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Lauren Kent

Professor Williams

English Composition II

24 March 2021

Fast Fashion isn’t as Great as it Sounds

Ever wondered what goes on behind that 12 dollar bikini off that sketchy site that all the

influencers promote? It’s called fast fashion. Fast fashion is cheap clothing made quickly at mass

production factories to keep up with the fast changing fashion trends. Fast fashion is ruining the

environment with it's mass production and child labor issues. To resolve this issue people need to

start buying from smaller businesses, and possibly second hand clothes to help decrease the

damage being done. This will lower the demand for newer, higher branded clothes responsible

for the increased pollution from factories.

Fast fashion has become a very popular option for shopping due to the fashion trends

changing very quickly. Companies have started to market new products daily compared to

seasonal. The effects of this is mass production. To keep up with the demand of such popular

products, companies make large amounts of one product, the problem is with today’s trends

changing so fast, only a small percentage is sold leaving an unprecedented amount of product left

to just be thrown away (Oshri).

Celebrities and influencers have a huge impact on fashion in today’s society. Though

they may not realize it, their brand deals promote buying from companies that exploit their
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workers and make products that are not made to last past a few washes. Fast fashion companies

know to use celebrities like the Kardashian family or famous YouTubers because they reach the

demographic that fits them. Young girls are influenced by what’s popular and what won’t break

the bank.

Companies like Pretty Little Thing put 284 items in their “New in Today” category on a

regular basis. The quality of these clothes aren’t questioned enough. To make clothes at such fast

paced production and at large amounts, companies don’t have the money to spend on high

quality fabrics and wash tests. This leads to non recyclable garments/products that just sit in

either warehouses or trash sites (Crumbie).

Due to fashion trends changing so quickly, people don’t use their clothes as long as they

used to. (“What is Fast Fashion and Why is it a Problem”) People have begun to buy 60% more

clothes compared to 15 years ago and only wear them for half as long. Another issue is younger

generations have started to only wear outfits for one outing and will never wear it again. 37% of

people of the ages 16-24 wouldn’t wear an outfit twice compared to adults over the age of 55

which is 12% (Crumbie).

The effects of such cheap clothing hits both an environmental issue and a human rights

issue. Popular companies such as FashionNova and Gildan Activewear have come under fire due

to their involvement in exploitation of cheap labor. Sweatshops consist of undocumented

workers more often than not, who are desperate for work. Undocumented workers are making
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$2.77 an hour right here in America in Los Angeles. If they are not paid hourly, workers have a

three cent per product pay (Meagher).

Many companies do as much as they can to pay as little in production costs as possible.

Work areas may have poor lighting, which is harmful to employee’s sight, and toxic fumes

which lead to respiratory problems. Over in Bangladesh, which is where a lot of factories are

based, the monthly wage back in 2016 was 67 dollars. This breaks down to $2.16 a day to work

in deplorable conditions. Despite the risks and far below average pay, workers don’t quit because

they have no other employment to turn to. They have families to feed or an education to fund and

fast fashion companies take advantage of that (Reid). Companies are able to continue these

tactics because of the fact that immigrant workers are desperate for jobs. That’s how more and

more companies are turning to mass production because it costs them less money in the long run.

Producing clothes as such a fast rate has taken its toll on the environment. The use of

synthetic fibers and textiles have become a major issue concerning microplastics. As the

products are washed and dyed, these microplastics are being put into our waterways, lakes, and

oceans harming our waterlife. Fish are easily consuming these plastics which are eventually

eaten by whatever or whoever eats it next. Not only is it a problem in our waterways, the fast

fashion industry has made up four percent of greenhouse gas emissions. (Ultra-Fast Fashion Is

Eating the World) Concerning the product waste as a whole is a very big issue. The amount of

clothes that Americans toss has doubled in the past 20 years. Not only that but there’s been a 750

percent increase of textile waste since 1960 (Monroe). Back in 2013, 15.1 million pounds of
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textile waste was produced. Most of the waste ends up in landfills which then releases methane

gas into the atmosphere leading into yet another environmental problem (Reid).

Different materials lead to environmental issues. Take leather tanneries for example.

When companies use the chemicals in the tanning process, they more often than not, dispose of

them incorrectly despite how toxic they are. These chemicals leak into local waterways, soils,

and produce in surrounding areas. Keep in mind that this is a very toxic chemical. After people

consume the chemical, they have experienced skin problems, numbness in limbs, and stomach

issues. All this because companies are too lazy to dispose of these chemicals the right way

(Reid).

One of the many chemicals that are harmful to humans is lead. The Center for Disease

Control has said that an excessive amount of lead can dramatically affect someone's health.

“According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, lead poisoning in

children under 6 years of age can seriously affect their mental and physical development”

(Fraser). Companies use lead for bright color dyes, many clothing products have been recalled

because of their high amounts of lead content (Fraser).

Another harmful chemical found in poorly manufactured clothes is Nonylphenol

Ethoxylates and Nonylphenols or NPEs. If someone comes into contact with this chemical, they

are at risk of a disruption in their hormones and could lead to problems in reproduction (Fraser).

They are also extremely toxic to aquatic life.

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Many clothing products are stretchy and elastic due to the use of Phthalates or

plasticizers. Many images on tshirts are created from this Phthalates. This chemical has harmful

effects on someone’s hormones and could lead to breast cancer in some women (Fraser).

