Fast fashion

Fast fashion describes clothing created with low-quality materials by underpaid / unpaid garment workers in largely unsafe working conditions that are often sold at cheap prices; the vicious cycle of overproduction, waste, overconsumption in the fashion industry; an approach to designing, creating, and mass producing fashion items based on microtrends. -Remake Our World , adapted by Michelle Xie

Before the 1800s, clothing production relied on local artisans and craftsmen. Sourcing materials was expensive, and production relied on knowledge and time not many people had. The Industrial Revolution introduced sewing machines, computer drawings, and artificial textiles, making the production of clothes easier, quicker and less expensive. Fast fashion brands mass-reproduce clothes quickly and at a low-cost, following the trends of high-fashion luxury brands.

Examples of Fast Fashion

The COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 virus originated in the city of Wuhan in China. For some people, the virus gave them 'permission' to target immigrants, or people who look like immigrants, of Asian decent with hateful words and actions. Some people called for an end to immigration from China, even after the virus had already made its way into Canada. Some called the virus the 'Chinese' virus.

Canadian Figures

Quebec Premier François Legault commented that multiculturalism is a threat to the French language. He explained "it's important that we don't put all cultures on the same level; that's why we oppose multiculturalism," Legault said. In 2018 Don Cherry, who for many years hosted Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada, was fired for accusing immigrants, who he called 'you people that come here' of disrespecting Canadian veterans by not wearing poppies (of which he had no evidence).

Zara, BooHoo, H&M, Asos, GAP, TopShop, SHEIN, Forever 21 and Fashion Nova are examples of popular fast fashion names.

Environmental Damage

Fast fashion uses cheap and toxic textile dyes. The fashion industry is the second largest polluter of clean water globally. Cheap fabrics like polyester are derived from fossil fuels. Moreover, conventional cotton growers from developing countries use enormous quantities of water and pesticides. Deforestation to make room for more cotton fields and farming for leather and leather processing plants is a further problem, and hundreds of chemicals are required to process animal hides.

Animals are also impacted by fast fashion as toxic waste is released in waterways and ingested by land and marine life. Animal products such as leather, fur, and wool can result in animal exploitation and abuse.

20% of the garments are discarded on the manufacturing line and 90% are thrown away in less than a year by consumers.

Exploited Labour

About 93% of fast fashion brands fail to pay their garment workers the minimum living wage. People in fast fashion are exposed to toxic cancer-causing chemicals and brutal working conditions, and much of production occurs in the already highly-exploited Global South. Fast fashion dyes are often discarded into local waters, adversely impacting the health of workers, animals, and nearby residents. Workers, some of which are children, work long hours, for low wages, and under mental and physical abuse.

If you have any suggested revisions or additional resources to share related to the above content, please email them to kenzie@lehub.ca.

Back to Homepage