Sherburne 1

Andrew Sherburne

Mr. Ventura

English 1530

11 January 2020

Fast Fashion: The Real Cost

The dangers of industrialization have threatened the planet for decades, and as

consumerism becomes more and more prevalent within our society, the fast fashion crisis has

become one of the greatest of these dangers. The practice of fast fashion, which is a business

model used often within the fashion industry, is characterized by rapid garment production

yielding high amounts of product. Due to the effectiveness of fast fashion, the fashion industry

has largely ignored the many issues brought about by the practice, such as dangerous pollution,

and hazardous working conditions in textile factories (Bick). Although many believe the

economic and social implications of fast fashion are beneficial (Martinez), consumers, as well as

manufacturers, must recognize the threats posed by rapid garment production. From leading

more sustainable lifestyles, to solving issues at the industrial level, society must look for ways to

solve the fast fashion crisis. Although some may be able to make personal gains from volatile

practices such as fast fashion, the greater good of our planet must be put before all.

The most pressing issue presented by the fast fashion crisis is the negative environmental

impact. Because of the practice, toxic chemicals and waste from garment and fabric production

is poured into the world’s waterways at high rates, while air pollution from textile factories

choke our atmosphere. The extent to which the fast fashion industry is polluting our global
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environment is shocking, and with increasing efficiency of garment and textile industries. To

create a garment, releasing emissions including “volatile organic compounds, particulate matter,

and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride” is commonplace (Claudio). These emissions seep into

the atmosphere, and have helped further develop environmental issues such as Global Warming.

Pollution at the hands of the industry, however, is not limited to the world’s airways. The fast

fashion industry is one of the biggest culprits in regards to waste water emissions. For example,

just one cotton t-shirt is responsible for the creation of 2,700 liters of waste water. To put this

amount of water in perspective, 2,700 liters of water is sustainable for a human for around 900

days (Drennan). When this mind-boggling amount of water is used to create a single garment,

toxic chemicals are released into the environment when returned to waterways. In turn,

ecosystems are destroyed, and freshwater sources that some communities rely on as their water

source are fouled. In the end, statistics have shown for every one ton of textiles, 200 tons of

wastewater is produced, making the garment industry under the fast fashion model responsible

for “5,640,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water pollution from every year” (Drennan).

Realizing how dangerous these environmental impacts are is crucial. The idea we are destroying

our planet for the creation of clothing may seem hard to believe, but unfortunately, this is the

reality.

Another major issue presented by the fast fashion industry is the industry’s bad track

record with the protection of basic worker’s rights. Fast production rates and limited factory

regulation in developing countries allow fast fashion companies to work individuals in slave like
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conditions. These garment factories have often become hazardous to workers’ health and

wellbeing, causing illness and an overwhelming danger for textile workers, all while earning

extremely low pay. One of the major threats posed to workers is an overall lack of safety

Factories in developing nations have been known to collapse on workers, killing thousands. In

other instances, chemicals have been known to be stored improperly in textile factories, causing

one factory to erupt in flames after the explosion of a boiler. Within this factory, “officials said

that all the exit doors in the factory were locked and many of the windows of the factory were

covered with iron bars, making it difficult for workers to escape.” Because of the worker’s

inability to escape the smoke, most of their deaths were caused by suffocation. Furthermore,

textile factories’ inability to employ workers in an ethical fashion has proved to be an issue, as

many of the workers who perished within the factory fire could not be identified not be identified

(Hobson). To create a garment under the fast fashion model, the loss of innocent lives is

commonplace. Workers are being subjected to terrible conditions because they have no other

options, and should not be subject to hazard because of this.

Without a doubt, our society must work together to limit the harmful effects of

the fast fashion industry. We must hold ourselves, as well as those in power, accountable.

Although consumers can make changes to their own shopping habits and lead more sustainable

lifestyles, it is important to look towards fast fashion at the industrial level to make change. At

the consumer level, it is crucial that buyers realize the implications of their purchase. Although

an item of clothing may seem like a good deal, one must ask themselves the following questions:

how often will the garment be worn, is it a quality item, and where will the item be next year. If
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the garment will end up in the garbage after ten wears, or if the garment is an impulse buy that

will end up in the back of a closet, it is important to rethink purchasing the item. Realizing the

importance of quality made, as well as ethically made, clothing should also be upheld by the

consumer. Leaders of the sustainability movement stress the idea of buying clothing made by

companies that uphold worker’s rights laws, as well as environmentally-friendly practices, such

as making clothing from recycled materials (Colter). At the industrial level, many stress the

importance of placing ethical manufacturing above filling stores and logistics in regards to

importance. Some companies, such as H&M and Levi’s, have made attempts to combat their

own malicious practices by placing emphasis on creating new technology that allows fast fashion

to become greener (Biondi), or have adopted practices such as the recycling of textiles and

fabrics (Let’s). Overall, the entirety of the industry should look upon companies that are willing

to place our planet and workers above profit. Consumers should also be willing to push for this

change to be made, which emphasizes the importance of a symbiotic relationship between the

producer and buyer in order to make change.