Who doesn’t love a good rain jacket? Some of these jackets and waterproof shoes,

contain a toxic chemical called perfluorinated and polyfluorinated or PFC. This water-repellant

can disrupt endocrine systems, the immune system, and liver and pancreas systems. It doesn’t

end there either. There have been ties to kidney disease and cancer from PFC (Fraser).

A very popular harmful chemical is Formaldehyde. This is commonly found in household

items but in the fast fashion industry, it’s used to prevent mold and fungus when being shipped

around the world. The effects of long term exposure is nausea, skin irritation, and burning in the

eyes, nose and throat (Fraser).

It’s very easy to get swept up in the cheap prices and fast deliveries of these companies

without giving it a second thought. The good thing is, many people are starting to realize the

harmful effects of fast fashion and have begun spreading this information. Doing research on the

brands people frequently buy from is important. Another alternative is, if you can afford it, to

buy from sustainable companies like People Tree. Brands like this tend to be more expensive

because the products are higher quality and adequately pay their employees livable wages (Reid).

Another sustainable solution is buying second hand. There’s apps that allow people to

sell their gently used clothing. The most popular ones are Depop and Poshmark. These apps
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allow people to buy and sell all from their phone. It’s also not one type of product, people sell

handmade jewelry, clothing, and many other things. This is a huge alternative to fast fashion

companies as people buy straight from small businesses. It also helps limit these clothes from

just sitting in landfills (Reid).

Lastly, the most popular sustainable option is thrifting. Due to younger generations

changing the outlook on thrifting that used to have the representation of the lack of money, it has

now become a popular option of purchasing environmentally friendly products. Many products

in thrift stores are items that have never been worn and are of higher quality and value.

(Buckner) Even if you don’t want to buy secondhand clothing, donating it is a huge component

of people buying what others don’t want anymore (Reid).

Though people still have the stigma that buying secondhand is gross, or that not buying

mainbrand products makes them look less than the best, many times the clothes are better quality

because it’s made by a company that doesn’t beat around the bush concerning factory prices.

Even thrift stores have next to new products because fashion trends change so fast that people

decide not to wear it because it’s not “in” anymore. There’s so many reasons why people don’t

go the sustainable route because of their fear of being judged, when in reality, it’s 2021 and no

one cares where people buy their clothes anymore. There’s a much bigger issue at stake

concerning our environment and human rights as a whole.

In conclusion, fast fashion is doing more harm than it is good. The $12 dollar bikini will

rip when you try it on and will stain your skin due to the fact that the elastic in it was sewn in by
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an overworked, underpaid employee who didn’t have to do a wash test because it wasn’t a

requirement. There’s so much going on behind the scenes of these fast fashion companies that’s

not talked about enough. Our landfills are being filled to the brim with poorly made clothing that

will most likely never decompose, contaminating our water and polluting our air. There is no

need for us to be buying the amount of clothes we do. It’s time to take action and address the

actual issues that are taking place right in front of us. Fast fashion has not only had a negative

impact on the environment but on humanity as well. Providing more sustainable options will

help us limit the amount of waste and irreversible effects to come in the future. This will take

time but as more information is put out, the more people will start to realize the harm that is

being done for buying such cheap and available clothes.

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Buckner, Dianne. “Eco-Minded Consumers Drive Boom in Used Clothing Sales | CBC

News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 19 Nov. 2019, www.cbc.ca/news/business/used-

clothing-boom-ecofriendly-1.5356675.

Crumbie, Alex. “What Is Fast Fashion and Why Is It a Problem?” Ethical Consumer,

Ethical Consumer Research Association Ltd, 31 Oct. 2019,

www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/what-fast-fashion-why-it-problem.

Fraser, Kristopher. “5 Main Hazardous Chemicals in Clothing from China Named.”

FashionUnited, FashionUnited, 9 Mar. 2021, fashionunited.uk/news/business/5-main-

hazardous-chemicals-in-clothing-from-china-named/2018102939678.

Meagher, Syama. “The Not-So-Hidden Ethical Cost Of Fast Fashion: Sneaky Sweatshops

In Our Own Backyard.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 6 Apr. 2020,

www.forbes.com/sites/syamameagher/2020/02/05/the-not-so-hidden-ethical-cost-of-fast-

fashion-sneaky-sweatshops-in-our-own-backyard/?sh=1817331225d1.

Monroe, Rachel. “Ultra-Fast Fashion Is Eating the World.” Shibboleth Authentication

Request, The Atlantic Monthly Group, Mar. 2021, www.eds-b-ebscohost-

com.sinclair.ohionet.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=19be8af3-e3f7-48cb-a7cf-

de58a58c0c66%40pdc-v-sessmgr03.

Oshri, Hadari. “Council Post: Three Reasons Why Fast Fashion Is Becoming A Problem

(And What To Do About It).” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 17 May 2019,

www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2019/05/13/three-reasons-why-fast-fashion-is-becoming-a-

problem-and-what-to-do-about-it/?sh=48f53574144b.
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Reid, Lindsey. “Fast-Fashion: Unethical and Unsustainable.” UAB Institute for Human

Rights Blog, 22 Jan. 2020, www.sites.uab.edu/humanrights/2018/04/26/fast-fashion-

unethical-and-unsustainable/.