Fast fashion is revealing itself to be a major component of waste in the world. Producing cheap, stylish, and affordable clothing is profitable, but takes a toll on the earth’s well-being. Two major companies that promote fast fashion are Shein, a Singapore-based company, and most recently, Temu, a Chinese-based marketplace for cheap items.
With current growth rates, the apparel industry’s carbon footprint is expected to increase by 50%, which has major implications. Carbon footprints are only half of the impact of this modernity. Nearly 2 million tons of clothing waste is produced annually by the world, but this number is predicted to exponentially increase to 134 million tons by the end of the decade. Not all of this clothing waste makes it into landfills, as 10 percent of ocean-bound microplastics come from the fast fashion market. Real-world impacts are being felt as this becomes commonplace in the fashion industry.
Even though fast fashion heavily influences the environment, it is affordable and accessible. Expanding affordability to people in need is required for a better future. Fast fashion promotes self-expression and new clothing designers. Prior to this, trendy clothing was not available for low-income families who needed modern clothing.
Modern actions require modern solutions, and fast fashion is considered to be a band-aid for a greater issue at hand. As consumer bases grow, this industry is promoted and has a direct relationship. Cheap clothing is widely available for families because the true cost is placed upon the environment.
Sources:
https://earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste/
https://richardsonbay.audubon.org/news/growth-fast-fashion-and-why-it-needs-stop (photo source)