The Impacts of Fast Fashion and Over-Consumerism

While we fill our closets with clothes we may never wear, fast fashion contributes eight to 10 percent of waste globally. Being able to buy clothes with just the click of a button at lower prices than those in regular stores—the accessibility of fast fashion—causes immediate issues such as global warming. These popular online brands like Zara and Forever 21 are contributors to one major problem: over-consumerism. Although the fast fashion industry focuses on making clothing costs widely accessible, this has detrimental effects on the environment. Frequently buying unnecessary items exemplifies the trend of over-consumerism, evidenced by the popularity of brands such as Temu and Shein. Both draw in customers with cheap accessories that someone can win in a spin-the-wheel type mobile game, only for them to be hooked on buying cheap goods. These products aren’t manufactured to be used long term; rather, they are produced for consumers to have a single rush of pleasure and excitement. 

The rise of fast purchases existed long before these apps, dating back to the 1970s, where western companies extorted Asian countries for cheaper labor costs. Eventually, in the 1990s, the term “fast fashion” was coined to describe Zara’s goal in sending designs and getting them in stores in two weeks. Today, much of the Global South produces clothing for popular companies. However, the fast fashion industry, driven by consumerism, has many victims. Workers in China and India have little to no protections, which permits the mass production of goods without proper pay and safety regulations. Nearly 50 million people are victims of such labor exploitation. H&M factories in Asia reported sexual harassment and violence towards women, and in the Guangzhou Shein factories, workers are paid less than five dollars hourly along with lax regulations on disease control. In addition, during the Syrian refugee crisis, brands such as Spencer and Zara used Syrian refugees to produce clothing in large Turkish factories. Child workers were paid less than one British pound ($1.32). Children are often seen as better candidates for labor because they are more capable than older workers. Often, these children are exposed to harmful chemicals, which may lead to death due to the severity of mechanical injuries. This mistreatment traps workers with little to no pay to produce clothing in merely a few days. 

Excessive consumerism can also have detrimental effects on the environment. According to the BBC, one T-shirt can take up to 2,700 liters of water to produce; pants take up 10,000 liters. Not only do these fast fashion brands use excessive amounts of water, but they also pollute waterways. Dyeing textiles is the second largest cause of pollution in the world. Furthermore, the cheap clothing and items produced are made of inexpensive pollutants like nylon, polyester, and acrylic. These materials do not naturally degrade, and they introduce microplastics to soil, killing not only land ecosystems but also aquatic ones. In addition, the production of such materials requires large amounts of petroleum, which further harms the planet. The cheapness of these materials incentivizes large companies to use tacky fabrics instead of actually attempting to use biodegradable or eco-friendly materials. Sadly, the truth is that biodegradable products are often more expensive; sometimes, the green way can cost much more. 

Although fast fashion is appealing, especially to low income communities, accessibility should not come at the cost of environmental harm. Fast fashion damages the planet and the lives of others. There isn’t a straightforward way to combat an industry that is built upon mass production. However, one way is to be mindful of what you buy. For instance, the U.N. has launched the Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, which serves as a way to combat and provide alternatives to fast fashion. Slow fashion is a term used to contrast fast fashion; essentially, slow fashion is cheaper and sustainable. Buy from eco-friendly, ethical clothing brands, such as Kotn, an Egyptian cotton-based clothing company that creates their garments in a safe and fair environment. Not only should we be mindful of what we get, but the government should also increase efforts to regulate harmful industries like fast fashion. While this issue might not be a priority to local or federal governments, acknowledging and creating change through reducing reliance on big brands could help sustainable brands thrive. Buying less and donating used clothing are all ways you can prevent clothing waste and help protect the environment. So, before purchasing something, think about if you really need it.