At a time when the environmental emergency has never been more pressingBut fashion also has its share of responsibility. The cause? The Fast Fashionwhere the frenetic and excessive production of textile products.
The big fashion chains have never been so profitable. Black Friday, sales and repeated promotions are synonymous with over-consumption and waste. Here's a look at the consequences of Fast Fashion and show you alternative solutions to this devastating phenomenon for the environment.
Visit Fast Fashion definition
Literally "fast mode", the Fast Fashion is the year-round renewal of clothing collections. In contrast to haute couture and its hand-made products, the big brands of ready-to-wear produce garments in very large quantities, using low-cost, outsourced labor.
Cheap production means a limited lifespan. Indeed, one of the consequences of Fast Fashion lies in the rather mediocre quality of the materials used. Clothing made from Fast Fashion are often not very strong and durable.
So there's an injunction to consume more and more clothes. In fact, more than fifty clothing collections are launched every year, as opposed to the traditional four by haute couture houses.
Visit Fast Fashion consequence
The consequences of mass production of low-quality ready-to-wear clothing are numerous. Firstly, the use of large quantities of chemicals on cotton fields is devastating for the environment but also for the local population.
In India and Bangladesh, numerous cases of cancer have been detected, directly linked to the abusive use of toxic products. Water is also often contaminated. As a result, many children are born with malformations.
What's more, the production of this type of clothing continues to pollute once it's in our dressing rooms. In fact, the more clothes we own, the more washing we do. With each washing machine cycle, clothes produce fine particles that are harmful to the environment. the environmentThey are discharged directly into the oceans.
Another devastating repercussion caused by the Fast Fashion exploitation of the workforce. It's no secret that the clothes of major ready-to-wear brands are made in the lowest-wage countries: China, Tunisia, Bangladesh... The result? These workers perform their tasks in miserable and often dangerous conditions. In fact, safety standards are generally non-existent. We all remember the tragic event of the Rana Plazain Bangladesh in 2013. More than a thousand employees died when the building collapsed.
We also need to consider the transportation of textile products, as well as their end-of-life. Thus, the impact environmental transport by plane or boat is considerable, given the sheer quantities involved. What's more, these products are of poor quality, so they are quickly thrown out with all the other waste. They are then buried or burned, which seriously harms air quality and the surrounding flora and fauna.
What are the solutions to this emergency?
As you can see, the Fast Fashion has a devastating effect on the environmentat every level. We don't think enough about all the repercussions caused by the simple purchase of a €6.99 t-shirt.
It's not a question of making consumers feel guilty, of course. But it's important for everyone to make a difference, even if it means making small contributions.
A number of initiatives eco-responsible in recent years. These include Upcycling. This phenomenon is becoming more and more popular, as the idea is so appealing. Quite simply, it involves reusing used materials or products to create quality products. Many fashionable brands are creating their collections using this process alone. Such as Salut Beauté, Glossary or Reformation...
Another trend that's popping up everywhere, both on the Internet and in stores: second-hand clothing. The idea is as simple as it is ingenious: our dressing rooms are overflowing with clothes, so rather than getting rid of what we no longer want, why not give it away to those who might be interested?
Sites like Vinted have exploded onto this market. Every day, thousands of users sell their clothes, shoes, bags... at reduced prices, and often of very high quality.
So it's possible to consume better, even if you love fashion.
Upcycling interested in making it your career? Find out more about the specialized Fashion and Luxury courses at ISAL Paris.
