The Good and Bad of Fast Fashion
Let us explore the good and bad that the fast fashion industry has brought us
and reflect on our next steps as global consumers.
Fast Fashion Store Front on Busy Street. Picture by Tim Boyle/GettyImage
Popular all over the world, fast fashion is a retail model that involves stylish clothes produced at low prices and quick rollout of new styles in-store and online.
According to the latest research by Statista, the market value of the fast fashion industry worldwide has reached 123 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Additionally, forecasts show that it will be rapidly growing towards 200 billion U.S. dollars in 2027. It is a phenomenon that most of the world has witnessed. It has certainly changed the way companies produce garments and the way we shop for clothes. However, it has also contributed to global warming and other environmental issues, sparking important conversations around this topic.
In this article, we explore the good and the bad of global fast fashion culture, as well as the sustainable future of this fast-moving industry.
Economic Growth and Job Creation
There are over 300 million people working in the fast fashion industry, according to research conducted by the World Bank in 2022. Over 70% of employment is in low-income countries, and it has created job opportunities for workers in developing countries. It has also improved the overall GDP of these low-income countries. For example, in Bangladesh, 7% of their national employment rate is in the cotton production industry.
Accessibility and Artistic Expression
A fast fashion collection is designed, manufactured, and launched within a fleeting period, right after the company’s design team studies the latest trends from runway shows of expensive brands. This process can take 10 to 15 days only.
Gucci Runway style vs Zara Design Picture by Retail in Asia
It means the public can stay on trend and express their style at a much lower price. Brands can also reach a wider consumer population and expand their market share, hence, growing the industry even more.
When there are pros, there are always cons. Although we discussed some of its benefits to the world, fast fashion has serious underlying issues.
Working Environment and Wage Problem
It is true that with the rising need for garments, many job opportunities are created in developing countries. However, the regulations are not enough to protect these workers to ensure their safety and rights. As companies are trying to maintain low prices for these garments, they will often lower their costs by paying factories less. In 2019, there was a strike in Bangladesh over low-wage issues. Over the last ten years, the minimum wage of garment factory workers in Sri Lanka has been declining despite the rising production volume.
To ensure a fast turnover time, companies should ensure factories can fulfill a large volume of orders within a brief period. The result is many garment factory workers are working 16 hours per day, seven days a week. Moreover, in garment production, workers are exposed to toxic chemicals that could cause cancer.
Rana Plaza Collapse in 2013 Picture by University of Michigan
In 2013, a major garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed, killing over 1100 textile workers. Besides the issues previously mentioned, workplace safety is considered one of the most concerning factors for these factory workers.
Environmental and Water Pollution
Chinese Pearl River Denim Pollution. Picture by Greenpeace Asia.
The process of garment production involves the large-scale use of toxic chemicals, which produce industrial waste that could potentially cause cancer. In China, a river called the Pearl River is dyed completely blue from the indigo dye of a nearby jeans factory.
It has caused serious concerns, as this river is a waterway that surrounding local communities travel and live on. According to a well-recognized Chinese environmental non-profit organization, fast fashion brands Zara, H&M, and Gap are some of the factories that contribute to pollution the most.
Next Steps: Regulation and Education
To address these issues, there must be a collective effort from the government, manufacturers, and consumers. Governments should strengthen regulations and enforce better safety measures to protect factory workers and the environment. The public should also educate themselves about these issues before buying and ensure that fast-fashion corporations are held accountable. Only by acting together can we see a more sustainable future.