Fast Fashion Needs to Slow Down

Fast fashion has had an immense effect on our world in the last few decades. We cycle through trends quicker than ever, and because of this short trend and garment lifespan, along with quality have also decreased. There are so many obvious issues with fast fashion, yet we can’t seem to get rid of the impact it has on our society. There are three spotlight issues I personally see with the fast fashion industry — the impact it has on workers, the environment and consumers. First, and most importantly, what is fast fashion? This term is a new one which has swept the globe by storm and refers to cheap, mass-produced garments that copy trends seen in higher sectors of the industry, closely following trends. Fast fashion is exactly what it says, the high speed pushing out of new garments. Fast fashion prioritizes speed, not the well-being of its surroundings. 

A very time-sensitive issue within fast fashion production is the impact it has on workers. The fashion industry is one of the few female-dominated industries in the world, and employs just over 16% of the global workforce. The garment industry has historically had issues with treating workers ethically, from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire over a century ago to modern day labor rights violations of the Chinese Uighur population by at least 83 companies such as Zara, Nike, Adidas and Gap. The violations of human rights go further than just these placeable, large-name events, with zero percent of garment employees in Bangladesh and one percent in Vietnam making a living wage. The fashion industry exploits these countries that have incredibly low wages as a means to produce more and more profit. Wages are a major issue in the realm of workers’ rights, but this is in combination with poor working conditions. Many factories are not up to date with fire or health safety, lack ventilation and then on top of the unsafe building conditions, many workers face physical and verbal abuse. Employees of these companies are expected to work upward of 16 hours a day, seven days a week while surrounded by toxic chemicals. Even more, they are sometimes not allowed basic human necessities like food, water and breaks. These workers are not treated like humans, but rather machines, and this is exploited by the garment industry. All this is partially due to the demands of the fast fashion industry, which are unrealistic and unreasonable. The speed of new trends in combination with how fast they die out is a recipe for disaster for both humans and the world around them.

The environmental impact of fast fashion is also an incredibly pressing and important matter. Pollution is one of the biggest worries we have about the globe as a whole, and the garment industry is a major contributor to that. The industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, which is only predicted to increase. Along with emissions, water pollution is a major issue within the textile industry specifically. Dyeing and finishing, yarn processing and fiber preparation/production are some of the major contributors of the industry’s pollution. On top of the fabric production itself, for wools and leathers, we also require an excess of water and food to keep the animals alive for their eventual demise to the garment industry. Another issue we are only becoming more aware and informed of is that of microplastics. Synthetic fabrics and fibers, such as polyester, contain chemicals that take centuries to fully biodegrade. Fast fashion ties in with all of this because of how expedited the process has become over the years. Because brands have become reliant on meeting new trends head on and instantly, the process must be done in as little time as possible, meaning it is also done with minimal care to the environment and waste. Fabric waste, water pollution and overuse, carbon emissions, energy usage and so much more are killing the planet at a faster and faster rate. 

As consumers, it doesn’t feel like there is much we can do to fight against the atrocities that corporations are committing. We know this is a major issue, but many of us are also trapped within the confines of budget. Not everyone can spend hundreds of dollars on clothing a year when there are similar options they could get for far cheaper. We are forced to make choices, ones that will in the end impact the environment and real people. But why do we have to? Why don’t manufacturers and retailers put more thought into their processes or put more consideration into the lives at stake, both of their workers and the world around them? Why are we as a society so invested in being constantly with the trends, despite the fact they change so rapidly? Maybe it is the fault of those at the top. There are a select few people at the height of the fast fashion chain who are profiting immensely at the expense of everyone below them. Their employees, the consumers and even the world are levels under their control, and they want us to know that. We are left to feel like there is nothing we can do, as those in control feel unreachable and unstoppable. But bringing them down comes in steps. Whether you buy secondhand more or simply shop less, there are so many places to start.

For those looking to becoming more educated on the global effects of fast fashion and the garment industry as a whole, a good starting point is the Fashion Transparency Index, which reviews and outlines the statistics of 250 brands, covering five main categories: policies & commitments, governance, supply chain traceability, know, show & fix and spotlight issues. To put the global fashion industry into perspective, the average overall score by brands is 23/100. One of the things I personally noticed in my research of the index was that many brands choose one element to hyperfixate on, pushing all their donations and advertising efforts onto things such as their water usage, employee diversity and equality, fabric waste or material quality. This shows false care from the brands, as it lures consumers into a sense of security that their brand is helping the world, when in reality, they are not.