Shein, Amazon, ROMWE, and wish.com are all names any fashion-lover recognizes. But when did fashion switch from durability to speed? Why is everything built to be bought again, and not to be handed down to future generations? 

In general, the quality of clothing has drastically decreased, contributing to what many may call “fast fashion.” Fast fashion is defined by the oxford dictionary as “inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.” Alongside globalization, trends are circulating faster than ever before, and the causes of it go deeper than anyone might think.

The rapid cycling of clothing has detrimental effects on the environment; many being the pollution caused by the trash (through packaging, fabric, chemical dyes, etc.). This type of fashion is in its nature wasteful; non recyclable and short-lasting clothes tend to be thrown away quicker. 

On top of the waste from packaging and producing, carbon emissions from delivery, and pollution from harsh chemicals, the industry is incredibly unethical – often using labor from other countries. Underpaid and overworked people in sweatshops and factories are forced to endure harsh conditions. While most look at the price of a garment on Shein and think, “Wow! What a great price!” But people hardly look at the price and wonder how it got to be so cheap. 

It’s important to stop and think past the dirt-cheap prices and consider the following: is the material of the garment going to last? Who am I supporting? Who is actually making this? And lastly, where is this sourced? Fast fashion is always going to inherently be harmful for the environment, as well as unethical.

But, because there is little regulation on things like this, it’s our job as consumers to protect the environment. The pressure is on us to buy responsibly and to choose not to support fast fashion. It seems unfair, but that’s because it is. There is nothing stopping big corporations from destroying the beautiful earth we were given; there are no rules for them. 

So, it is crucial for our future that we question all fast fashion practices and stick to sustainable fashion, like thrifting, buying better quality clothes, donating old clothes, and resisting deceitful prices and speed. If we continue to let this get out of hand, we will lose all quality and love in an industry that has been going on longer than time itself; we will continue to allow the world to fill with trash and carbon dioxide, more than it already has been.