6 Impacts of Fast Fashion on the Environment and Society

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Did you know about fast fashion? Fast fashion is a trend that changes rapidly in a brief time. To accommodate this rapid change, the materials used in the fast fashion industry are not as good as those used in the slow fashion industry.

Consequently, the most visible impact of fast fashion is the continued increase in waste from the industry. To learn about the impacts of fast fashion, read the explanation below.

A Glimpse of Fast Fashion

Fast fashion is clothing produced rapidly, in accordance with the changing trends. Because the clothing industry must follow the fashion trends that only last for a short time, the materials used are usually of poor quality, so they do not last long.

A common example of fast fashion is when the clothing industry keeps releasing seasonal trends. When winter comes, the garment factory will produce massive amounts of winter attire. Then, when summer hits, the winter clothes are left behind and replaced by summer attire.

In general, fast fashion adheres to the four points below:

Fast-changing trends: The trends that alter swiftly and are supported by the massive information spread on the internet make the factories compete to produce the most-demanded styles.
Rapid production: Because of the need to catch up with trends, factories will make clothes quickly to get them to market before the trend is outdated.
Quick wearing period: Constantly changing trends make clothes go out of style more quickly.
Fast-selling and distributing clothes: With the development of the internet, many clothes are sold and delivered faster through marketplaces. Moreover, nowadays, many people buy clothes because they want them, not because they need them.

The Impacts of Fast Fashion

With the developing clothing styles recently, you can be more creative in mixing and matching the styles. Yet, this rapid trend concept could cause several impacts, such as:

1. Increasing Waste

As explained before, fast fashion clothes are made with low quality, which makes them wear off quickly. Consequently, clothes will end up in landfills straight away. Moreover, the fast-changing trends will make people keep buying new clothes and pushing their old ones away because they are outdated. In the end, those clothes will become waste.

2. Damaging the Environment

Did you know? The clothing industry is one of the industries contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Statista mentioned that in 2022, this industry released 879 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

In addition, this big number is predicted to keep increasing by 1.2 million metric tons more in 2030 if it is not handled immediately. Furthermore, a study published in Science of the Total Environment revealed that the carbon footprint from fast fashion is 11 times higher than conventional fashion.

By perpetuating fast fashion, the industry may continue to contribute to carbon emissions. The worst part is that many fast fashion clothes are made from materials that are difficult to decompose and will pollute the soil if left to accumulate in landfills.

3. Polluting the Water

The next impact of fast fashion is that it can pollute the water. Typically, the fast fashion industry uses hazardous chemicals, like textile dyes, that can contaminate the water source if the wastewater is not processed properly.

4. Reducing the Workforce’s Rights

One of the things that fast fashion highlights is workers’ rights. Because they must continue to produce clothes in a short time, workers are required to work harder, which has an impact on their welfare.

5. Supporting Impulsivity

The fast fashion industry will keep releasing new clothes following the trends. Moreover, they can create their own design to be the trendsetter. This will encourage more people to impulsively purchase new clothes.

6. Scraping the Natural Resources

The faster fashion trends change, the faster the pace of fashion production in the world. As a result, more natural resources are extracted to produce these clothes. The production process may require more water and natural fibers, but it is not accompanied by environmental restoration, such as reforestation.

Characteristics of Fast Fashion

From many trends and fashion types, fast fashion has particular characteristics that set it apart, such as:

Low in quality.
Cheaper than other fashion types.
The stocks and models are numerous.
Always following fashion trends.
Using low-quality materials.
The design always changes and follows the current trend.
The market demand is quite strong.
The selling period is quick.
Widely produced in a developing country where the workers are underpaid, but they must work harder.
Audiences will purchase it even though they do not need it because of FOMO.

How to Prevent Fast Fashion

In order not to keep wanting to buy the latest model clothes, you have to be wise in managing your wants and finances. If you need clothes, you can follow these tips:

Buying slow fashion clothes, like high-quality ones that are timeless and do not wear off quickly.
Implementing a capsule wardrobe or collecting easy-to-mix-and-match clothes.
Shopping in the thrift shop or secondhand shop.
Clothes decluttering.
Implementing sustainable fashion.
Renting clothes.
Shopping mindfully and not impulsively.

That concludes the information about the impacts of fast fashion on the environment and society. With the developing fashion trend, you must be wiser in buying clothes and following the trend. Do not let yourself become impulsive by continually purchasing new clothes and letting them pile up.

Also, if you want to contribute more to the environment, let’s join Indonesia Asri and become Warga Asri! With various programs and campaigns, such as #SiPalingSustainable, you can carry out a sustainable lifestyle and preserve nature. Register yourself now and do your best for a greener future!