Summer Kim: Fast Fashion

The word season is defined in Oxford’s dictionary as each of the four divisions of the year, marked by particular weather patterns and daylight hours (1). However, the fast fashion industry has completely redefined the term, creating 52 micro-seasons (2) annually, one for every week of the year. Brands like Zara and H&M release a constant stream of trends, leaving consumers racing to keep up. For example, in early 2024, bows gained quick popularity (3), only to swiftly give way to the resurgence of leopard print (4).Social media platforms have sped the process up so that certain items only stay in style for a few months. 

While it’s tempting to keep up with the latest styles, this system comes at a devastating cost to the workers behind the clothes and the environment. To keep up with the rapid changes in trend, companies cut costs and product quality, relying on factories in developing countries such as Vietnam, India, and Bangladesh (5). The ever-changing demand of fast fashion consumers compels factory owners to neglect safety and prioritize maximum production and profit, leading to tragedies like the infamous Rana Plaza disaster that killed 1,100 workers and injured 2,500 more. 

In 2013, the eight-story Rana Plaza in Bangladesh collapsed, becoming one of the deadliest garment factory disasters in history (6). Although visible structural damage was discovered the day before, workers were ordered to return under the threat of losing their jobs. The exploitation of garment workers in fast fashion perpetuates systemic inequality and deepens cycles of poverty. Workers in developing countries are often subjected to hazardous conditions and minimal pay, with little to no recourse for improvement. This environment not only endangers their physical safety but also takes a psychological toll, as well as hindering access to education, healthcare, and opportunities to move up, trapping entire communities in a cycle of dependence. Generational poverty will deepen for workers, as they are deprived of education and opportunities, reducing entire communities' chances of economic advancement.

The environmental toll of fast fashion is equally alarming. Once the trends fade, most clothing ends up at the bottom of landfills (7). Every second, a garbage truck’s worth of textiles is either incinerated or tossed into a landfill. By 2030, the annual waste is expected to exceed 134 billion kilograms– approximately the weight of 22 large cruise ships. The environmental impact doesn’t end there: The fashion industry is responsible for releasing 10% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, textile production contributes to 20% of global wastewater, and fabrics like polyester and nylon account for 35% of microplastics polluting the oceans. 

Despite these alarming numbers, consumer habits are growing more voracious. Over the past 15 years, the average consumer has increased clothing purchases by 60% (8).  If the current trajectory of fast fashion trends persists, landfills could overflow, natural resources could become scarce, and biodiversity may decline, with dwindling ecosystems reaching the brink of collapse. Microplastic pollution in the ocean may even disrupt marine food chains, leading to declining fish populations and food insecurity for people with seafood-based diets.

It's clear that the fast fashion model isn’t just unsustainable but environmentally destructive. It feeds a cycle of overproduction and overconsumption which is largely invisible to the average consumer. As a result, we remain unaware of the damage being done until it becomes overwhelming. There is no doubt that we need to consider how we shop for clothes while considering the effects on both workers and the environment.

Shopping sustainably doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style. By opting for slow fashion brands or exploring secondhand clothing, every mindful purchase helps lower the demand for harmful production practices that pollute our planet and exploit workers. Brands such as Pact, Tentree, and MagicLinen sell sustainably-sourced, low-waste clothing and give back to the environment (9). The Good Trade lists 99 sustainable clothing brands, offering options for everyone. Additionally, consumers should reimagine their  wardrobe by learning to upcycle, tailor, or creatively rework the pieces they already own, giving their clothes life and cutting down on waste. Online experts share a variety of ways to give life to old fashion pieces, such as embroidery, dyeing, and even cutting down on single-use plastic bag waste by making a tote bag (10).

It’s time to slow down the cycle of clothes consumption. Fashion doesn’t have to be disposable— that trendy $5 top may seem like a harmless purchase, but it comes at a high cost for someone else, and its environmental toll is staggering. Shopping sustainably, choosing secondhand, and reworking clothes are all ways to reduce the impact of our fashion obsession.

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(1) Oxford Languages. “Oxford Dictionaries.” Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press, 2024, languages.oup.com/.

(2) Horvath, Kathryn. “Getting the Waste out of Fashion Should Be the next Big Trend.” PIRG, 19 Feb. 2024, pirg.org/articles/getting-the-waste-out-of-fashion-should-be-the-next-big-trend/.

(3) Gonzalez, Tara. “I’m Just a Girl Who Loves Bows, but What Does That Even Mean?” Harper’s BAZAAR, 21 Dec. 2023, www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/a46203224/bow-trend-explained/.

(4)  Jackson, Hannah. “The Leopard Print Revival Is upon Us.” Vogue, 1 Jan. 2024, www.vogue.com/article/leopard-print-revival-2024.

(5) Ross, Emma. “Fast Fashion Getting Faster: A Look at the Unethical Labor Practices Sustaining a Growing Industry.” International Law and Policy Brief, The George Washington University Law School, 2021, studentbriefs.law.gwu.edu/ilpb/2021/10/28/fast-fashion-getting-faster-a-look-at-the-unethical-labor-practices-sustaining-a-growing-industry/.

(6) Clean Clothes Campaign. “Rana Plaza.” Clean Clothes Campaign, cleanclothes.org/campaigns/past/rana-plaza.

(7) Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “Fashion and the Circular Economy.” Www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org, 2023, www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/fashion/overview.

(8) Beall, Abigail. “Why Clothes Are so Hard to Recycle.” BBC, 13 July 2020, www.bbc.com/future/article/20200710-why-clothes-are-so-hard-to-recycle.

(9) The Good Trade. “99 Sustainable Clothing Brands Betting against Fast Fashion.” The Good Trade, 2 Jan. 2023, www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing/.

 (10) Osmanski, Stephanie. “10 Ways to Upcycle Old Clothes.” Reader’s Digest, 19 July 2022, www.rd.com/article/upcycle-clothes/.

About the Author:

Summer Kim is a 14-year-old student from Massachusetts. She has a deep passion for design, science, and community service, and has enjoyed writing from a young age.