by Delaney Letts
Large retail stores have described fast fashion as the rapid mass production of the latest fashion styles seen on the runway and later sold in stores to average consumers for an affordable price.
Fast fashion is utilized in stores such as H&M, Forever 21, Zara and more. Clothing and accessories from these stores are usually sold in bulk, but manufactured with poor quality and at a significantly lower resale value.
These stores change seasonal inventory quicker than most would imagine. Many have found this to be an environmental issue. Since the clothing is cheaply made, people are throwing items out after only minimal wears because their jeans may have ripped, their knitted sweater may be pilling after only two washes, or their shoes went out of style.
This problem creates piles of trashed clothing because people desire to shop at these stores monthly, annually or whatever is seen as fit to replace their wardrobe regularly.
Not only is this a waste of money, but it creates problems for landfills. Chemicals such as rayon are released from the fabrics into groundwater (as these materials do not compost). Burning such clothing can release toxins into the air as well. Tasha Lewis, a professor at Cornell University’s department of fiber science and apparel design said, “The rate of disposal is not keeping up with the availability of places to put everything that we’re getting rid of, and that’s the problem.”
Of course, it is impossible to ignore the thousands of people manufacturing these clothes who are underpaid and work in extremely poor conditions.
I stand with the Environmental Protection Agency believing that fast fashion (although a great deal at the mall) is not the most beneficial to our environment nor health.
In my personal experience, clothing I have bought from H&M hits the trash or donation box after about six or seven wears. However, when I shop at a higher-priced store, such as Nordstrom’s, my clothes typically last up to four years.
Colorado Mesa University sophomore Megan Limberg frequently shops at Forever 21. She loves the look and price of all the retailer’s shirts. However, she has a different viewpoint on fast fashion.
“I can see how this type of manufacturing could raise ethical issues,” Limberg said. “But honestly I haven’t really had any problems going through these cheaper clothes faster. For me, they usually last just as long as clothes bought from other nicer stores.”
You do not have to shop at cheaper stores to get the latest “in” styles. High-class stores understand the calling of the market and will manufacture these specific trendy items as fast as possible. Although they may be costly, why not consider the long term benefits of having more expensive clothing?
As for going out of style quickly, fashion trends come and go in cycles. Take Converse (first popular in the early 1900s) or high-waisted shorts (1990s), for example. Here we are in the year 2017 wearing both again frequently!
We should open our eyes and consider that our money may travel further in higher-class stores; we can keep up with trends while assisting environmental protection along the way.
