The main
principle of fast fashion is to consume for the sake of consuming, so it follows that one of the biggest issues surrounding fast fashion is its impact on the environment. I personally
am familiar with the feeling of empty disappointment that comes on days when I
leave the mall without spending any money: there is nothing I need, apart from the need to buy something new. An industry which encourages such
reckless materialism cannot be truly “green” no matter now organic your cotton
is, but exactly what about fast fashion is unsustainable?
The damage to the environment goes beyond the fact that our clothes are quickly ruined and thrown into landfills. Many problems stem from the fact that cheaply manufactured clothes are generally made of synthetic fibers. In fact, natural fibers such as linen, silk, and wool are considered luxury items and are rarely found on the high-street. Man-made fibers like polyester or nylon certainly have their advantages; for example, they are durable and do not require farming. However, their production is very hazardous. Polyester is derived from crude oil, which pollutes the environment and is dangerous to drill. And while natural fibers will eventually biodegrade into compost, polyester clothing is not biodegradable and will only continue to overflow in landfills.
Furthermore, supposedly easy-care polyester material has a dark side: in order for garments to be “wrinkle-free”, they need to be treated with chemicals. A report by Tommy Crawford for “The Business of Fashion” explains, “These chemicals can seep into the environment where clothes are made, affecting rivers and waterways that local communities often depend upon for their livelihoods. But the toxicity doesn’t end there. Chemicals contained within clothes can also be released by people living thousands of miles away, who inadvertently pollute their local water supplies when they do their laundry,” (Crawford 6). In other words, if the residual chemicals aren’t lingering on the garments you wear, they are spilling into bodies of water, which is dangerous for ecosystems and communities alike.
These corner-cutting, convenient practices guarantee that fast fashion maintains its ubiquity. However, the fashion world which so faithfully flocked to high-street stores may be turning away. Communities are increasingly aware of the damage done by fast fashion, and shopping isn’t so fun when you learn that your clothes are manufactured in sweatshops or polluting rivers around the world. Many are now advocating for a slower approach to fashion—one which uses more sustainable practices and places the emphasis on classic pieces rather than trends. We have dug ourselves a deep pit, but I am excited to see the fashion industry start to climb out.
The damage to the environment goes beyond the fact that our clothes are quickly ruined and thrown into landfills. Many problems stem from the fact that cheaply manufactured clothes are generally made of synthetic fibers. In fact, natural fibers such as linen, silk, and wool are considered luxury items and are rarely found on the high-street. Man-made fibers like polyester or nylon certainly have their advantages; for example, they are durable and do not require farming. However, their production is very hazardous. Polyester is derived from crude oil, which pollutes the environment and is dangerous to drill. And while natural fibers will eventually biodegrade into compost, polyester clothing is not biodegradable and will only continue to overflow in landfills.
Furthermore, supposedly easy-care polyester material has a dark side: in order for garments to be “wrinkle-free”, they need to be treated with chemicals. A report by Tommy Crawford for “The Business of Fashion” explains, “These chemicals can seep into the environment where clothes are made, affecting rivers and waterways that local communities often depend upon for their livelihoods. But the toxicity doesn’t end there. Chemicals contained within clothes can also be released by people living thousands of miles away, who inadvertently pollute their local water supplies when they do their laundry,” (Crawford 6). In other words, if the residual chemicals aren’t lingering on the garments you wear, they are spilling into bodies of water, which is dangerous for ecosystems and communities alike.
These corner-cutting, convenient practices guarantee that fast fashion maintains its ubiquity. However, the fashion world which so faithfully flocked to high-street stores may be turning away. Communities are increasingly aware of the damage done by fast fashion, and shopping isn’t so fun when you learn that your clothes are manufactured in sweatshops or polluting rivers around the world. Many are now advocating for a slower approach to fashion—one which uses more sustainable practices and places the emphasis on classic pieces rather than trends. We have dug ourselves a deep pit, but I am excited to see the fashion industry start to climb out.
Work Cited
Crawford, Tommy. "Toxic Chemicals In Clothing Make All
of Us Fashion Victims." The Business
of Fashion 20 Nov. 2012. Web. 26
Mar. 2013. <http://www.businessoffashion.com/2012/11/op-d
-toxic-chemicals-in-clothing-make-all-of-us-fashion-victims.html>.
Supporting perspective, 439 words.