Despite the fact the fast fashion industry is incredibly harmful, many surprisingly support

the practice. This support has been known to stem from two major sources, firstly being the

consumer who values low prices and accessibility over all, and secondly those who have made

financial gain from fast fashion. These two groups promote an idea of fast fashion being a

necessary and unchangeable practice of industrialized age, and present many different arguments

often referencing price and profit. The first group, being consumers who support fast fashion,

has been known to be mainly comprised of students and those coming from a lower economic
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background. A large portion of this group argues an idea of fast fashion being a socio-economic

equalizer. This theory stresses an idea of fast fashion being a useful tool to “camouflage social

class” (Martinez), by allowing all consumers to dress how they wish regardless of how much

money they can afford to spend on clothing. This argument is the most valid in regards to

support for fast fashion. In a society where youth often face overwhelming pressure to “fit in,” it

is understandable that many would value affordable yet trendy clothing. However, this argument

is only valid when not taken advantage of. Issues arise when teenagers and young adults spend

the same amount of money on twenty items of fast fashion clothing, the majority of which they

will not end up wearing, when they could have spent the same amount of money on a smaller

amount of sustainably made clothing, which they will wear and will last for years. Once again,

the solution to this issue is placing importance upon needs instead of wants, and recognizing the

dangers of materialism. The second group, those who have experienced success within the fast

fashion industry, take a more logistical approach towards their support of fast fashion.

Opportunity for rapid business growth and profit is often cited by those within the industry

(Fast). However, the issue with these group’s support can be easily rebutted. The naysayers who

believe the positive qualities outweigh the negative qualities have their opinions are often rooted

in materialism. Their ideas are problematic because they put money over environment.

Overall, recognizing the issues brought about by fast fashion is highly important. We, as

a society, must hold ourselves and those in power accountable to the reverse the dangerous

effects of fast fashion on not only the environment, but the wellbeing of humankind.

Disregarding materialistic tendencies, leading sustainable lifestyles, and bringing attention to the
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dangerous fast fashion industry will in the end benefit our planet, and will guarantee basic

human rights and safety for workers. Many may argue the positive aspects of fast fashion

outweigh the negatives, however, arguments such as these are rooted in the idea that money is to

be put above all. These arguments are therefore dangerous, and it is time our society moves past

them.
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Works Cited

Bick, Rachel, Erika Halsey, and Christine C. Ekenga. “The Global Injustice of Fast Fashion.”

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source, vol. 17, no. 1, Dec. 2018,

EBSCO GreenFile, www.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=8gh&AN=133748773&site=ehost-live. Accessed 15 October 2020.

Biondi, Annachiara. “Can Fast Fashion Be Green?” Vogue Business, 6 Dec. 2018,

www.voguebusiness.com/technology/hm-fast-fashion-sustainability-recycling-hong-

kong. Accessed 15 October 2020.

Claudio, Luz. “Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry.” Environmental

Health Perspectives, vol. 115, no. 9, Sep. 2007, pp. 448-454. EBSCO Environment

Complete, search.ebscohost.com.jsrvproxy1.sunyjcc.edu/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=eih&AN=26996779&site=ehost-live. Accessed 20 October 2020.

Colter, Amanda. “Why Sustainable Fashion Matters.” Forbes, 7 Oct. 2019,

www.forbes.com/sites/ellevate/2019/10/07/why-sustainable-fashion-

matters/#1f53000471b8. Accessed 20 October 2020.

Drennan, Kelly. “Picking Up the Threads.” Alternative Journals – Canada’s Environmental

Voice, vol. 41, no. 3, May 2015, pp. 20-23. EBSCO Environment Complete,

search.ebscohost.com.jsrvproxy1.sunyjcc.edu/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=eih&AN=103367846&site=ehost-live. Accessed 1 December 2020.

“Fast Fashion and its Advantages.” BusinessZeal. https://businesszeal.com/fast-fashion-its-

advantages. Accessed 5 November 2020.

Hobson, John. “To Die for? The Health and Safety of Fast Fashion.” Occupational Medicine,

vol. 65, no. 5, July 2013, pp. 317-319. EBSCO Environment Complete,

search.ebscohost.com.jsrvproxy1.sunyjcc.edu/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=eih&AN=88989408&site=ehost-live. Accessed 15 October 2020.

“Let’s Make Things Better.” Levi’s.com. www.levi.com/US/en_US/features/sustainability.

Accessed 5 November 2020.

Martinez, Flavia. “The Benefits of Fast Fashion for College Students.” StudyBreaks, 1 April

2017. www.studybreaks.com/culture/fast-fashion. Accessed 5 November 2020.