Four Facts about Fast Fashion
According to a survey conducted by the Fashion Checker website, has 93 % of the 312 companies examined found to not be paying their garment workers a living wage. Notable companies in this reports include, Burberry, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Fjalraven and several others (Fashion Checker, n.d.).
The garment industry has been reported as the third largest manufacturing sector globally (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2019).
The rise of ‘’haul’’ videos on social media is contributing to an increased consumption and the sale of fast fashion (Lin, 2022).
Reports announce the fashion industry ranks as the second largest consumer of water and was responsible for contributing 2-8 % of global carbon emissions in 2019 (UN environment prgramme, 2019).
Fast Fashion is a widely recognized term, and while many know this term, only few understand the consequences of Fast Fashion. In our consumer-oriented society, has Fast Fashion become a ubiquitous concept, representing the rapid creation, production, and sales of clothing within an accelerating fashion system that follows trends and tries to keep up with the ever-changing fashion industry. While consumers understandably seek convenient and affordability in their attire, does many not realize the darker aspects behind fashion, which is a subject that is often overlooked. This blog post aims to explore forgotten aspects of fast fashion, shed light on its consequences, and provide guidance on how consumers can make more informed conscious choices regarding their clothing.
Environmental impact
Waste and overconsumption
Trends emerge as a consequence of the spending habits collectively created by the general public in their pursuit of the fashionable. Over the years, trends have evolved significantly, becoming more intricately calculated in order to stimulate sales (Anguelov, 2015, p. 1). There has been a notable shift from the traditional approach of seasonal wear dictating clothing collection, to trends determining the timing of new clothing releases. This shift has led to increased consumption fostering a culture of overconsumption, where people are purchasing more clothing than before (Anguelov, 2015, p. 2).
Resource depletion and Chemical Pollution
The low prices are determined by cost-efficient production. To secure the position of being the cheapest option on the market, manufacturers must consistently control and minimize their production expenses (Anguelov, 2015, p. 2). Another aspect of the environmental impacts lies in the chemical pollution generated doing the clothing manufacturing and the textiles used. The utilization of energy, chemicals, and water used in this process has a significant impact on the enviroment resulting in contribution to resource depletion. Furthermore, a substantial portion of Fast Fashion clothing is crafted from synthetic fibers which is challenges biodegradability due to the high levels of embedded plastic fibers (The University of Queensland, Australia, n.d.).
Human Rights Concerns
The pursuit of cost efficiency in fashion has led to significant social cost. This includes the ulitization of low cost labor, people being compensated for their ability to work rather than the actual value of their labor. This often translates into long working hours, low wages and weak labor laws, all within unsafe working conditions (Anguelov, 2015, p. 3).
In a tragic incident in 2013, a garment factory was reported as the deadliest disaster in history, resulting in the death of 1.133 people and many injured. It was a low-cost factory in Bangladesh called Rana Plaza which companies like Mango, Primark and Walmart outsourced their production to, in order to have a low-cost factory. Also upscale brands like Armani and Michael Kors were known for outsourcing their production to this factory. The dependence on human labor makes it possible for such tragedies. And as said above, these workers were only paid for their ability to work rather than the actual work they did. De-spite the workers attempt to notify and highlight the unsafe working conditions, were they met with threats of job loss and income deprivation. Instead they led a tragic fate (Hoskins). This is only one of the stories of Human Rights Concerns.
Critics argue that the promotion of Fast Fashion is unethical, pointing to the lack of transparency in many companies. Giant retailers like H&M and Zara are offering inexpensive clothing that looks expensive, yet their production is outsourced to cheaper countries low-cost labor and poverty (Anguelov, 2015, p. 3). Zara had an almost 13 billion net worth for 2022, suggesting that these companies possess the finiancial capacity to reasonably pay their workers and ensure fair treatment (Sabanoglu, 2022).
The consequences
Not only are there environmental consequences to Fast Fashion but there are also social jeopardizing people’s lives and causing physical and mental harm.
Fast Fashion perpetuates overconsumption and unethical practices with low-cost products keeping buyers interested establishes a problematic system.
The use of low-quality materials and chemicals in Fast Fashion diminishes the lifespan of the clothing leading to increased waste. This poses a significant challenge since it is often difficult to biodegrade.
What you can do
Buy less clothing, but instead consider your choice when buying. Opt for durable fabrics and avoid purchasing items that will only be worn a few times.
Support sustainable brands that prioritize environmental responsibility. Look for transparency in their production process.
Embrace secondhand and vintage shopping as an affordable and sustainable alternative. Rather than encouraging overconsumption, it should invite you to declutter your closet, do-nate the clothing you don’t wear and buy something you would wear.
Educate yourself and learn more about how to shop sustainable, inform yourself with the issues connected to the fashion industry and strive to minimize your negative impact on the enviroment and people.
Advocate for change by supporting fair labour practices.
Bibliography
Anguelov, N. (2015). From Fashion to Fast Fashion. I N. Anguelov, The Dirty Side of the Garment Industry: Fast Fashion and Its Negative Impact on Environment and Society (s. 1-19). CRC Press.
Fashion Checker. (n.d.). Are the people who make your clothing paid enough to live on? Retrieved October 3, 2023, from Fashion Checker: https://fashionchecker.org/
Hoskins, T. E. (u.d.). I Stitched up: The anti-capitalist book of fashion (s. 68-70). Pluto Press.
House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. (2019, February 19). Introduction - fashion & sustainability. House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee.
Lin, A. (2022, August 5). Earth Day. Retrieved Oktober 7, 2023, from Fashion for the Earth: Driven to shop: The psychology of fast fashion: https://www.earthday.org/driven-to-shop-the-psychology-of-fast-fashion/
Sabanoglu, T. (2022, September 28). Zara's brand value worldwide from 2016 to 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from Statista: https://www.statista.com/statistics/980126/brand-value-of-zara-worldwide/
The University of Queensland, Australia. (n.d.). Sustainability: Fast fashion quick to cause environmental havoc. Retrieved October 10, 2023, from The University of Queensland, Australia: https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/projects/recycling-and-waste-minimisation/fast-fashion-quick-cause-environmental-havoc
UN environment prgramme. (2019, March 14). Retrieved October 4, 2023, from UN Alliance For Sustainable Fashion addresses damage of ‘fast fashion: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-alliance-sustainable-fashion-addresses-damage-fast-fashion