Fast Fashion is Killing Our Planet

If you're anything like me, you have a closet full of clothes. Although, I don't actually have a closet. Instead, I have dressers and containers overflowing with clothes. Some of them are high-quality items I've had for years. Others...not so much. But regardless of whether it’s your closet or something else overflowing, you’ve likely got at least a few pieces that would qualify as “fast fashion.”

Fast fashion is a temptation I have not been able to avoid in the past. Cheap prices, on-trend pieces, and the quick hit of serotonin that comes from an impromptu shopping trip are all familiar to me. But with many retail establishments closed for part of 2020, and the safety concerns that have to be weighed with every shopping trip, I stopped using shopping as a hobby (or coping mechanism).

That doesn't mean I haven't made any clothing purchases in 2020. But instead of turning to the most convenient fast-fashion retailer, I've started buying from small sellers on Etsy, from local shops, and from small manufacturers.

I've made a conscious decision to avoid fast fashion going forward as much as possible. There are a few reasons behind this. Part of it is that fast fashion generally doesn’t last. A cute dress or top that falls apart after wearing it only a handful of times isn’t really as budget-friendly as it seems at first.

Fast fashion also tends to be made with less-than-ideal labor conditions. At best, the people making these clothes are barely making subsistence wages. At worst, the clothes are being made by child labor in dangerous conditions. How can I fight for a livable wage, unions, and proper benefits for workers in the US while supporting industries that are diametrically opposed to those things in other countries?

One of the biggest concerns with fast fashion, though, is the environmental impact that it has. The apparel industry in general is a huge polluter (they account for roughly 10% of global carbon emissions and 85% of textiles end up in landfills each year), from the farming and manufacture of natural fibers to the waste it creates. When you buy ten t-shirts in a year that are all in the trash within twelve months, the impact of those is much greater than buying a couple of well-made t-shirts you’ll still have in five or ten years. The impact-per-item isn’t necessarily that much different, but the lifetime impact adds up. And considering we purchase 400% more than we did just 20 years ago, that lifetime impact keeps going up.

2020 showed us just how much climate change is affecting our planet. Between the wildfires in Australia in early 2020 to the emergence of COVID-19, our natural environment is crying out for us to stop abusing it. If we continue on the path that we’re on, these kinds of occurrences all only continue to get worse.

Killing fast fashion alone isn’t going to fix these issues. But it’s a step in the right direction. Instead of buying that $2 tank top from your local big-box store that will lose its shape and start falling apart within a couple of months (and therefore need to be replaced with another $2 tank top), spend the $20 on a tank top that will last for years. Look for pieces that are made from more sustainable materials (like hemp, bamboo, or recycled materials). Find companies that use fair labor practices and support their employees.

It can sometimes seem like fast fashion is the only thing accessible for some people. But there are other options. Thrift stores are an accessible option for many. Clothes swaps are another way to find new-to-you clothes while also cleaning out your own closet. I’m a huge fan of watching for clearance sales and coupon codes from some of my favorite more-expensive retailers.

Secondary market retailers like TJ Maxx or Marshalls can also be a great option, even though at first they may seem like they support fast fashion. But they often carry brands that have reasonably good environmental and labor practices and keep the overstocked clothes that they sell out of landfills. I’ve been able to find clothes from really amazing brands for 1/3 to 1/4 of what they normally retail for (and TJ Maxx in general has pretty good labor practices — they continued to pay their employees in Puerto Rico after they were hit with hurricanes in 2017 that shut down the entire island, despite stores being closed).

Phasing out fast fashion isn’t an overnight thing. But becoming aware of the impact it has and the alternatives available is a start. From there, consider the purchases you’re making and decide if that cheap on-trend skirt is really worth the total cost. Start saving for pieces that are quality and will actually last. And be mindful of how you dispose of the clothes you have. Donating things that are still wearable to your local thrift store or shelter is best, but there are even companies that take unwearable clothing items for recycling (they often become fillers in other products). Consider how you can repurpose clothes you no longer want, even if that means cutting them up to use for rags. Throwing things out should be your last resort.