FAST FASHION
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Fast fashion is becoming more and more popular as the demand for garments increases. With social media displaying thousands of images of celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna and their outfits, which feature designer pieces. They hold a lot of power in influencing consumers. With that being said, Fendi and Dior is not affordable for the everyday purchaser, which is where fast fashion comes in. Some of the high street’s leading brands are among the big names which reportedly source and create garments through methods using fast fashion. Although fast fashion is convenient, campaigners say the garments are often poor-quality, constructed from cheap fabrics and the working conditions in the factories are often poor and dangerous for
By Grace Lansbury
the workers. I chatted to assistant account manager of Kotn, Abby Bamburg about sustainable fashion and the importance of proper working conditions for their workers. Kotn is a ethically focused fashion brand which is based in New York founded by Mackenzie Yeates, Rami Helali and cofounder Benjamin Sehl. The three friends pride themselves on producing reasonably priced, ethically sourced Egyptian cotton items. “We first set out to make a better T-shirt—and when we did that, we started to see that the status quo of the garment industry really did mean choosing between price, quality, and ethics.” Kotn started in 2014 and the team quickly began to realise how many inconsistencies
and bad practices lie within the fashion industry — and set out to change this. Communication between the brand and the workers is of utmost importance to Kotn. To ensure that the workers are treated fairly, with respect and are not exploited for their labour, they work in close proximity with the supplier. “We work directly with every step of our supply chain, from farm to hanger, to ensure best practices, above fair pay, and ethical treatment along the way,” Bamburg says. Fast fashion has a detrimental effect on the environment. Bamburg explains the damaging effects it has on our planet. “It’s damaging for many reasons: first, it promotes incredible waste, more than 15 million tons of textile waste are generated in the United States each year, an amount that’s doubled over the past 20 years.”
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