Fast Fashion- Leading the way or Fuelling destruction?

Fashion is a form of self-expression which is popular amongst today’s generation. It is no longer confined to some specific group of people but it has become more inclusive. People see fashion not as a luxury but as an opportunity to showcase their originality. In short, fashion is a significant part of the lives of people which reflects their unique personality. But at what cost? Fast Fashion is certainly one of the major reasons why fashion has become so accessible to everyone but if it is a major contributor in making the earth unliveable for all the creatures then is it really worth embracing?

What is Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion means quick and speedy manufacturing of stylish clothes which are bulk-produced. They are budget-friendly, affordable to all and delivered to customers at a fast pace. In the world where new trends emerge constantly, fast fashion enables us to keep up with them. It prioritizes quantity over quality which is why the clothes are made and sold at a cheaper rate.[1] This enables people to replace the clothes more often to stay up-to-date with the new fashion trends. Zudio, Zara, H&M like brands are the most well-known examples of fast fashion which are characterized by mass production of trendy clothing and its quick distribution all over the world.[2]

Textile industry dates back to the 18th century when clothing was a hand-woven industry. It was very expensive and exclusive. After the industrial revolution, factories and machines facilitated mass production. The 20th century saw the emergence of standardized size and ready to wear clothes. In the 1970s the outsourcing of production took place where the fashion brands expanded internationally. Here, the concept of fast fashion was first introduced. After globalization, Fashion became trend-oriented and these trends were followed globally. Because of this, overconsumption of clothing began. Later on, E-commerce made fast fashion more convenient.[3]

Impacts of Fast Fashion

In the 21st century, the textile industry is solely dependent upon fast fashion. However, it is causing more harm than good to the socially and economically disadvantaged class, developing-underdeveloped countries and most importantly to the environment. From the under-developed countries to developed countries, fast fashion has established its hold everywhere which has led to significant social problems including exploitation of the marginalized community such as labour groups, indigenous communities, farmers, local artisans etc. Fast fashion drives and encourages inhumane working conditions, low wages, child-labour. It has brought the small fashion businesses in danger making it nearly impossible to compete in the market with cheap trendy clothing. Traditional styling, ethnic fashion is lost in this world of fast fashion. But most importantly, the unsustainability of fast fashion is one of the primary concerns for which it is criticized.[4]

Sustainability vs. Fast Fashion

There are so many sustainability issues with fast fashion as it causes the degradation of the environment. Fast fashion, as the name suggests, is not static. The constant change in clothing styles leads to the constant need for new and new clothes. Ultimately, it results in discarding not-so-old but outdated clothes and producing tons of non-degradable waste. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017 report, utilization of clothing has decreased by 36% compared to 15 years ago. People own more clothes than they actually need because of their affordability.[5] Rate of using recycled and reused clothes is significantly low. This is causing immense carbon and greenhouse gases emission within the textile industry. According to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) study, 2018, total greenhouse gas production by the textile industry is more than international flight and maritime shipped combined.[6] 

Materials such as polyester, nylon used in fast fashion because of their affordability, contain microplastics. In order to create plastic-based materials, fossil-fuels are processed leading to release of greenhouse gas. Plastic-waste created in the process of production and distribution enters into the ocean endangering the lives of aquatic animals and creating various health hazards for humans.[7] Two thirds of plastic-based materials are used annually to create clothes. These micro-fibres containing plastic are non-biodegradable and get spread in the environment resulting in air-pollution. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017 report states that if the same trend from 2015 is continued till 2050, then 22 million of micro-plastic fibres will add up in the ocean.[8] This number is really terrifying because it is impossible to remove these particles from the ocean which may trigger the whole environmental cycle.

Fashion industry is the world’s second-largest water-consuming industry. Water-consumption and water pollution both are the concerning factors in the industry. It releases the water containing chemicals in the environment by processes such as cotton production, dyeing of clothes etc.[9] We can find multiple examples of such water pollution. In India, Mithi river of Mumbai has become an open sewer due to the waste produced by cotton mills being dumped in it. Noyyal river in Tamil Nadu is also polluted and facing devastating effects because of the waste released by the textile industry.[10] Fast fashion drives over-consumption which in turn is causing these issues at a high rate.

Making textile is engaged in intensive energy-consumption. Manufacturing of materials in fast fashion requires a substantial amount of energy resources directly contributing to carbon-footprint. In India, approximately 75% of total energy used in the textile industry comes from non-renewable energy resources such as coal, natural gases etc.[11] Many unsustainable processes associated with the textile industry have increased in order to facilitate fast fashion. Such processes include use of chemicals, excessive use of water and resources, waste generation adding up to the environmental deterioration. Fast fashion has also increased single-use plastic. Packaging, distribution of clothes involves massive use of plastic. This contributes to landfills as it is not reusable and not biodegradable. Shopping bags and other shipping materials are discarded after one-time use and eventually they end up in the ocean.

Sustainable Fashion: A Step Towards a Greener Future

This much harm fast fashion is causing to the environment every single day! While the Climate change is accelerating, global warming is worsening, we need to have an urgent global attention to develop proper mechanisms to control the environmental decay. Fashion industry has various sustainable options which can be implemented to create eco-friendly and consumer-friendly fashion. 

