Isn’t it all too good to be true? All these stores selling cool, trendy clothing you could buy with your loose change, wear a handful of times, and then throw away. Welcome to the world of fast fashion. What is fast fashion, one might ask. The idea is to get the newest styles on the market as fast as possible, so shoppers can snap them up while they are still at the height of their popularity, and then, sadly, discard them after a few wears. It plays into the idea that outfit repeating is a fashion faux pas, and that if you want to stay relevant, you must sport the latest looks as they happen. It forms a key part of the toxic system of overproduction and consumption that has made fashion one of the largest polluters in the world. What we do not see on the fully stocked clothing racks of these fast fashion brands are the toxic work ethics, labor exploitation and environmental damage that are by products of this ‘culture’. It is the second most polluting industry, right after Oil. Globally, 80 billion pieces of new clothing are purchased each year, translating into $1.2 trillion annually for the fashion industry, according to the study published in ‘Environmental Health’. From the growth of water-intensive cotton, to the release of untreated dyes into local water sources, to worker’s low wages and poor working conditions, the environmental and social costs involved in textile manufacturing are widespread. Increased consumption patterns have created millions of ton of textile waste in landfills and unregulated settings. This is particularly applicable to low- and middle-income countries as much of this waste ends up in secondhand clothing markets, according to the study. These countries often lack the supports and resources necessary to develop and enforce environmental and occupational safeguards to protect human health. Fast fashion companies also exploit their overseas workers, especially young and underage women, to maximize profits. These women work long hours with minimal pay and they work in unsafe working conditions, in order to make a living. Not only do these workers get paid measly wages, but they are also subjected to dangerous working conditions with no benefits or protection. There are instances throughout history, such as when the Rana Plaza workshop collapsed in 2013 killing over 1000 workers. The combination of working long hours, underpayment and extremely unsafe conditions are just some ways companies exploit their workers. And this exploitation is just another one of the negative effects of fast fashion.
So, what do we do? opt for SUSTAINABLE FASHION instead. It refers to clothing that is designed, manufactured, distributed, and used in ways that are environmentally
friendly. Ethical fashion, a related term that is also prevalent in the conscious consumerism world, refers to clothing made in ways that value social welfare and worker rights. Sure, they look expensive compared to fast fashion brands but down the line, the fewer, more staple and versatile clothes you buy, the lesser your expenses will be after one point in time. It is not a one-day change. It is a revolution that must be brought about by each one of us, every single day of our lives by choosing to not buy the sweats and tears of the exploited environment and fellow humans. A few brands in India like GAP, Mango and Levi’s have started taking measures to promote sustainable and secondhand clothing options. For cheaper options, you can always go thrifting.
If any of this does not jerk you back to reality, the Instagram influencers are doing it so hurry, catch onto the trend! 😉
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