Climate Conscious Column: Why We Should Avoid Fast Fashion

By Ellie Bavier, Cover Art by Cassandra Wong

Before the Industrial Revolution, there were four seasons of clothing that came out each year by designers. Clothes constructed were perfected, intricate, and intentional. It was less available and more expensive. This meant that people cherished their clothes; shopping was an occasion, and worn-in clothes were mended.

Now, with the manufacturing capabilities of the 21st century, fashion line runways have been accelerated past their production rates. Companies specialize in pumping out clothing inspired by the runway through cheap and environmentally unfriendly ways. Brands include FashionNova, Zara, H&M, NastyGal, Uniqlo, Shein, Zaful, Topshop, and more. Such rapid production acceleration has changed the fashion industry astronomically. This is fast fashion, and we are at the point of no return. 

According to The Good Trade, there are now 52 micro seasons in a year. Fast fashion giants are getting shipments of new clothing each day. Because of the overabundance of microseasons, trends are changing before consumers have the chance to adjust. It leaves the public constantly feeling “out of style.” There is a pressure for young people to stay up to date with trends, and not wear the same outfit twice. We are trained to believe the more the better, quantity over quality. This compulsion is what drives the business forward. 

Fast fashion is characterized by the low prices and quality. While higher prices don't necessarily indicate a product is more sustainable, "too good to be true" prices should absolutely be a red flag to consumers. The cost of resources and manufacturing are invariable. What drives down the cost of production instead, is paying workers little to none and forcing them to work in terrible conditions. The Bangladesh Factory Collapse publicly exposed the hazardous and dangerous conditions of the factory. Over 1,000 deaths were reported, a majority being female garment workers. Child and slave labor are being exploited in Chinese, Bangladeshi, Vietnamese, plus many other factories. The negligence of employers is a major characteristic in the fast fashion industry. 

Not only does the fast fashion industry rely on terrible labour conditions, but they are also massive contributors to waste and global warming. Fast fashion clothing materials are more than “60 percent synthetic”. These fibers are non disposable, and fill up landfills. Fast fashion is meant to fall apart so consumers are forced to buy more. When they do, they populate our landfills. In the US, 11 million tons of clothing are disposed of each year. 

Poor materials also lead to the shedding of microfibers which are responsible for 75% of the plastic in the ocean. One ubiquitous fabric to watch out for is polyester: it is derived from fossil fuels, and sheds incredible amounts of microfibers. Even non synthetic fibers are not much better. Cotton, though natural, uses high amounts of water and pesticides to produce. 

Fast fashion companies also use incredibly toxic chemicals and dyes to cheaply produce clothes like lead. Primarily, these chemicals are repeatedly exposed to the workers in overseas factories. These chemicals seep into the water supplies of the factory’s surrounding areas, and also into our homes as we wash them. Production of clothes with toxic chemicals has a long lasting impact on all parts of the process, from the factory workers to the consumers. These chemicals lead to the fashion industry being the “second largest polluter of clean water globally”. 

Other red flags to look out for are an overabundance of styles with short turnaround between fads and products, manufacturing from overseas factories, and cheap materials. In order to work towards a more sustainable fashion future, we must edge these fast fashion companies out of our purchasing power. Contributing to their profits does not help the workers at the bottom, and encourages the horrendous ethical practices of the companies. Luckily, there are many other alternatives; read our next monthly installment to learn about some of these options!