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Heather Gosling writes about the environmental and human impact of fast fashion. With constant sales, it is sometimes difficult to resist "bargain buys", or pursuing the best deal possible. This article explores the harm such purchases could cause further down the production line, as many endure harsh and dangerous working conditions. Learn more about affordable alternatives to high street brands, and the benefits of charity shops.
Although many of us love the aisles of discounted items at shopping outlets like Primark and H&M, it is easy to forget the problems that fast fashion produces. Recently, clothing brand Boohoo was involved in a scandal , as employees in Leicester were reportedly forced to work for £3.50 an hour, through a pandemic. The workers were unable to adhere to social distancing measures. Boohoo share prices have now fallen by almost 20%. It is clear that changes need to be made, if the industry is to become truly sustainable.
The UK’s fashion industry is worth £26 billion. In its entirety, clothing is the second most polluting industry on our planet, the first being oil. As the price of clothing falls, we are less inclined to mend our clothes, so we simply throw them away, to make room for more. This vicious cycle means that the industry has to mass produce clothing to keep up with consumer demand.
Often, these clothes take over two hundred years to decompose, releasing millions of microplastics in the process. In an investigative documentary, Stacey Dooley discovered that it takes over 15,000 tonnes of water to make a pair of jeans, showing that fashion companies are wasting our most precious natural resource. Many of these cheaply made garments contain toxic dyes known as AZO dyes. Scientific research has linked these chemical dyes to causing birth defects, and even cancer. When these dyes are released into waterways, they can cause significant neurosensory damage to marine animals.
The problems do not stop there. Many garment workers who work in these factories are paid meagre wages, meaning they are unable to support their families. 80% of these garment workers are women, who are unable to escape the industry. In order to cut costs, working conditions are often cramped, poorly ventilated, and lacking in safety measures. This became evident in 2013, when the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh collapsed, causing 1,334 deaths. Fast fashion is not just an environmental issue, but a human rights issue too. Too many corners are cut in the effort to drive down costs and this harms employees, many of whom are unable to join trade unions to fix these issues.
The problems caused by the fashion industry are not going to miraculously disappear. There needs to be real change in consumers’ mindsets. Firstly, we need to stop throwing away so much clothing. Instead of sending clothes to the landfill, one can give them to charity. If they are in good condition, the items can be resold, raising funds for the organisation. However, damaged or poor-quality garments can still be donated, as charities are able to sell them off as “rags”, and make a small amount of money. Another good option is mending the clothes you have, or turning them into something new. A pair of old jeans can easily be converted into shorts with the help of scissors.
Secondly, where possible, the public need to stop relying on fast fashion brands. For many, this is not possible because fast fashion is their main source of affordable clothing. However, there are other options available. Sites like Depop sell second hand clothing, some of which is practically brand new. Change is afoot in the fashion world, with labels gradually becoming more eco conscious; some brands are creating innovative solutions to this problem. London based brand “We are we wear” teamed up with Urban Outfitters to create bold bikinis made from recycled waste materials such as fishing nets. New solutions to this ethical issue are needed, as is a collective change in mindset.
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