Fast fashion: inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.
Fast fashion is designed to quickly produce large amounts of low-quality items to be worn a few times before being discarded in exchange for new, trendier pieces. In a world of overconsumption, fast fashion harms the environment, producing 3 to 10 percent of total carbon emissions, according to an article in Volume 38 of “Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Energy.” We have less than five years left on the Climate Clock to limit irreversable damage caused by global warming. By converting to “slow fashion,” we could significantly reduce carbon emissions and excess waste.
Fast fashion is growing due to popularity of stores like ZARA and H&M, as mentioned in the Harvard Business Review. However, normalizing fast fashion hurts our planet. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, fashion production consumes more energy than the aviation and shipping industries combined, and its carbon emissions are equivalent to the entire European Union. Additionally, about 85 percent of new textiles go to landfills annually.
Until recently, I was contributing to this problem. I was enticed by the low prices for clothes that followed seasonal microtrends. Now, I am more aware, and I want to educate others on this issue. We must realize that the future is not fast fashion, but instead, mindful buying and reusing.
While some may still doubt global warming’s urgency, I have personally witnessed these effects, as western Kansas has frequently struggled with wildfires and droughts. When I traveled to Europe recently, the impacts were even more noticeable. In Paris, our tour guide expressed frustration and worry about the trees that line the city streets because they are struggling to survive the changes in local climate. People I met in Switzerland discussed how much warmer it is in their country now. According to the Switzerland Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, their average temperature increase is nearly double the global average. Switzerland has also seen significant increases in hot days, dry days and extreme weather. Global warming has the potential to affect nearly every aspect of our lives, from food supply and the economy, to disease outbreaks and refugee crises. If we continue to support a lifestyle that neglects the planet, this is the future we create for ourselves. Yes, it will take more than changing our shopping habits, but this is a crucial step toward a better future.
The simplest solution is to stop buying. However, this is not realistic. Instead, we should focus on quality over quantity in production and consumption. When possible, buy locally and buy secondhand. On a larger scale, we should redefine “progress.” As stated in the Harvard Business Review, success of a company should not be measured by sales totals, but by their contribution to society’s wellbeing. This includes benefiting the environment, the people and the economy. To realize these changes, governments must create an economy discouraging fast fashion. By urging companies to invest in sustainability, we set a standard for manufacturing that is less destructive. If we can collectively move toward slow fashion, this can pave the way to overcoming other challenges for our planet’s health.
26ddixon@usd489.com
