Fast fashion is out of fashion The negative impacts of fast fashion and what to do about it

Julia Toomey MANAGING EDITOR

“Fast fashion,” a phrase first heard in the 1990s, has become widely used today, but the negative implications often go unheard. Fast fashion first entered the scene when Zara, a trendy clothing store, first opened with the goal to get high up fashion from the runway to their stores as soon as possible. Their mission statement today has not changed much as it is to, “give customers what they want, and get it to them faster than anyone else.”

Many stores over the past forty years have adopted this same goal with similar mission statements including Shein, H and M, and Forever 21. As these types of stores are becoming more prevalent, issues stemming from them have also come to light. These include their use of environmentally detrimental factories and contributions to global clothing waste.

According to the United Nations

Environment Programme (UNEP, as of 2022, the fashion industry accounts for about 10% of global carbon emissions. Much of this waste is due to the nature of fast fashion catering to people constantly wanting the newest style and throwing out the old ones.

Biology teacher Heather Peterson explained that how quickly people throw out cheap clothing is affecting the environment.

“Our landfills are getting filled, and then they’re throwing trash on ships and trying to send it around the world. Then we are paying countries to take other people’s trash. And I think that we can put blinders on really easily because we live in our little worlds,” Peterson said.

Good news is, these environmental effects are in our control as consumers and are avoidable with alternatives to fast fashion.

It is understandable that young people, especially students, want more affordable clothes, but there are even more affordable and sustainable options out there. Senior

Camden Padgett discussed one of these ways is being aware of impulse buying.

“The biggest thing is, like, Tik Tok trends right now. If it’s something

Sustainable alternatives to popular fast fashion brands:

thrifting goes away so more people feel comfortable doing it.

“Often we go as a family, go to the thrift store. There’s no shame in it. We love it. It’s fun. You can get more bang for your buck,” Fulton said.

H&M

Price range :$4-$220

SHEIN

Price range: $0.40-$200

Forever21

Price range:$ 2-$80 that’s not going to be around for a while and it’s probably like you’re not going to wear it for a couple of years later, then I would probably stay away from that just because it’ll just end up donated or in a landfill somewhere,” Padgett said.

With trends changing so quickly due to influencers and social media, it is important for consumers to be aware of whether trends are passing or long lasting. With this in mind, another way to combat fast fashion is by donating and consigning clothes. English teacher Michelle Fulton explained how consigning clothes works best for her family.

“I can take their old clothes, consign them, and then the money that I get, I just purchase through the store and buy hand-me-downs,” Fulton said.

Similar to Fulton, Padgett also consigns clothes.

“I donate a lot, and then I take a lot and consign it,” Padgett said.

In addition to consigning, another option is thrifting. Fulton explained that she hopes the stigma around

Peterson also noted some environmentally conscious ways to get rid of clothing if donating isn’t an option.

“There are lots of organizations that are recycling clothing and making bricks to build houses, and they can use plastic to make chairs and benches. But they’re using clothing, and that is so interesting to me… Researching organizations that are doing that or how they’re sending things away and how you can, you know, give you your stuff that way,” Peterson said.

As young consumers, building these sustainable habits now is imperative to the health of our planet in the future.

Given that thrifting, consigning, donating and recycling are already being utilized by young people, it seems we are headed in the right direction.

That being said, there is still a lot further to go to really combat how much damage fast fashion has already done, and that change starts one person at a time.

ABLE

Price Range: $10-$230

Patagonia

Price range: $10-$150

Everlane

Price range: $10-$110

Reformation

Price range: $2-$80 $10-$370