- If you're a UK-based fashionista, chances are good that you've heard of fast fashion. But what is it? And why should you care?
Fast fashion is a term used to describe the phenomenon of high turnover in clothing retail. In other words, companies that sell clothes at low prices and in large quantities. The idea is that if customers are buying something new every few months or weeks, they'll continue to buy from the same retailer over and over again.
The term "fast fashion" was coined by Kate Fletcher in 1986 when she noticed how quickly trends changed in the fashion industry—so quickly that it seemed like things were moving at light speed! She also noticed that people were buying new pieces of clothing instead of repairing older ones or buying secondhand items like they had done before.
Fast fashion isn't just about changing trends: it's also about changing styles. According to an article from The Guardian, "the average woman buys 30% more clothes than she did five years ago." That means more money spent on clothes overall—and more money spent on fast fashion specifically.
Now is the time to make a stand!
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters on the planet. But did you know that the clothing industry is also responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of workers every year?
Let's take a look at how fast fashion is made in China, and what it means for the environment.
In order to get clothes to stores as quickly as possible, manufacturers use harsh chemicals and unsafe working conditions. Because of this, workers suffer from chronic health problems, like respiratory diseases and cancers—and some die from them. That's right: Fast fashion is literally killing people.
But it doesn't stop there! The environmental impact of mass production is also staggering: The amount of water used per item goes up by two-to-five times compared to traditional methods; land use increases by 50%; greenhouse gas emissions skyrocket; and soil erosion can occur at an alarming rate due to over-farming and deforestation.
It's not too late to do your part.
Buying pre-owned clothes is a great way to save money, get unique pieces, and help the environment.
You're probably thinking: "But what about the waste?" And that's a valid question!
But here's the thing: buying pre-owned clothes reduces waste because you're not creating new waste in the process. You're simply reusing what has already been produced and discarded by someone else—in fact, some of these items are actually brand new! In most cases, buying pre-owned clothes does not contribute to an increase in total waste streams.
It also saves you money because it allows you to buy more expensive items at lower prices. Think about it: when you buy something new, you pay full price for an item that might not even fit or look good on you (or worse yet, it might just be out of style). With used clothing, there are no surprises—you know exactly what you're getting before you buy it.
You can also get unique pieces that aren't available anywhere else—and have fun shopping for them! Who doesn't like the suspense of waiting for your mystery box?
