But why is fast fashion “bad”?

Fast fashion has quite a long “to-kill” list, but the 3 at the top are the following:

  • Environmental Concerns

  • Labor Exploitation

  • Overconsumption Mindset

Environmental Concerns

Fast fashion destroys the environment in more ways than one. Let’s start with the facts:

92 million tons of textiles waste is produced every year.

The average US consumer throws away 81.5 lbs of clothes every year.

The number of times a garment is worn has declined by around 36% in 15 years.


All stats from earth.org

The apparel industry’s global emissions will increase by 50% by 2030.

The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global waste water.

There is an exorbitant amount of evidence, right in front of our faces. Fast fashion is destroying the environment. This is because it is built on speed and excess — but pumping out new styles weekly or daily to keep up with trends, cheap prices, and quick turnarounds are actually the factors causing the problem.

It’s Clear.

Over-production is essentially the “start” button on the conveyer belt. Brands mass-produce resource-heavy materials like cotton (which requires thousands of liters of water) and synthetics like polyester (which are made using fossil fuels). To keep costs low and production fast, factories often dump toxic dyes into rivers, and pollute the air with smog from their factories.

Once sold, due to low quality and the quick cycle of trends, lots of these pieces are worn only a few times, then thrown away. Due to the unsustainable materials they’re made of, these pieces cannot biodegrade. This means they not only sit in landfills for centuries, but also leach chemicals into our soil and water.

Labor Exploitation

Hundreds of thousands of people trying to make ends meet are exploited daily while they create clothing in inhumane working conditions.

Fast fashion’s impact isn’t only on our home — it’s harmful to our fellow humans, too. That trendy sequin skirt or y2k flare jean is built on the backs of underpaid, overworked people. To keep clothes cheap and profits high, many brands outsource production to factories in countries where labor is inexpensive and regulations are overlooked, like Bangladesh, China, and/or Vietnam. Workers, who are often women and children, are paid far below a living wage and forced to work long house in unsafe, overcrowded conditions. They face no job security and are often denied basic rights like breaks, healthcare, or the ability to unionize. Much of the clothing we see online are stitched together in sweatshops where fire exits are blocked, ventilation is poor, and safety violations are common.

Zabed Hasnain Chowdhury/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Overconsumption Mindset

Capitalism is thought of as a long standing and fundamental cornerstone of our country, but at what point does it go too far?

In the age of influencers and constant advertising everywhere we look, it seems impossible to consume responsibly. Fast fashion encourages a mindset that more is never enough. The constant drop of new clothing trains us to chase trends and refresh our wardrobes that are already bursting at the seams.

Everything you want already exists.

Global Clothing Industries

Let’s move forward…

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