Is Fast Fashion Really Fashionable? A Peek Behind the Clothes We Wear

Big brands release new styles almost every week, and as consumers, we rush to buy them at super cheap prices. But have you ever stopped to wonder where these clothes come from, how they’re made, and what happens to them after we stop wearing them?

Let’s take a closer look at fast fashion and find out if it’s really as fashionable as it seems. Continue reading for more such exciting content on how we can induce sustainability in young minds of our nation.

What is Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion is the business model of quickly making and selling trendy clothes at very low prices. Big brands see what’s popular on social media and fashion shows and then create cheap versions of those outfits, and that too in just a few weeks. Basically, the idea is to make stylish clothes inexpensive so that everyone can follow and wear the latest fashion trends without spending too much money.

It sounds amazing, right? But here comes the catch! To keep up with this fast-paced production and trend, brands often use low-quality materials, pay workers very little, and produce large amounts of waste. While it may be fun for you to be a part of this trend, fast fashion has some serious downsides.

Consequences of Fast Fashion

1. Harm to the Environment

You can’t even imagine the amount of pollution generated by fast fashion. To create garments at a fast rate, factories use huge amounts of water and release harmful chemicals into rivers and the air. Did you know that making just one cotton T-shirt takes about 2,700 liters of water? That’s enough drinking water for one person for nearly three years! Also, many fast fashion clothes are made from synthetic materials like polyester, which take hundreds of years to break down in landfills.

2. Unfair Treatment of Workers

Many workers face exploitation at the hands of brands practicing fast fashion. To make clothes quickly and cheaply, these brands set up factories in developing countries where workers are paid very little. It’s a sad reality, but some of these workers, including children, work long hours in unsafe conditions just to make the clothes we wear. Imagine working in a hot, crowded place for more than 12 hours a day and still not earning enough to live comfortably! Would you still buy trending clothes if you knew the plight of workers making them?

3. Waste and Overconsumption

Because fast fashion clothes are often made with poor-quality materials, they don’t last long. This means people throw away clothes more frequently, leading to massive amounts of textile waste. Most of these discarded clothes end up in landfills, polluting our planet. And above all that synthetic textile waste is not even biodegradable.

4. Affects Our Shopping Habits

Fast fashion plays with our minds and makes us believe that we always need new clothes to stay fashionable. Social media influencers and advertisements create FOMO in us, and this mindset encourages us to keep buying, even when we don’t really need new outfits. But you should know that true style isn’t about wearing new clothes all the time. Wear what allows you to express who you are in a way that’s thoughtful and creative.

Is Fast Fashion Really Fashionable?

Fast fashion might seem trendy and affordable at first, but when we look deeper, we see that it harms the environment, exploits workers, and encourages wasteful habits. But as responsible humans we always have the option of making the right choices. Instead of buying lots of cheap clothes, we can choose quality over quantity, support ethical brands, recycle and upcycle old clothes, and spread awareness about sustainable fashion. Do check out the interactive quiz game by YiPPee Better World that will help our kids to understand and learn all about sustainability.

True fashion is about comfort, originality, confidence, and caring for the world we live in. So next time you shop, please ask yourself, “Do I really need this outfit?” With your support and mindful behavior, we can make fashion more sustainable and stylish for everyone!