3 Problems With Fast Fashion
You Can't Ignore
Fast fashion is an industry widely known around the world, but not enough know that fast fashion has grave consequences both on the environment and the people in the industry.
But what actually is fast fashion, and what kinds of harm does it bring?
This article will try to enlighten you about the fast fashion industry and what is wrong with it. Its continuous production could negatively affect the environment and more.
What Is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion is a business model followed by some of the most popular clothing brands worldwide. In this model, the brands use cheap materials and inexpensive labour to produce clothing collections at fast paces. They make each collection trendy, and in most cases, sell these products at a low price point.
With this definition, you might be asking what the problem is with fast fashion since, as a consumer, everything mentioned benefits you. But if you look deeper into the processes behind it, you would be surprised about the types of problems it brings.
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The Negative Impacts That Fast Fashion Brings
#1: Inhumane Working Conditions
It’s likely that most of the clothes in your closet are made in countries with limited or non-existent laws for protecting workers' rights. Many clothing companies take advantage of this to produce fashion at a dirt cheap rate, thus maximising their margins and profits.
Companies often make job provision an excuse for this inhumane practice, but it is a way of exploiting these people's human rights. The low and unlivable salary the workers receive, the hazardous working conditions they experience daily, child labour, and gender discrimination are just some things fast fashion workers are subjected to.
#2: The Problematic Production Process
Creating a clothing collection is not as simple as waiting for the seamstress to bring your design to life. The process involves working with different suppliers, including sourcing raw materials, producing the garments, adding finishing touches, and transporting them to different parts of the world.
Companies in the fast fashion industry speed up these steps, widening their carbon footprint and sometimes not knowing what kind of processes their materials go through—with no consideration about whether these processes are sustainable or not.
#3: Environmental Impact
The fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world, and it continuously grows. Therefore, its environmental impact constantly evolves too. Here are some ways it affects the environment
• The toxic waste from textiles gets dumped into rivers, bringing harm to aquatic life and public health.
• A considerable amount of water and other resources are needed to produce cotton and other raw materials for the textiles.
• Harmful chemicals are one of the main components of cloth creation. Chemicals are used in dyeing and bleaching garments, which could harm the workers' health and the planet.
• The fashion industry brings microfibre pollution. Plenty of organisms ingest these tiny microfibres - you included.
• There is no proper disposal for these clothing items. Since they are made from cheap materials, they get worn out easily and discarded. On average, only 15% of these produced clothes are recycled or donated. Others go directly to landfills.
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Conclusion
These are only some of the problems brought by the fast fashion industry. Still, there are better alternatives you can choose to improve the situation.
Supporting local products can reduce carbon emissions from the transportation of goods. Choosing companies that prioritise sustainability could ensure that all your goods benefit the environment and the people who make your clothes.
More importantly, buying less and better quality clothes would make sure your purchase does not go to immediate waste.
If you are interested in buying ethical clothing in Melbourne - such as sustainable sleepwear, swimwear, and more - check out Stride today. We are Australia's go-to destination for sustainable fashion and beauty.
At Stride, you can support conscious businesses that make the world a better place!