Back Away from the Graphic Tee: Startling Truths About Fast Fashion
Now that Mother Natch is (maybe) done with the unreasonable snow-dumps, we’re packing away our boots and breaking out the Chacos.
Of course, retail stores started hauling out the new season’s fashions weeks ago, hoping to entice us with their jumpsuits, cut-offs, cropped cardigans, and, apparently, Little House on the Prairie dresses. (WTF, Target?!)
And entice us they do. For example, nearly 75% of women update at least 25% of their wardrobe every three months and, on average, Americans pitch 81 pounds of clothing every year.
Who cares? Well… we suspect you will by the time you’ve finished reading.
FREEBIE ALERT! Keep reading…(we know it’s a LOT of words, but it’ll be worth it).
Fast Fashion 101
For those of you unfamiliar with the phrase fast fashion, here’s the scoop: As consumers, we’re drawn to novelty and affordability. Certain clothing brands cater to our whims by churning out new stuff constantly and selling it for impossibly low prices.
Spoiler alert: Fast fashion isn’t about keeping us stylish. It’s about making the fashion industry more money. And it’s wreaking havoc along the way.
Bad Style is the Least of Our Worries
OK, so let’s talk about why fast fashion is problematic. First? You’re gonna regret the matchy-matchy knit ensemble. Maybe as soon as next week. (Sorry.)
But there’s a lot more at stake than buyer’s remorse.
Fast Fashion Overflows Landfills
When we throw away clothes because they’re “so last week” or because they fell apart after a few wears, where do you think they go? To a landfill, of course—right along with the thousands of garments overproduced and never even sold.
Now let’s do some math. Think of how much clothing you throw away to make room for your new stuff every season. Multiply that by the number of people who impulse buy in the clothing aisle. Now raise that to the power of Gen Zs who’ve ever used the hashtag #ootd. That’s the number of clothing items being tossed into our landfills every day. (Give or take. Formula not confirmed by a mathematician
“But I don’t throw mine away!” you say. “I donate them!” That’s great! Your heart’s in the right place. But here’s the thing: Many second-hand stores won’t even take fast fashion clothing. So it goes into the landfill anyway.
Other donated clothing items are sent to developing countries. But they can’t even give them away as quickly as they’re coming in. For example, Ghana receives upwards of 15 million fast-fashion clothing items every day. Not long ago, a mountain of discarded clothing in Accra, Ghana, generated sufficient methane to spontaneously combust.
So much for helping those in need.
Fast Fashion Releases Toxins
Fast fashion tends to use materials containing toxic chemicals, pesticides, lead, dangerous dyes, and more, and all of that yuck gets released into our water system when we wash them.
And then because those materials don’t break down, those toxins seep into our air for decades after the items are discarded.
Fast Fashion Harms Laborers
OK, this is what really pisses us off about fast fashion.
Given the low cost we pay to buy these garments, it should come as no surprise that the people making them are paid basically zilch. In addition to severely inadequate pay, fast fashion factory workers are subjected to dangerous working conditions, harmful chemicals, impossible quotas, gender-based violence, long hours, and wage theft. All so we can wear the next hottest trend—once or twice.
This abuse of human rights isn’t just happening “over there.” (But even if it were, it would still be a major problem). People are subjected to these working conditions right here in the United States. Appalled? Same.
This needs to change. Fast.
As consumers, we have a responsibility—and plenty of opportunities—to do something about fast fashion.
Before we offer a few how-tos, we want to acknowledge this: Opting out of fast fashion can feel impossible if you’re on a tight budget. Sustainably made clothing is waaaaaaaay more expensive than fast fashion. If you’re feeling a financial pinch and want some sustainable options, check out this post. Just know there’s zero shame in doing what you need to do to make it, fam. None. (And check out our giveaway at the end of this post. It’s one of the best ways to stick it to fast fashion brands—even on a budget!)
Let’s start with a tip for those who are buying into the fast fashion mega-storm: Please reconsider. The only way to end this destruction is to quit supporting companies participating in it. We promise, no one will notice if you wear an outfit more than once. And if you really need to be super trendy, try parting your hair in the center. We hear that’s cool now.
But even if you’re not constantly giving into fast fashion, you can still make a difference:
Go timeless. When you do buy new clothes, look for things that will stand the test of time instead of a trend that’ll be over by the time you get home. Choosing quality over quantity in classic styles means you’ll have fewer pieces that last longer—and still look amazing.
Support sustainability. Plenty of brands are out there making a conscious effort to create clothing that’s good for people and the planet. Here are just a few. Also, try to choose clothes made from natural, biodegradable materials like bamboo.
Choose used. Buying clothing from a secondhand store is a great way to save money and keep those items out of landfills. Also, check out online clothing recycling services like ThredUp and Rent the Runway.
Donate. When you’re ready to get rid of your clothes, donate them instead of pitching them. Just be sure that your recipient will accept the types of clothing you’re giving; otherwise, they could end up in the garbage after all.
FREEBIE ALERT! Congrats! You made it!
We’ll help you get started.
We’re super motivated to make a change to this industry, and—since you’re awesome and all—we bet you are, too.
We’d love to give you a running start by sending over a ThredUp gift card. It’s a little thing, but little things can add up in a big way. (Just ask that pile of discarded polyester shirts smoldering in Ghana.)
PLEASE SEND ME A THRED-UP GIFT CARD!
Want to chat more? Book a Discovery Meeting and let us know what’s on your mind.
