As fashion trends quickly and consistently roll out, companies have partaken in mass-producing fast fashion. Manufacturing cheaply-made clothing is a method used by many companies, such as Shein and Boohoo, to keep up with current trends, sell clothes for low prices and maximize profits. However, as awareness spreads of fast fashion’s impact on the environment, an increasing amount of people are influenced to stop supporting this concept and companies that give into it.
Fast fashion has been of major concern, particularly to Gen Z who have supported sustainability efforts. Due to fast fashion, companies manufacture more than they can sell and consumers constantly renew clothing pieces to follow trends. Consequently, this cycle leads to social and environmental impacts, such as poor working conditions and a heavy carbon footprint. Such impacts have resulted in increased efforts, such as thrifting and supporting eco-friendly clothing brands, to combat the negative effects of fast fashion on communities around the world.
Used textiles from the Global North are having a devastating impact in poor countries, enabled by the Second Hand Clothing trade and fast fashion. Thanks to fearless campaigners @Chemitei_ the Youth Council Chairperson at Clean Up Kenya who continues to highlight this issue pic.twitter.com/vuq1U1a6IS
— Clean Up Kenya (@CLEANUPKENYADAY) March 22, 2024
In addition, companies are being called to action and facing decreasing consumer demand. For example, according to The Independent, fast fashion company Boohoo is experiencing a slump as sales lower by nearly a fifth. Furthermore, other companies such as Shein, H&M, and Zara are being called to action to take initiative, prioritizing health and sustainability as their consumer demand, partnerships and overall outlook are at stake.
Another reason to not buy from fast fashion companies – let's add this to the already extensive list of why you shouldn't support companies like Shein https://t.co/rifWtupyxX
— MAXIMILIAN KILWORTH (@MaxKilworth) July 19, 2023
Looks like I’m turning away from fast fashion brands since they’ve shown how they really feel about us
— kia commodore (@ikeeyah_) May 29, 2020
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods