Fast fashion’s presence reaches continents; clothing titan Zara is now worth thirteen billion dollars, with outlets in over 93 countries.
Even though these fast apparel firms have engaged in various human rights abuses, there are massive humanitarian and environmental costs buried under a high price tag. Let’s look at the environmental problems created by the mass manufacturing of low-cost clothing. Quick fashion is an umbrella word for the rapid phase of translating innovative product trends into clothes on the shop floor.
In the case of Zara, for example, it takes just 14 to 21 days from conception to product selling. Because of this potential to develop new trends easily, combined with astute marketing tactics, retailers such as H&M and FOREVER 21 will rapidly alter any piece in their stores to generate buzz for a new range of clothes. These fast fashion retailers will launch new clothes almost every day, much to how a fast-food restaurant changes its menu items to remain current. This not only means that shoppers are tempted to purchase the latest and greatest trousers or tops, but it also means that older pieces soon become obsolete. In the production side of the equation, this continuous overconsumption has a high environmental concept.
Most fabric is now made of polyester, a petroleum-based textile that takes a significant amount of fossil fuels to manufacture. According to Forbes, the figure has now risen to 70 million barrels a year, and the growth in fast fashion has coincided with an increase in polyester demand. Polyester textile production now greatly outpaces that of other traditional commodities such as cotton or linen. This is a big issue, particularly given that polyester is a non-biodegradable material. Polyester can take anywhere from 20 to 200 years to degrade based on the conditions, and it is one of the leading sources of microplastics in the oceans and when the polyester fabric is washed, fibers shed into larger water streamers. In short, polyester is very cheap, making the cost of producing thousands of trousers significantly lower than before, and it can do so because it shifts more of the costs into the environment.
Out with the old, in with the new!
However, fast fashion has also resulted in a slew of post-consumption environmental issues, namely waste. The average American throws away 81 pounds of textiles per year, which is fueled in part by relentless exposure to ad ads that justify “out with the old, in with the new.” the environmental damage created by this modern profit-driven industry is not reflected in the price.
In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, the garment industry is also one of the most polluting in the world, accounting for 92 million tons, or 10% of the world’s annual solid waste.
Unfortunately, as customers, we can only do too much to change the policies of the apparel industry. Given this, there are a few safer alternatives to purchasing from fast fashion firms.
However, shopping secondhand or sharing clothing with friends and family is preferable to purchasing something new from a more responsible firm. You are not only saving clothing from the garbage, but you are also refusing to participate in a scheme that mistreats the workers and threatens our atmosphere.