What is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion is nothing but the reflection of the rat race, and people are willing to run for the sake of being relevant to the short-span fashion trends.
By definition, it is the rapid mass production of cheap clothing items inspired by the attires being showcased on the runway by the designers.
It is an output of following “celebrity culture” since the outfit worn by celebrities are considered the latest trend.
Brands take inspiration from the new designs showcased by famous fashion designers and materialize those inspirations into wearable garments faster than the speed of light at a low price.
The strategy is to bring trendy, high-end fashion outfits to the market at a faster pace.
This will ensure that consumers get their hands on them while they are considered trendy and hence relevant for the time being.
And the saddest part, these clothes are thrown away once the trend changes.
As the trend changes at the snap of a finger, consumers usually wear such clothes only a few times. Unlike before, when the clothes used to be worn till one either outgrew them or damaged them.
Fast fashion has brought a significant change in consumer behavior. Earlier, shopping for clothes- was an event that occurred a few times a year.
On the contrary.
In present times, shopping for clothing is more like a hobby or a pastime.
All this culminates in the toxic system of overproduction and consumption that has made the fashion industry one of the world’s largest polluters.
The Impact of Fast Fashion
Everything around us has a positive and negative impact.
Below we have discussed the pros and cons impact of fast fashion.
Let's read..
The Good Side
After having a basic knowledge of Fast Fashion, you might be wondering can it has a bright side too.
Well, to your surprise, it does.
Mass Production
The mass production aspect of Fast Fashion is a blessing to the people of the country where the unemployment rate is high.
This mass-production branch of the fast Fashion Tree gives rise to a healthy twig of employment generation. This twig contributes significantly to the lives of many.
Affordability
Apart from lighting up the homes of many, the other significant contribution of Fast Fashion is the affordability of trendy clothes.
In an era where people are being outcasts for being oblivious to the latest fashion trends, it is believed to be a necessity to afford trendy clothes.
This grim reality of today forces people to upgrade their wardrobes with the latest trends. And here, affordability becomes a gigantic hurdle.
Luckily for fashionistas, Fast Fashion has removed that hurdle.
The Bad Side
Hitherto, you are very much aware of the cons side.
However, there is more to it.
Environmental Impact
Image Source: https://phys.org/
This Fast Fashion trend has given rise to the throw-away culture.
The access to cheap casual clothing in the market resulted in buying a new piece of clothing on impulse and discarding the ones no longer ‘on trend.’
The behavior of discarding clothes at the pace they are being bought has generated the issue of disposing of such large amounts of clothes faster.
As a result, these discarded clothes become waste that is getting accumulated in landfills.
Hence altering soil quality and ultimately polluting the environment.
Harming Animals
Besides the environment, animals are also the victim of this culture.
It refers to the accumulation of toxins in an animal's body at a higher level of the food chain when they consume a lower-level animal containing toxins.
The accumulation goes on and has a devastating effect on the entire food chain.
Unsustainable Practice
The unhindered continuous clothing production is utilizing natural resources, including non-renewable ones, faster.
For example, the cotton fibers used to make clothing are acquired based on cotton cultivation.
The amount that could last longer is now being used and discarded earlier than expected.
Exploiting Workers
On the one hand, Fast Fashion is a boon to unemployed people.
However, on the other, it is a bane.
The workers working hard at the neck break speed are underpaid. The insufficient compensation forces them to work round the clock.
And such a work situation is an example of employee exploitation.
Should it Concern You?
After getting aware of all the impacts, this culture has on our society and our environment, shaking your conscience and asking this question is crucial.
As a part of the planet, should you not be?
What is the Way Out?
If there exists a problem, there exists a solution.
The best solution to avoid such devastating effects of modern trends is to contemplate and ask questions like,
Does Fast fashion gives you, as a consumer, satisfaction or make you longing for more?
Though affordable, isn’t Fast Fashion making your expense go sky-high?
Right?
Break out of the chains of showoff and temporary satisfaction and move with your conscience towards sustainable clothing.
And try to implement the three R’s- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle in your life.
Save the Environment. Follow fashion in a sustainable way.