and appealing to a broader audience. However, this convenience comes at a steep cost to the environment, society, and the overall sustainability of our planet.
Fast fashion thrives on speed and quantity, prioritizing profit over ethics and environmental impact. Its production cycle is marked by overextraction of natural resources, excessive energy use, harmful chemical processes, and exploitation of labor. This relentless pace contributes to a culture of disposable fashion, where garments are purchased, worn briefly, and discarded, creating staggering amounts of textile waste. Beneath the surface of its glamorous appeal lies an alarming reality: fast fashion is a leading contributor to environmental pollution and social injustice.
The environmental toll of fast fashion includes water pollution, high carbon emissions, and non-biodegradable waste accumulation. Synthetic materials like polyester, widely used in fast fashion, are derived from fossil fuels, making the industry a major player in the climate crisis. Pre-production waste, unsold inventory, and discarded garments further exacerbate the problem, overwhelming landfills and polluting waterways. Meanwhile, garment workers—primarily women in developing countries—bear the brunt of the industry's exploitative practices, enduring unsafe working conditions and earning meager wages.
The devastating consequences of fast fashion underscore the urgent need for change. Transitioning to sustainable fashion practices, promoting circularity through recycling and upcycling, and adopting a more mindful approach to consumption are essential steps toward mitigating its impact. As consumers, we wield significant influence over the industry's trajectory. By choosing to support ethical brands, buy second-hand, and prioritize quality over quantity, we can drive meaningful change and advocate for a fashion industry that values people and the planet over profits.
In this discussion, we will explore the multifaceted impact of fast fashion, examining its role in environmental degradation, resource depletion, and social inequality. We will also highlight potential solutions and the growing movement toward slow fashion, which champions ethical production and responsible consumption. By understanding the full scope of fast fashion's impact, we can make informed choices that align with a more sustainable and equitable future.
Impact of Fast Fashion
Thanks to the development of synthetic materials like polyester and nylon, the fashion industry underwent a significant transformation after World War II. Since the late 1990s, polyester has been the most frequently used fiber in textiles. These fabrics made of plastic have a significant impact on the ecology and climate during their entire life cycle due to the emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
The textile sector is a growing contributor to climate catastrophe because the production of synthetic fibers uses just around 1% of the world’s crude oil. The sector also greatly impacts how much plastic leaks into the environment.
Fast fashion pre-production generates a substantial amount of trash and pollution. According to a study, 15% of the fabric used to make clothes is wasted; this percentage is influenced by the type of clothing, the fabric’s design, the cutting of the fabric, and errors in assembly. Before clothing and materials are ever created, there is already a significant environmental strain.
The initial fiber extraction process uses the most energy and produces the most carbon emissions over the life of a garment, which is especially true for fabrics made from petroleum. Additionally, the production of materials like cotton and linen requires a lot of labor and water, as well as the use of hazardous pesticides that endanger the health of farmers and workers.
“Deadstock” refers to clothing that is unsold, returned particularly after being purchased online, and then disposed of as waste. It makes up a significant portion of pre-consumer waste that is sometimes overlooked. A waste-to-energy facility’s burning of deadstock may recover some of the energy that would otherwise be lost while the materials sat unused in a warehouse, but it also increases air pollution.
The biggest environmental impact comes from the energy, materials, water, and chemicals used in the garment’s creation, not from mass incineration, which may conjure images of massive waste and emissions.
Due to the depletion of non-renewable resources, the emission of greenhouse gases, and significant water and energy consumption, fast fashion has a negative impact on the environment. The second-largest user of water is the fashion sector, which needs 700 gallons to make a cotton shirt and 2000 gallons to make a pair of jeans.
Textile dyeing is the second-largest contributor to global water pollution, with excess dye water usually dumped into ditches, streams, or rivers.
Fast fashion also has a human cost; textile workers—mostly women in developing countries—are frequently paid pitifully and forced to put in dreadful hours under appalling circumstances. These conditions cause human rights violations to occur anywhere.
The use of chemicals in the manufacture of garments raises serious health concerns for both consumers and industry workers. In addition to the previously described consequences, pollution has further negative effects on health.
Unwanted clothing is now more commonly thrown away than donated, which is another change in how individuals dispose of their clothing. Even worse, the textile waste generated by the fashion industry is largely disposed of in landfills or burned. 85% of all textiles are disposed of in landfills each year.
Although fast fashion has made the clothing industry’s prospects gloomy, firms are defying convention. The environment and society are significantly harmed by fast fashion, and people demand businesses change their practices. Customers have the authority to limit their support to businesses that follow ethical fashion standards and to pressure businesses to change their business methods to be more environmentally friendly.
Slow fashion, a common counterargument to fast fashion, advocates against excessively high production, complex supply chains, and mindless consumption. It promotes ethical production that is kind to both people and animals. Buying from second-hand vendors is one method consumers are limiting their consumption of fast fashion. Customers send their unwanted clothing to websites where customers can purchase it at a discount from the original cost.
