"As fast fashion becomes a more everyday part of life, it has a long history and a big impact on earth" -SImon Grembek, ninth grade
Fast fashion brands such as Romwe, Shein, Temu, Wish, Forever 21, H&M, Fashion Nova, Hot Topic, GAP, Cider, Zara, and UNIQLO are everywhere. Fast fashion is cheap, poorly made clothing mostly for trends and made in bulk, often unethically, and quickly to meet demand. Fast fashion companies commonly under pay workers and have unhealthy work environments.
Fast fashion began in the 1990s. But in the past around the 1800s to the mid 1900s most people would buy fabric and have that fabric tailored to their size by a tailor. ¹ The customer could change the fabric when they needed something new, so they wasted a lot less fabric. In the past making clothes and fabric was harder so people would buy less of it due to it being more money, and having less textile waste. But around the late 1980s fast fashion began to grow – in the USA, fast fashion was coined in New York in the 1990s. ²
Currently fast fashion is at an all time high, making the companies a lot of money and making them continue to be able to hire a lot of people and pay and treat them poorly. Fast fashion brands are all over the place and since they are so cheap, you feel inclined to buy it at such low costs, which can play into how fast fashion trends come and go.
The problem is that fast fashion is boldly affecting climate change. There are islands that are covered in wasted clothes, so if we don’t do something about it we will be having a Wall-E 2.0. You might not see the impact fast fashion has first hand, but do your research before making your decisions, and learn about what companies you are supporting. Look at other places in the world who are being more boldly impacted by pollution, and textile wastage and look how you can shop more ethically.
You can prevent textile wastage and supporting fast fashion brands by:
Fast fashion began in the 1990s. But in the past around the 1800s to the mid 1900s most people would buy fabric and have that fabric tailored to their size by a tailor. ¹ The customer could change the fabric when they needed something new, so they wasted a lot less fabric. In the past making clothes and fabric was harder so people would buy less of it due to it being more money, and having less textile waste. But around the late 1980s fast fashion began to grow – in the USA, fast fashion was coined in New York in the 1990s. ²
Currently fast fashion is at an all time high, making the companies a lot of money and making them continue to be able to hire a lot of people and pay and treat them poorly. Fast fashion brands are all over the place and since they are so cheap, you feel inclined to buy it at such low costs, which can play into how fast fashion trends come and go.
The problem is that fast fashion is boldly affecting climate change. There are islands that are covered in wasted clothes, so if we don’t do something about it we will be having a Wall-E 2.0. You might not see the impact fast fashion has first hand, but do your research before making your decisions, and learn about what companies you are supporting. Look at other places in the world who are being more boldly impacted by pollution, and textile wastage and look how you can shop more ethically.
You can prevent textile wastage and supporting fast fashion brands by:
- wearing your clothes as many times as you can
- repairing tears and stains when you can
- buying clothes that you know you will wear a lot, not just for the trend
- donating clothing when you can to thrift shops or friends and family
- But, given thrifting has become popular amongst people who are able to afford new expensive clothes, the prices have gone up; so if you are able to afford shopping first hand, then shop first hand.
