Why we Need to Stop Buying Fast Fashion
It may be cheap, but the impact of the rise of fast fashion has devastating global consequences.
Back in 2020, a Sunday Times investigation reported that Boohoo, the parent company of brands, Pretty Little Thing and Nasty Gal, to name but a few had unsafe working conditions in its factories. The investigation also found that the company were guilty of slavery as well as paying their workers as little as £3.50 an hour. The company is worth an estimated £5.6 billion, yet it is unable to pay its staff the national minimum wage.
Fast fashion is about one thing and one thing only, making money. It is not remotely about fashion, and that also goes for the influencers that promote these brands.
In 2021, designer Bailey Prado claimed that Shein had copied several of her designs. In addition to stealing, Reuters stated that Shein was unable to disclose where its stock came from, which meant that the working conditions in those factories could not be certified by international labour standard bodies. A failure to disclose supply chains means that the company can not comply with the UK’s 2015, Modern Slavery Act. This means that the use of child labour by Shien can not be ruled out.
The fast fashion industry has changed the 4 fashion seasons to a whopping 52 micro-seasons. As the prices are so cheap, consumers are able to buy more and change their wardrobes more often. However, the majority of this cheap and badly made fashion ends up on landfill sites, not here in the UK, but in Third World countries.
The fast fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, number one being the oil industry. We are vey conscious of the oil industry and are striving to move away from it with alternative energy and electric cars. However, we do not seem to feel the same about fast fashion as the industry is on the up and not down.
Whilst many think that buying fast fashion is OK, because after they have worn an item once, they can take it to the charity shop (Thrift store). However, the clothing is often so badly made that after it has been worn once, it rips, tears or is unsuitable to be donated or re-worn. I have seen a lot of fast fashion whilst thrifting, but consumers often don’t want it, and in the end, it almost always ends up in a landfill.
10,000 items of clothing are being sent to landfill every five minutes, equivalent to £140 million in value every year.
What you can do?
I completely understand that many people can not afford to buy ethical brands, and I understand that young people are facing increasing amounts of social pressure to dress 'on trend'. This is due to social media and influencers pushing constant fashion hauls down their throats, with no regulation from the social media platforms. It is important to remember, this is not about fashion, it is about making money.
The best thing that anyone can do is to stop buying it and to stop following and supporting anyone that promotes fast fashion brands, people like Molly-Mae Hague and Alisha Marie (YouTube). Remember, these ‘influencers’ whilst they claim to be “normal people just like you” are doing a job, and that job is to sell products to their audience.
Shop in Charity Shops
At one time, these was an element of embarrassment attached to shopping in charity shops, especially for younger people. I don’t think that I would have been caught dead as a teenager in a charity shop. However, now, charity shopping is on the increase, and whilst I am very critical of a lot of ‘influencers’, they are not all bad, there are thousands of Instagram and TikTok accounts dedicated to charity and thrift shopping.
Charity shops have seen a significant increase in donations recently, with people having lockdown clear-outs. I have found some amazing pieces in charity shops, from a pair of Bally leather shoes for £10 and a brand-new Coast jacket for £8.
My favourite charity shops are Barnardo's, they have a great selection and their prices are great, and I also love the Sheffield Cat Shelter shop on Ecclesall Road in Sheffield, UK. They have some amazing pieces and have a dedicated vintage section. If you like Vintage, St Luke's have a specific vintage shop in Sheffield. Many charity shops are also on eBay and Depop, sometimes they put their best stuff online, so be sure to check those out.
If you are on the lookout for designer pieces, try looking in upmarket areas. If you are in the UK, the shops near Alderley Edge in Cheshire are always worth a look.
Not all items in charity shops are used. Many shops partner with brands and sell their surplus stock, end of season lines, seconds. I have found brand-new Marks and Spencer and Lipsy clothing in PDSA stores.
Buy Used Items Online
Many people sell their unwanted clothing. If you are in the UK, eBay, Vinted, Depop, Facebook Marketplace and Shpock are the most popular re-selling sites. If you are in the USA, there is also Poshmark and Mercari, which is very popular.
Yard Sales and Car Boot Sales
These are where you can often find the best bargains at the best prices. I have seen many people parting with amazing vintage pieces that came out of grannies attic for a few pounds.
Brands to Avoid
Boohoo Group plc, this group includes the following brands:
- Pretty Little Thing
- Nasty Gal
- Burton
- Debenhams.com
- Dorothy Perkins
- Warehouse
- Oasis
- Karen Millen
- Coast
- Wallis
Shein
Zara
H&M Group
UNIQLO
Esprit
Primark
Fashion Nova
GAP
Forever 21
Topshop
New Look
Further Reading
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boohoo-fashion-giant-faces-slavery-investigation-57s3hxcth
https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/fast-fashion-brands/
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/what-fast-fashion-why-it-problem
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