First and foremost, the principle of three Rs i.e. reduce, reuse, recycle can be applied in the fashion industry.[12] Lessening the use of non-biodegradable materials, avoiding use of animal-based textile, or reusing the discarded materials in order to minimize the waste production can be encouraged in the industry. Recycling materials can reduce the price of manufacturing and can limit the unsustainable textile production. Retailers can render offers like donating used clothes to the shops in return of some credentials, buy-back programs to promote recycling. Packaging of the products, where the most plastic is used can be replaced with sustainable packaging of materials such as recycled paper, cardboard, cotton bags etc. waste-management can make a whole lot of difference in fighting environmental deterioration. Circular fashion economy is an excellent example that promotes sustainable fashion where minimizing waste and maximizing the use of resources is promoted. Unlike fast fashion, the circular economy focuses on quality, durability in clothing. It is on-demand production which emphasizes initiatives like upcycling, exchange programs, wardrobe sharing.[13]

Further, stringent environmental laws can have a great impact upon regulating the market. Laws imposing maximum limits on pollution, waste, water usage with greater penalties will have the effect of creating responsibility in the minds of the producers. These laws will also establish a sense of awareness amongst the consumer-class making them more inclined towards sustainable fashion.

Individuals, by making conscious changes in their lifestyle, can follow eco-friendly fashion on a personal level. Passing on unfit clothes to other family members, making handkerchiefs from torn clothes, using homemade clothes, stitching blankets from short pieces of fabric are some sustainable practices many Indian houses continue to follow till date. These practices ensure the utmost use of the clothes and provide dual benefits by cutting expenses and contributing to sustainability.

Fashion is a part of a human's lifestyle and it is a source of happiness for us but that does not give us the right to exploit nature. As it is rightly said, ‘There is sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.’ The greed for new clothes and fear of missing out on new trends is absolutely not worth destroying the Earth. The fashion which prioritizes the environment is, in reality, a style symbol and not which gives temporary pleasure and burdens with the lasting guilt of endangering every other creature for lifetime. We should never forget that human beings are a small part of the environment. We will be protected by it only if we protect it. Let’s make sustainable fashion a new trend, one that promotes a better lifestyle and strives for our green future!

By,

Vrunda Kulkarni,

Rank 1: Blog Writing Competition 2025.

III BA LLB.

ILS Law College, Pune.

[1] Rashmila Maiti, The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion, Explained, EARTH.ORG, (Jan. 20, 2025, 9.31 PM), https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/  

[2] Adam Hayes, Fast Fashion: How It Impacts Retail Manufacturing, INVESTOPEDIA, (Jan. 20, 2025, 9.33 PM), https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fast-fashion.asp 

[3]Giada Nizzoli, Brief History of Fast Fashion (& Changing Its Future Course), PROJECTCECE, (Jan. 20, 2025, 9.36 PM), https://www.projectcece.com/blog/637/brief-history-of-fast-fashion/ 

[4]The social impact of fast fashion, FABRIC OF CHANGE, (Jan. 20, 2025, 9.38 PM), https://www.fabricofchange.ie/articles/the-social-impact-of-fast-fashion- 

[5] A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashions future, Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation, 19, https://emf.thirdlight.com/file/24/uiwtaHvud8YIG_uiSTauTlJH74/A%20New%20Textiles%20Economy%3A%20Redesigning%20fashion%E2%80%99s%20future.pdf   

[6] Fashion Industry, UN Pursue Climate Action for Sustainable Development, UNFCCC, (Jan. 20, 2025, 9.40 PM), https://unfccc.int/news/fashion-industry-un-pursue-climate-action-for-sustainable-development 

[7] Daniel Elbaz, Why We Need to Phase Plastic Out of Fashion, PLASTIC POLLUTION COALITION, (Jan. 20, 2025, 10.30 PM), https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2023/8/24/why-we-need-to-phase-plastic-out-of-fashion 

[8] A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future, ELLEN MAC ARTHUR FOUNDATION, (Jan. 20, 2025, 9.40 PM), https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/a-new-textiles-economy 

[9] Gerardo Bandera, How the fashion industry pollutes our water, FAIR PLANET, (Jan. 20, 2025, 10.32 PM), https://www.fairplanet.org/story/how-the-fashion-industry-pollutes-our-water/ 

[10] Cheynekoh, Noyyal and Bandi Rivers: shocking cases of the textile industry’s pollution in India, FABRIC WORLD, (Jan. 20, 2025, 10.35 PM), https://www.fabricoftheworld.com/post/noyyal-and-bandi-rivers-shocking-cases-of-the-textile-industry-s-pollution-in-india 

[11] Distribution of energy consumption among leading textile companies in India in financial year 2023, STATISTA, (Jan. 20, 2025, 10.37 PM), https://www.statista.com/statistics/1483866/textile-companies-share-of-energy-consumption-india/ 

[12] Exploring the three Rs of waste management — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, ROGUEDISPOSAL, (Jan. 20, 2025, 10.40 PM), https://roguedisposal.com/resources/education/recycling/exploring-the-three-rs-of-waste-management-reduce-reuse-recycle 

[13] Bas Fransen, The Circular Fashion Economy: A Sustainable Shift Towards a Greener Future, ECOMATCHER, (Jan. 20, 2025, 10.43 PM), https://www.ecomatcher.com/the-circular-fashion-economy-a-sustainable-shift-towards-a-greener-future/