Fast fashion is inexpensive, low-quality clothing that is manufactured quickly to keep up with trends and is often discarded after a few uses. Retailers can afford to sell these pieces at low prices because workers are not fairly compensated. There are many issues with the fast fashion industry, but the main two are environmental and ethical concerns.
Low-quality products have a short life and end up in landfills. After a few runs through the washing machine, the clothing starts to fall apart. These items break down and litter the environment with microplastics, which negatively affect the health of humans and wildlife.
Crocheted items cannot be machine-replicated. While there are crochet-like items made with a knitting machine, these fashion pieces are usually handmade by underpaid workers. As someone who crochets, I know how many hours I spend on a crochet project. I can’t imagine earning minimum wage or below for a project that requires a large investment of time and skill.
Due to improvements in supply chain technology, fast fashion retailers can design trendy clothing items and have them in the hands of customers in just a few weeks. They mass-produce clothes that are irrelevant to consumers once the trend passes. These short-term trends, usually a month or two instead of a season, are called microtrends. Microtrends are harmful because they lead to wastefulness and overconsumption.
Social media plays a major factor in the fast fashion market. Influencers on Instagram and TikTok share their favorite items on their Amazon Storefronts and Like to Know (LTK) pages. After watching a video promoting an item, it only takes a few clicks before it is on its way to your house. This leads followers to rapid consumerism and the need for immediate gratification as they try to keep up with the latest trends.
Concerts contribute to this issue because concertgoers buy themed outfits that typically get a single use, becoming prominent events to highlight fan fashion. Most fans dress up, creating a market for affordable, yet elaborate costumes and accessories.
Fast fashion is at every corner, making it almost impossible to avoid. The dupes and knockoffs have appealing price tags, which make the average consumer more likely to purchase from unethical retailers.
One solution is to purchase high-quality basics that can be worn in a variety of ways for multiple years. Thrifting and shopping at secondhand stores give old items a new life and save them from going to a landfill. For one-time use, a good option is borrowing specific items or renting them from a service. When shopping for items that are typically handmade, the best option is to purchase from a small business. This ensures the artist will benefit from their hard work. Small businesses can be found on social media, Etsy and at local craft markets.
