Fast Fashion—And Why Is it Bad?

    

What is Fast Fashion?

        Are you fond of shopping for clothes and accessories? Do you do this frequently in large volumes even though there are still tons of fabric kept inside your closet? If yes, then, you might be contributing to the fast fashion industry, but don’t worry because there are ways to be better. Fast fashion refers to the cheap but trendy clothing produced in large amounts in a short period to meet consumer demand. These designs or trends are usually obtained from fashion magazines, runway shows, celebrities, and many more. 

        Manufacturers such as H&M, Zara, Uniqlo, and many more engage in the idea of getting new fashion styles as fast as possible and selling them on the market to maintain the popularity of the style and sell them to shoppers. On the other hand, shoppers get blinded by the thought of wearing the outfit first than anybody else. With this, they immediately buy the product without giving it any thought. As a result, the clothing will only be used once or a couple of times, and after, it gets thrown away. Some of us may not know that 84% of clothing ends up in landfills.

                  image source: Clay, W. (2020, January 10). Brighton’s ethical shops will make you want to ditch fast fashion [Image].

                        BN1 Magazine. https://www.bn1magazine.co.uk/brightons-ethical-shops-will-make-you-want-to-ditch-fast-fashion/

How Does It Affect Our Environment?

        We Filipinos may not be clueless about hopping on to every trend in various fields such as fashion, but we definitely are not knowledgeable about the effects of fast fashion. Since the pandemic started, most households engage in online shopping to minimize their exposure to the virus. This also means that shopping for clothes would only take a couple of clicks instead of traveling all the way to the mall. However, this convenience turned into an addiction for some people. 

source: CHANNEL PMI - FREE STOCK VIDEO. (2021, March 28). Online Shopping HD Stock Video |
Free stock footage | Free HD Videos - No Copyright | Channel PMI [GIF]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juMjhB_A5Z0&ab_channel=CHANNELPMI-FREESTOCKVIDEO

I, myself, am guilty about this situation, but luckily, I’ve been educated and have learned my lesson. So, how does it affect us and our environment? First, it can contribute to the majority of the waste, such as in landfills and oceans. Fun fact! Did you know that they do not decompose? Instead, they break down into smaller fragments called micro fragments. There are about 0.6-1.7 tons of microfibers that end up in the ocean each year. This is also the reason why we keep on seeing textile waste in our surroundings. Its effect on us may not be that visible, but the clothes we throw away still float right back to us.

image source: Marshall, D. (2020, September 22). How microfibres from synthetic clothing are damaging
the planet [Image]. Immago. https://immago.com/microfibres-damaging-planet/

            Aside from this, factories also emit various chemicals and pollutants from the production itself. According to statistics, the fashion industry emits 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year. This is honestly more than air travel and shipping combined! Furthermore, when you throw your clothes, some end up in an incinerator, which burns the fabrics and makes them disappear into thin air. Although, incineration itself already has its negative consequences. The burnt textile waste contributes to the increase of greenhouse gases, exacerbating global warming. So, shop wisely!

image source: Wagner, L. (2020, March 12). The environmental impact of the fast fashion industry
[Infographic]. Sanvt. https://sanvt.com/journal/environmental-impact-of-fast-fashion-infographic/