In the modern day, many of us compete to stay on top of the latest trends or spend hundreds just to achieve our idea styles that express our inner selves. Some even turning to fast fashion to achieve this.
When rummaging through stores for the perfect fit, eventually stumbling across a supposed gold mine of stylish too good to be true clothes, it can cause us to stop and think that it might actually be. Fast fashion is centred around the idea of a business mass producing clothes in trend, then selling them to numerous consumers at a low cost, the high quantities sold due to the demand making so these businesses make a considerable profit.
Now while fast fashion tends to satisfy our quick searches for the latest ‘in’ thing, the background and downsides of it are certainly something not to go unnoticed. The fast fashion industry being a contributing factor to the worlds high carbon emissions, air pollution, water pollution, and large amounts of landfill waste as a result of the industries great use of the synthetic fibre, polyester, and excessive never ending production process.
Further, the concept of fast fashion although seemingly appealing to the consumer at first glance has more solemn routes for how these clothes go through their production process and end up at your fingertips in stores. The answer, while usually going years or even decades without being disclosed, is exploitation. Following the business idea that a business is cost must be lower than revenue to make a profit, costs are cut through a significant underpaying of workers and maintenance of worker conditions in usually third world countries which lack regulations and legislation in place to prevent and stop this. Many of the workers, most of which who are women and young girls, stay in such conditions as they’re in need of even the smallest pay for their families.
Lastly, is recognition of how many may still push to buy the cheaper options of clothing that fast fashion feeds us. But in light on this, you may miss the system that runs behind keeping the consumer coming back, which is planned obsolescence. Cheap clothing being all more likely to fall apart or tear has the consumer decide it’d be cheaper to buy another than have the item repaired, furlong more money into the system. When rather you could purchase the higher quality, more ethically made option while having it last considerably longer.
With all this in mind, there are alternative options to indulging in fast fashion, such as purchasing clothing from charity shops or thrift stores. Which not only provides your closest with its newest collection, but also gives back to charities supporting those in need. Charity shops laterally ethically disposing of an unwanted items, provides the chance of reuse/recycling which is environmentally friendly, greatly reduces landfill, and generally supporting a good cause. UK charity shops annually raising £110 million for various causes. My own local charity shops including the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, the British Red Cross, Oxfam, and the North London Hospice which I personally love and am happy to contribute to.
Moreover, if you’re to ever notice your wardrobe starting to pile up with clothes you no longer wear anymore, donating to charity shops can give your clothes a new purpose and the chance to help someone else find their style that makes them happy as well as giving yourself a chance to aid in improving and bettering the world.
