As the fast fashion industry looks to capitalize on the latest trends, consumers are often unwittingly contributing to an unsustainable and ultimately harmful cycle. Fast fashion has become a term synonymous with fast-changing trends and low-cost apparel, but what’s the real cost of this industry? It’s time we rethink our consumer habits and take a closer look at the true impact of fast fashion.
1. Fast Fashion: From a Necessary Evil to an Excessive Luxury
Once upon a time, fast fashion was seen as a necessary evil. The cost-effective items were seen as the answer to the public’s need for constant wardrobe updates and trend-led pieces, without breaking the bank. But, as our obsession with fashion increases, so too does the cost of these items, and people are no longer able to buy what they want when they want it. Fast fashion is no longer an affordable necessity, it has become an excessive luxury.
- The sheer quantity of clothes now available makes it difficult to know where to start. Options range from jeans and T-shirts to ever-changing runway trends – making it hard for the average person to keep up.
- The new trend of “see-now, buy-now” collections is pushing the boundaries of fashion consumption to a new level. The influence of social media has allowed celebrities and influencers to set the newest trends, creating a feeling of urgency for consumers who want to be part of the trend.
Moreover, the global market for luxury fashion has also been increasing over the years. Consumers are no longer interested in fast-fashion pieces, and now prefer designer labels or custom-made goods. This has caused a shift in the fashion industry, and luxury fashion is now increasingly sought after.
The need for fast fashion may no longer be there, but the desire for luxury still remains. Luxury fashion has become a status symbol for many, and with the rising cost of living, it’s no wonder that people are willing to invest in pieces that they believe will last them a lifetime. The industry now has to work hard to keep up with the changing tastes and trends of their consumers, in order to stay relevant in the ever-evolving fashion world.
2. Understanding the Impact of Fast Fashion on Society
State of Clothes
As nearly everyone has heard by now, fast fashion is having a major impact on our society. The production of cheap clothing has boomed, with new collections rolling out at an ever speedy rate. This allows customers to buy inexpensively and frequently, but what’s the cost to our environment and society?
Environmental Impact
The consequences of fast fashion go beyond just financials – there is a huge environmental cost in the creation of inexpensive clothing. Clothing production is water intensive and releases thousands of chemicals into waterways, polluting our groundwater. Further, with a grow-and-chuck mentality, garment waste is added to our landfills, further contributing to environmental degradation.
Societal Impact
Fast fashion not only affects the environment, but it alters societies on a larger level as well. It’s been seen to create unfair labor conditions for many garment workers around the world. Wages can be low, working hours are long and safety regulations are often not followed.
What’s more, fast fashion has pushed how consumers think about clothing, creating a culture of disposability and an ever increasing pile of unwanted garments. While offering the instant gratification of buying new garments, this consumer mindset is having an adverse effect on our society.
The impacts of fast fashion on both our environment and society are undeniable. We need to be aware of this change and find practices that can make our world better.
3. Steps to Reduce Fast Fashion’s Impact and Change Habits
Fast fashion has developed a reputation of being a large and unsustainable industry, but there are ways to reduce its negative impacts and even enjoy the latest trends in a more ethical way. Here are three steps for a more sustainable approach:
- Understand the true cost of fast fashion. It is easy to forget that the items you’re buying from fast fashion stores don’t just come with a price tag – from their production through to their disposal, they come at a much larger environmental cost. With this in mind, take a step back and examine the necessity of each purchase.
- Shop sustainably. Shop from independent labels and second-hand stores such as charity shops, vintage stores or online pre-owned markets. Buying pre-loved clothing is a great way to reduce the demand placed on the fast fashion industry and helping the environment.
- Take care of your clothes. Make sure you look after the clothes you buy, so you can wear them for longer. Exactly how you care for them depends on the fabric, so knowing what your pieces are made from will allow you to minimize the number of items you have to replace.
Making small changes to your daily habits can drastically reduce fast fashion’s impact. Following these three steps and shopping with the environment in mind is one of the most effective ways to reduce our reliance on this destructive industry.
4. Mindful Fashion Shopping: Re-evaluating Needs Versus Wants
Learning to be mindful of our fashion shopping habits is one of the greatest ways to be responsible with our environmental, financial, and emotional resources. To do so, we must re-evaluate our needs versus our wants when shopping and be open to making adjustments to our shopping habits.
- Start with a game plan. Take a few moments to assess what you need and what you want. Make a list and prioritize items, starting with the most essential needs. This helps keep focus, provides direction, and eliminates the temptation of making impulse purchases.
- Pause at the checkout counter. Buying something online or in a store can feel like a fleeting transaction. Take a moment to pause and revisit the items you’re buying. Why are you buying them? Do you truly need them? Is the momentary pleasure worth the long-term cost to your wallet and the environment?
Re-evaluating needs and wants takes practice, but it’s worth it. If we can become aware of what we are buying and why, we can start to build intentional, mindful habits that are better for both us and the planet.
Let’s begin our journey of mindful fashion shopping and discover how rewarding it can be.
5. The Long-Term Benefits of Sustainability: Shifting Fast Fashion from its Current Norm
Fast fashion has become the norm in the world today. Since the turn of the century, this form of clothing has grown exponentially. According to a report in 2019, 84 million tons of clothing were thrown away in the same year. And in 2020, the clothing industry has grown even more thanks to new technologies and innovations that make it easier to produce clothing more quickly for a cheaper price.
However, the environmental cost of fast fashion has become increasingly obvious. Factory workers are exposed to harsh working conditions. Chemicals used in the manufacturing process threaten the well-being of factory workers and the environment. Additionally, the sheer rate of production for these clothing items results in a heavy amount of waste.
Fortunately, adopting sustainability practices within the fast fashion industry can lessen the negative impacts. This can be done by creating clothes that are durable, and that do not become out of fashion, ensuring that they remain in production for longer periods. Additionally, using recycled materials & upcycling existing fabric can give many used garment items a second life. These practices have several long-term environmental benefits:
- Reduced Pollution – The lowering of the rate of production and the use of eco-friendly materials can reduce pollution in the atmosphere and decrease the damage done from landfills.
- More Quality Products – Quality trumps quantity. Sustainable fashion ensures that clothes are made with highly durable fabric and components, making them last for a longer period of time.
- Encouraging Education – By creating sustainability practices, the consumers are encouraged to learn about their environmental impact and make changes to their shopping habits.
Incorporating practices and policies that prioritize sustainability can bring a much-needed shift in the fashion industry. It is up to fashion producers to set an example by taking responsibility for their actions and changing the way they design and manufacture clothes. On a collective level, this shift can help to reduce environmental damage and benefit all stakeholders.
We can all play our part in decreasing the negative impacts of fast fashion by choosing to support slow fashion brands, engaging with eco-friendly materials, and rethinking our consumption habits. By consciously considering the full life cycle of our clothing, from production to purchase to post-consumer, we can help lay the foundations for a better, greener future.
