Why Fast Fashion is TRASH

Fast fashion fuels a hidden cycle of exploitation and environmental destruction. “The human and environmental health risks associated with inexpensive clothing are hidden throughout the lifecycle of each garment. 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” (Bick et al.).

The damage does not end with production. Hobson reports that approximately 85 percent of the clothing Americans consume—nearly 3.8 billion pounds annually—is sent to landfills, amounting to about 80 pounds per person each year (Hobson). These discarded textiles contribute to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and a growing global waste crisis.

Despite growing awareness of these issues, the industry continues to expand. Niinimäki and colleagues note that “despite the widely publicized environmental impacts, however, the industry continues to grow, in part due to the rise of fast fashion, which relies on cheap manufacturing, frequent consumption and short-lived garment use” (Niinimäki et al.).

Rejecting fast fashion means rejecting this cycle of harm. These industries need our money to continue what they do! We have the power to dismantle these systems by choosing locally made, fair-trade, second-hand, and recycled goods.

Sources 

Bick, Rachel, Erika M. Halsey, and Christine C. Ekenga. “The Global Environmental Injustice of Fast Fashion.” Environmental Health, vol. 17, no. 92, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7.

Hobson, J., To die for? The health and safety of fast fashion. 2013, Oxford University Press UK.

Niinimäki, Kirsi, Greg Peters, Helena Dahlbo, Patsy Perry, Timo Rissanen, Alison Gwilt, et al. “The Environmental Price of Fast Fashion.” Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, vol. 1, 2020, pp. 189–200, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9.