Why We Should Avoid Fast Fashion

In an effort to make more sustainable fashion choices I decided to only buy clothing that has been pre-owned for the whole of 2019. It has made me really consider how much I need something before I buy it. I’ve also been shopping my wardrobe more which has meant I get more wear out of what I already own. I am often asked why I’m ditching fast fashion, so here are just a few reasons.

Reasons To Avoid Fast Fashion

It’s cheaply made

Each item is designed to have a shelf life. As trends come and go and the need to keep up increases, pieces are not designed to last. It doesn’t help that the throw away culture we live in encourages this and this mentality makes us believe we need to keep buying more.

Textile waste and environmental pollution

Costs are kept low so corners are cut which has a knock on affect on the environment. The negative environmental impact of fast fashion includes water pollution, toxic chemicals and textile waste not just through production, but the amount thrown away by consumers. It’s often harmful and in many cases deadly to animals.

Exploits garment workers

One of the biggest issues in fast fashion is that the people who make the clothes are exploited. The cheap price tag these clothes have means that the cost has to be made up somewhere.

Probably the most horrific example of how terrible the treatment of workers is would be when the Dhaka garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed. On 24th April 2013 the Dhaka garment factory collapsed, killing 1,134 people and injured around 2,500 people. The day before the building’s owners have been warned to stay out of the building because cracks had appeared. This was ignored and garment workers were forced to return because otherwise this would mean losing profit.  

Copying indie designers

If all of this isn’t enough, fast fashion giants are notorious for copying independent designers. Who can forget repeat offenders Zara who seem to copy indie designers every other year, if not more frequently. Forever 21 are another brand to do the same. If your own creative team can’t come up with unique designs then there is something very wrong. It is disgusting that these huge companies can rip off indies because they believe they’re untouchable.

 

I’d love to hear if you have been trying to make more sustainable fashion choices. Do you have any top tips?