Let's Pump the Brakes on Fast Fashion

Over the summer, I discovered the concept of fast fashion–a phenomenon where production processes are expedited in order to bring new trends to chain stores as quickly and cheaply as possible. Some of our favorite brands–Zara, Topshop, Forever 21 and H&M–are involved in the detrimental business of fast fashion. Fast fashion, simply put, has become such a worldly issue because people are so consumed with clothes and trends; clothes are our “chosen skin.” You may have noticed this definition specifically excludes any sort of notion that fast fashion is environmentally friendly or humanly conscientious. I wanted to investigate this issue of fast fashion further, so I watched The True Cost–a documentary that takes you behind the scenes of the fast fashion world–available on Netflix, Apple, and Amazon.

In the 1960s, 90 percent of the clothes worn by Americans were made in the United States. As of 2015, the US was only making three percent of clothes on the market. Now, the making of goods has gone to low-source economies because the labor is cheap, and the ability to easily communicate overseas plus the pricing makes it more appealing to large company owners. Also, fashion companies in these countries can get away with more slip ups.

For example, in 2013, Rana Plaza, an eight story clothing factory in Bangladesh collapsed due to cracks in the building, resulting in over 1,100 casualties. This sweatshop was only paying their employees two dollars per day, and there are plenty more like it.

Many workers all around the world face harsh conditions that result in mental health disorders, birth defects, and cancer. When these diseases are diagnosed, they cannot afford treatment. Additionally, many workers have to work long hours and are unable to bring their children to work due to safety hazards and harmful chemicals.

In Dehli, India specifically, the cotton farms are filled with so many toxic chemicals and harmful pesticides that there have been over 250,000 farmer suicides, which is the largest suicide recording in history. This is because the chemicals make them depressed, along with other mental health problems, and they feel as they do not have another way out.

Furthermore, the fashion industry is the second largest source of pollution in the world (with oil being the first). With all this new information in our arsenal, do we really find it ethical to be purchasing clothes from these brands?

Sure, there are two sides to every ethical dilemma. One argument says that there’s nothing really intrinsically dangerous about sewing clothes. Another states that workers could be doing other jobs, yet they choose to work at a sweatshop.

The point is, we can do better as shoppers and as people. Skip the trendy blouse from Zara or the jean skirt from Topshop. Research your favorite brands and new brands who value labor laws, worker safety and sustainable practices. Here’s a list of sustainable clothing lines. While the prices might be higher, in the long run, changing your wardrobe may help change lives.

We have the opportunity to celebrate the creative power of human beings by turning our monetary support of the fashion industry into something good, and in the process changing consumers into activists. Essentially, you have a choice. Will you continue to turn a blind eye, or make a change in how you act as a consumer? We can’t all make a promise that we’ll be perfect in avoiding fast fashion–I can’t say I will–but I do think we can make a conscious effort to improve the way we shop.