Fast Fashion is Killing the Planet

Ever since the Covid pandemic, large companies that produce clothing known as “fast fashion” have become increasingly popular. While the world was locked away in quarantine for months, there was not much to do for entertainment. However, once companies like SHEIN and Temu started emerging, society started flocking toward these sites to get their hands on the best deals.

The companies’ unbelievably low prices and unique, trendy styles caught the attention of millions of people around the world. Buying something new felt good, and it became a way for people to distract themselves from the pandemic happening right outside their front door.

Now, the pandemic has officially been over for at least three years, so you might think people would stop buying from these massive retail companies and start shopping in person like they used to. Wrong.

It seems that society prefers online shopping much more than walking around a mall to find clothes. Today, approximately 88.8 million people globally still shop from major fast fashion retailers like SHEIN and Temu.

The Real Cost of Cheap Clothing

The problem with fast fashion clothes starts with their poor quality.

On Temu, for example, the average cost for a sweatshirt is only $7, with tank tops available for as little as $3. While these prices sound appealing, there is a reason they are so low.

Other fashion companies that prioritize quality sell similar products for much higher prices, and this is actually a good thing. For example, Eco-Stylist, a fashion retailer that aims to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable clothing, sells sweatshirts for an average of $90 and tank tops for around $36.

The reason fast fashion prices are so low is because it only takes about one U.S. dollar for these companies to produce a single piece of clothing.

This happens for several reasons. One of the most obvious is the low quality of the fabrics used in production. These companies are also widely known for overworking and underpaying employees, which allows them to cut costs even further. Spending less on production allows them to produce clothing faster and in much larger quantities.

Because of this system, many of these clothes end up in landfills only months after they are purchased.

Disposable Clothing

Fast fashion clothing is often scratchy, stiff, and uncomfortable to wear regularly. It is also very easy to rip or stretch because the fabrics are not durable.

However, these companies rarely prioritize durability. If they continue producing clothing at an extremely fast rate and constantly release new styles on their websites, the quality of each individual item becomes less important.

The goal is not to create clothing that lasts for years. The goal is to create clothing that sells quickly.

The Environmental Impact

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generate about 17 million tons of textile waste every year.

When fast fashion clothing is thrown away, it often ends up sitting in landfills where it can take up to 200 years to fully decompose. In other cases, discarded clothing ends up in oceans or natural habitats, where it threatens the safety and health of wildlife.

What may start as a cheap shirt or sweatshirt can quickly become a long term environmental problem.

What You Can Do

Although fast fashion is a massive industry, there are still ways individuals can help reduce its impact.

Donate or Resell Your Clothes

Instead of throwing away clothes you no longer wear, consider donating them to local thrift stores or reselling them on websites like Depop or Poshmark.

As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Just because you no longer want your clothes does not mean someone else would not be happy to add them to their own closet.

Support Eco Friendly Retailers

Try shopping from sustainable retailers whenever possible. While their products may cost more upfront, the quality of the clothing is often much higher.

Retailers such as Eco-Stylist focus on producing durable, comfortable clothing that can last for years instead of months.

Rethink Impulse Purchases

Take a moment to walk over to your closet and look at the clothes you already own. Chances are, you probably have more than enough.

One of the biggest drivers of fast fashion sales is the constant cycle of fashion trends on social media. Before buying something new, pause and ask yourself whether you truly need it.

Do you actually want that $3 shirt, or do you only want it because it is cheap and everyone else is wearing it?

A Small Change Can Make a Big Difference

If more people start making thoughtful choices about where they shop and how they treat their clothing, it can reduce the demand for fast fashion.

By donating old clothes, supporting sustainable brands, and resisting unnecessary purchases, we can help protect the environment and reduce the damage caused by these massive fast fashion companies.

Small actions, when taken together, can make a real difference.