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What is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion is a way to describe the business model that mass produces lots of clothes quickly, cheaply and poorly, leading to them having shorter lifespans. It's why there are always different clothes when you go into shops like Primark and H&M.
How does it impact the Climate?
Fashion on its own is one of the largest polluters, producing 10% of global greenhouse gases, which is more than the aviation and shipping industries combined. Due to how fast trends move global apparel consumption has risen to approx 62 million tons a year, and this leads to even more pollution due to the rate and amount produced.
According to the 2019 UN Environment Report, ‘The Fashion industry is responsible for 8% of carbon emissions’ and in the same year the Clean Clothes Campaign found that “Three out of five fast fashion items end up in a landfill”.
This is only the surface of how much Fast Fashion pollutes, there is even more environmental impact in the fibre and textile production, how it is disposed of and the amount of water used. Unfortunately, we can't fit all the statistics about this on here but here are some places you can learn more!
Where can you learn more? (and our sources):
https://earth.org/fast-fashion-pollution-and-climate-change/
https://impakter.com/fast-fashion-effect-on-the-environment/
https://goodonyou.eco/fast-fashion-facts/
Choosing to quit fast fashion and move to a more slow fashion approach to clothing is one way we can limit our impact on the environment both as individuals and young people. Other resources to learn more about the fast fashion industry include books such as Fashionopolis by Dana Thomas, How to Break Up with Fast Fashion by Laura Bravo and a documentary called The True Cost which can be found on both Youtube and Netflix.
Moreover, slow fashion to some may not be the most accessible for many reasons leaving fast fashion as the only option. Despite the large environmental impact of fast fashion, it is a necessity to many. It’s vital to remember the importance of system change and lobbying big corporations and politicians before heavily scrutinising each other's individual impact. Let’s do what we can and where we can, prioritising education and collective action!
Do you believe in the power of education? At Teach the Future, we’re campaigning for Climate Education to be embedded across the UK Curriculum. Find out how to support us at www.teachthefuture.uk.