We keep hearing the term “fast fashion” being thrown around in news and media. What does it mean? And most importantly, why should we care about it? Well, I’m about to answer both of those questions for you.
Now I’ve been doing my research on the subject, and I’m excited to share my findings. However, first, I want to give you a little backstory about my “woke” moments that started it all.
There have been some pivotal points in time this past year, which got me thinking about my fashion shopping habits. The first was when my partner and I had friends come into town back in July 2019. They were to stay in the spare room, aka my closet.
I have 3 racks of clothes in addition to the pieces in my closet. I was a bit embarrassed by having so many clothes that I don’t wear. The second was in October 2019; I went through all of my clothes and got rid of 10 bags of clothes. Most I haven’t worn once. The third was when I read the Conscious Closet by Elizabeth Cline (see review here).
What is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion are garments, shoes, and accessories produced in high quantities that are cheap and trendy. It allows the majority of people to keep up with fashion trends. Why is this bad? Well, since these pieces are made so cheap, the quality is extremely low. This means that these pieces aren’t created to last – basically, disposable fashion.
Issues with Fast Fashion
- Pieces are usually of low quality.
- Most of the clothing ends up in landfills.
- Garment workers are paid under a living wage.
- Increased pollution from factories
- Synthetic Fabrics release microfibers when washed that end up in oceans.
Common Brands
Several brands come to mind when talking fast fashion, but the two that I will highlight is Forever 21 and Amazon. I know that it’s trendy for influencers to highlight pieces from Amazon (I’ve done this) that are under $20, but these garments don’t last. They have 1 or 2 wears before they start falling apart or the trend changes. Then these items get discarded.
What Should We Do?
The goal of this article is to educate you. This post is not telling you to get rid of all of your fast fashion pieces or stop buying them. I’m asking you to think about what you’re buying, how much you’re buying, and where you get it. What you choose to do with this knowledge is up to you.
Closing Statements
A promise that I made myself this year was to start being more sustainable with my fashion. What this means is that I will be wearing the clothing pieces that I have or searching for affordable, sustainable pieces.
Now, I haven’t bought any clothes, some of the above mentioned fast fashion stores in awhile (Forever 21 has been 2 years, Amazon has been about 6 months). It will be more difficult for me to stop shopping at stores like Zara and Topshop, but baby steps.
I will be sharing more on my efforts to on shopping more sustainable in future articles. What are your thoughts on fast fashion?
Outfit Details: Reformation (sustainable brand) bodysuit| 7 for All Mankind denim | Aldo heels (similar here) |Zara faux fur (sold out) | Express earrings | JCrew cocktail ring (sold out) | Aldo stackable rings (sold out) | Baublebar stackable rings |
Resources: The Conscious Closet The Revolutionary Guide To Looking Good While Doing Good | Glamour Magazine UK | prettygreenlily.com |sustainablejungle.com | cedarandsurf.com |
Photos by Anthea Marette Photography
Any of the brands mentioned above does not sponsor this article. However, some of the links may contain affiliate links which may generate revenue for the site when clicked, or when a purchase occurs. The information in this post is my thoughts and preferences.
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