Lila Simmons
The fast fashion industry is one of the global leading industries in present-day society. Fast fashion can be described as the mass production of clothing based on runway trends. Some of the leading corporations in the industry include Zara, Forever21, Shien, and H&M. This mass production happens rapidly and very often for the corporations involved. Though it is great for these companies to produce clothing quickly, the ways in which these items are created are not the most ethical. The production of clothing through the fast fashion model results in pollution and waste for the environment. In addition to this, it’s nearly impossible to avoid shopping in fast fashion, as social media advertisements play a significant role in the marketing standpoint of this industry as well. The constant “outfit of the day” videos and clothing hauls influence us to buy what we see more often.
But how are these clothes actually made? I wondered this for a long time until I actually looked into it- how were the clothes I was wearing and purchasing being created? Since the clothing is sold at low prices and is mass-produced, it is made in inexpensive ways to compensate for this model. The clothing is often mass-produced in factories that have harmful working conditions, and exploitative processes-which is an issue in it itself. Along with this, the clothing is made from cheap synthetic fabrics. This keeps the costs low but has other detrimental effects.
Since this model relies on rapid production, it also often results in rapid disposal. The model has created a way of shopping that glamorizes buying the latest trends for the lowest price the issue is, that they are trends. Trends come and go as well all know, and not all trends are for everybody. This is one reason why we must alter our fashion approach. With people less regularly purchasing trendy items that will soon go out of style and be disposed of, they will invest in better quality pieces that promote their personal style. The disposal of fast fashion products creates excess clothing waste that eventually just ends up in landfills. People often discard their clothes, rather than donate them to a local consignment which we should promote more regularly. Landfills lead to water and soil pollution. The decomposition of the textiles often produces harmful gasses into the air, and the dyes from the fabric then seep into the soil. These negative environmental effects must be stopped in order to save our planet from more harm.
One way we can change this model is by changing our consumption methods to a slow fashion approach. Slow fashion includes thrift shopping, which is very popular, especially here in Burlington, Vermont. By thrifting more often, clothes will be reused and given a second life. This minimizes overall waste that the fashion industry is omitting and has several other benefits as well. Thrift shopping allows you to discover one-of-a-kind pieces, that will in turn help you discover your personal style. I urge you all to consider these impacts the next time you walk into a Zara store. Think before you buy, because it truly makes a difference.