Fast fashion corporations such as SHEIN, Temu, H&M, and Zara contribute significantly to the growing environmental crisis we’re experiencing. Generating massive waste in landfills, fast fashion materials are responsible for an estimated 10% of global carbon emissions. Their production accelerates water depletion and contaminates freshwater systems through dyeing, chemical runoff and overproduction.
At the same time, many of these companies have been criticized for relying on exploitative labor practices, including unsafe working conditions, extremely low wages, and, in some cases, forced labor or slavery. The consumers’ demand for ultra-cheap, rapidly produced clothing often comes at the expense of both the planet and the people.
Fast fashion became prominent in the 90s, quickly building circulation. Vogue, a notorious American fashion magazine explains, “on the most basic level, fast fashion is quickly produced trends that are sold at low price points.”
While the concept of providing affordable products and trends is inherently justified, fast fashion is one of the most socially and environmentally harmful industries today; and also one of the biggest industries today. SHEIN has dwarfed its competitors with 88.8 million users recorded in 2023. The multi-billion dollar company has only continued to grow as of February 2026.
Environmental Concerns: Pollution, Emissions & Water Consumption
Fast fashion and quick-paced trends have created a culture around wearing clothing articles only a handful of times, and decreasing recycling. According to Carbon Literacy, it’s believed that 95% of clothing sent to landfills could be re-worn or upcycled.
Once clothes have been discarded, 66% of textiles are sent to landfills in the U.S, where fast fashion products, primarily made of cheap textile materials like polyester and nylon, can take up to 200 years to decompose. In comparison, traditional natural-fiber clothing like cotton and wool decomposes in a few months to a few years. The International Union for Conservation of Nature reported that 35% of all microplastics in the ocean originate from synthetic textiles like polyester.
Given that the broader fashion industry is responsible for 8-10 % of global carbon emissions, which is more than international flights and maritime shipping combined, the emissions associated with polyester-rich waste represents a deeply detrimental contribution to climate change.
In addition to its climate impacts, the fast fashion model is an extreme consumer of freshwater resources, placing immense strain on water systems worldwide. The fashion industry uses an estimated 93 billion cubic meters of water annually, equivalent to what is used for the entire agriculture sector of many countries, and it produces around 20% of global industrial wastewater. This is due to dyeing, finishing, and other textile treatments. One cotton t-shirt can require approximately 2,700 liters of water; enough for one person to drink for 2.5 years. Beyond sheer volume, much of this water becomes polluted with toxic chemicals, contributing to water quality degradation and ecosystem harm.
Forced Labor & Human Rights Abuse
Forced labor can consist of reduced pay, preventing workers from leaving, and forced overtime, which often exceeds legal limits without rest or breaks. This is a repetitive feature within SHEIN’s supply chain and manufacturing system. A 2019-2025 report interviewing 50+ employees and conducting on-the-ground investigations concluded the following:
According to China Labor Watch, “the report reveals a culture of relying on underpaid, overworked migrant workers – some reportedly earning 7 cents per garment – in informal garment workshops across Guangzhou’s urban villages. Operating with little oversight, informal workshops support SHEIN in meeting its production needs, fueling the platform’s ultra-fast fashion model.”
The report also emphasized that SHEIN is at risk of sourcing from Xinjiang textile companies for the global market outside of the U.S.
Xinjiang’s government was found to be imposing slave labor and other human rights violations on Muslim minority groups, mainly Uyghurs. As a result, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was signed into law in 2021, strengthening U.S. prohibitions against importing goods made with forced labor in China, specifically targeting the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. While SHEIN has allegedly abided by this law in the U.S. markets, the same cannot be said for the rest of their international business.
“The online fashion seller Shein has refused to reassure British MPs that its products do not include cotton produced in the Xinjiang region of China,” reported The Guardian.
Ultimately, the success of fast fashion giants like SHEIN is built on speed and affordability, but sustained through the exploitation of vulnerable workers.This demonstrates how the fast fashion model prioritizes profit and efficiency at the expense of human rights, raising serious ethical concerns about its sustainability.
Call to Action
Now if you’re reading this, you’ve finished this article and are aware of the harm caused by many purchases within the fast fashion industry. This raises an important question: how much responsibility can we place on these companies without also holding consumers accountable? With this awareness comes a burden of knowledge and a moral obligation to consider the impact of our choices.
So, the next time you’re considering a SHEIN haul or an affordable off-brand bag, explore some alternative low-cost options instead. Shopping secondhand at local thrift stores or online platforms like Depop can significantly reduce your impact. Supporting local businesses or researching reliable brands that align with your personal style are also great steps. Challenge yourself to find new ways to style existing clothing or recycle items by donating them to programs like Goodwill or the Salvation Army, ensuring they continue to serve a purpose rather than contributing to waste.