When scrolling on social media, if the term “fast fashion” is mentioned, most people’s minds only associate it with companies like Shein and Temu. In actuality, the majority of clothing brands that the younger generations are wearing are technically considered fast fashion, too. Companies such as Uniqlo, Gap, and even Hollister are regarded as fast fashion stores in the textile industry, with low wages and unethical labor practices being condoned worldwide. In just a couple of weeks, a clothing item can change from a rough idea to being restocked on the shelf.
By definition, fast fashion is a phenomenon that was popularized in the 1990s, where stylish, cheap, and convenient clothing was produced rapidly to match the lightning speed at which the latest trends shift. However, any product being manufactured at a quick pace for an extremely low price never comes from innocent labor. This is where the most well-known and prominent issue with fast fashion resides– the “behind-the-scenes” work practices.
These corporations green-light inhumane workplaces for their employees such as extremely low pay and unrelenting working conditions. Have you ever wondered how much money Shein workers receive if the clothes are so cheap? Well, according to Business Insider, Shein workers shockingly obtain roughly 4 cents per each handmade garment, resulting in a monthly paycheck of approximately $556. Additionally, the article expands on the consequences of inaccuracy, stating that if even one mistake is made by a garment worker, then they will be “fined two-thirds of their daily wages.”
On top of that, Shein workers are in the factory from sunrise to sunset, with various news outlets reporting an illegal amount of 18-hour work days. For these long hours, they are surrounded by extremely flammable fabrics in tightly enclosed factory buildings– a perfect recipe for disaster. When on the topic of fast fashion, most people do not know the real extent of how young these companies are hiring. An article by Reuters details a minor as young as 11 years old working at a Shein factory, even though the government-issued minimum age to work in China is 16 years old. Anyone illegally working in the country below this age is classified as child labor.
Moreover, the environmental consequences of fast fashion are alarming and will continue to rise if it is not stopped. Another article from Business Insider unveils that fashion accounts for 10 percent of global carbon emissions and 85 percent of textiles are dumped in landfills. The increase in fast fashion as a whole is a severe factor in affecting climate change, which will result in our daily lives eventually changing as well.
Furthermore, the component of overconsumption and the fast-paced trend culture cannot be ignored when it comes to the topic of fast fashion. Have you ever scrolled on TikTok and come across a “Shein Haul” or “Temu Haul”, where influencers get nearly 50 cute clothes for such a small price? In fact, it is easy to be persuaded and believe that these websites might not be as bad as others say because of their trendy products. In reality, the click of an “order” button sends hundreds of garment workers to continuously work for hours on end in harsh conditions.
Instead of having a signature style, fast fashion companies tend to latch onto the recent popularity of certain trends and copy what everyone online is going crazy over. Before fast fashion, designers had seasonal items, such as a fall collection or a summer line that was unique to the company. In the present day, the culture of what is “socially acceptable” or up-to-date changes with such haste that we call them “micro trends”, with new aesthetics replacing ones that were created just last week.
On the bright side, there are many ways you can stop contributing to fast fashion. For example, when you are at the store and thinking about buying an item, ask yourself: “does this actually add to my wardrobe or does it just add clutter?” If you find that the answer is the latter, then the item is a want, not a need. Additionally, you can research the labor practices behind the company before you purchase from their website. Another considerable option, which is also recommended on social media, is to go thrifting for clothes, especially if money is a big factor to your decisions when purchasing. Ultimately, always remember to not fall for every trend that you see; ethically create your own unique look that is special to you.
