FAST FASHION: THE PARADOX OF CHEAP LUXURY AT AN ALARMING COST
Fashion is pleasure, fashion is power and fashion is art. But on the other side of the spectrum, the fashion industry is also one of the biggest pollutants in the world. According to the UN Environment Programme, the fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions.
image source: pinterest
Fast fashion
comes at a cost, and it is much higher than the one on the price tags that we
see.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE AT ALL?
“Knowing
what I am wearing” is the new mantra of the season, with sustainable fashion
becoming more mainstream, especially among Gen Z. Now, who doesn’t want to
resemble Gigi Hadid’s chic, classy looks or Victoria's Secret models' perfect
and almost impossible to attain figures? To see the luxury of fashion delivered
to your doorstep at such an affordable price is enough to coax anyone into the
paradise of fast fashion. But if you are even a little conscious of the
persisting environmental issues or human rights, I urge you to dig deeper into
the surface of the clothes you rock. Think of it as reading ingredients while
grocery shopping. The more organic, the better, right?
THE
BEGGINGS: HOW DID FAST FASHION EMERGE
Fashion and
beauty have always been the epitome of art and luxury. Earlier brands focused
primarily on the high end of society, and it was primarily the upper-class privileged
people who could afford it. Towards the end of the 20th century, due
to the Industrial Revolution, globalization, and the changing landscape of the economy,
today we witnessed a massive rise in the speed, and production quantity of
these fast fashion brands meaning fashion is no longer targeting a specific
group of society but the common folks like you and me. Relatability is what
sells today, and brands are collaborating with social media influencers to
(quote unquote) make you feel at home.
THE COST
“Coquette
aesthetic” or “Bratz summer” must be your next fashion inspo this 2025. And you
probably have had tons of influencers unboxing piles of clothes on your for you
page, from brands like HnM and Zara. But let's go beyond the shimmer and talk
about the severe outcomes of the reckless world of fast fashion. The cost in
the end is paid by the children working in bizarre conditions in third-world countries
like Bangladesh, whose economy depends on the textile and garment
industry.
The country,
for instance, is the world's second biggest garment exporter after China.
Factories tower over the slums, rivers polluting not just the water but the
health and future of these workers. Buriganga River is one example of the
ongoing destruction among many. According to the locals, the booming textile industry
is a major contributor to the ecological decline of the river. The area is a
mess from untreated sewage, plastic waste, and other chemical waste from nearby
mills.
The men and
women are forced to live in life-threatening conditions as a result of the
untreated waste generated by these factories and work in toxic chemicals 24/7
without any kind of protection in almost inhumane ways.
So, the
point is that behind the leather jackets or shiny polyester tops that come and
go out of trend are the shortened lifespans of the less privileged workers, the
future of their children darkened by these colorful fabrics with sewing
machines in their hands instead of books and darkness in their eyes instead of
hope.
IS THERE A
WAY OUT?
Hence, we
say there is a cost, and the cost is being paid by some stranger working in a
factory in a world that doesn’t care enough to stop these atrocities. It is
also our responsibility, as consumers, to hold accountable and support
sustainable practices and slow fashion. Else, each year, tonnes of clothes will
be showcased in fancy showrooms and thrown away after use, while the workers
will keep on facing deadly challenges every day. That’s the cycle of fast
fashion if not stopped, and it will keep on going.
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