Fast fashion is a business model that relies on quickly producing cheap, trendy clothing to keep up with current styles. Brands like Shein, Zara, and H&M release hundreds of new items each week, encouraging overconsumption and waste (Niinimäki et al., 2020).
According to the United Nations, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions—more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. It’s also the second-largest consumer of water (UNECE, 2018). And what happens to all those cheap clothes once they’re out of style or fall apart? Over 85% of textiles go to landfills each year (EPA, 2022).
Beyond the environmental cost, there’s the human cost. Many fast fashion factories operate in developing countries where labor laws are weak. Workers—often women and even children—are underpaid and work in unsafe conditions.
Now the question is, why do we keep buying? Let’s be honest here, fast fashion is convenient. It’s everywhere, it’s affordable, and it gives us a quick way to participate in trends. And for people living on a budget, it sometimes really is the only option.
But we’re not powerless. The key isn’t to guilt ourselves into never shopping again, but to become more intentional. Small changes can lead to bigger shifts in how we think about clothing.
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