Picture it
You enter the mall looking for something different, something that no one else has on instagram, something that no one has in your friend group, something that’s new, something that’s unique. You pass two girls in a span of 20 minutes and realize they are almost wearing the same outfit. You wonder why you keep seeing the same zebra print pants on every teenage girl in town. You wonder if the reason you keep seeing these pants is because they are inexpensive or because social media pressured girls into hopping on the trend. You quickly realize it’s both. This is called Fast Fashion, Fast Fashion is the most common term used to describe the idea of clothing being designed and mass produced at a low cost to align with the latest trends of the month, or maybe even the week. It has become a new way of business which is only manageable with the help of SCM (supply chain management).
These are the people who use the raw materials they have and turn it into your favorite piece of clothing. The SCMs of the fashion world use this business to “gain a competitive advantage” in the industry. It perceives both sides are content, meaning the consumer is happy and so are the producers because the consumer is getting a good price on clothing and the producer is creating an inexpensive piece of clothing and selling it for most likely, more than it was made. What you don't see are the technicalities of fast fashion.
Did you Know?
Surprisingly enough, the fashion industry trails right behind the oil industry. The industry has both a carbon and water footprint and is believed to use around 10% of the global carbons emissions every year and about 1.5 trillion litres of water to use for activities such as the making of materials such as cotton, the dying of fabric, the warehouse the clothing was constructed in, transportation of the clothing and the disposal of the clothing.
Child Labor and Minimum wage
Something else we all must be aware of is the kind of people working for the companies we are supporting with our money. Children ages five to seventeen are being put in unsafe conditions to work for large businesses where they can inhale harsh chemicals and endure dangerous conditions on the daily. Child labor takes children away from education and the childhood all kids should experience. This labor is recognized in Countries such as China and less developed countries such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan and Bangladesh (generally child labor takes place in underdeveloped areas where low income is made). The Reformation clothing store offers health benefits to their workers along with metro passes. They ensure their workers are in “safe, healthy and equitable work spaces” with an income of a living wage where they can afford all the living essentials.
Check out Reformation! https://www.thereformation.com/pages/sustainable-practices
A New Age
Sustainability is a common concept we think of when talking about changing the fashion industry. As we are realizing the impact we have on our earth, many young fashion designers have proposed the idea of designing clothes so they can be recycled at the end of their lifetimes. Clothing in the fashion world is depicted to have a life, which is how long the piece will survive, until it is not wearable. If you don’t want to support Fast Fashion, second hand consumption, like thrifting, allows you to pick pieces of clothing at a reasonable price.
Researching the brands you are buying from can also tell you whether the company supports a sustainable future. Check to see if they use natural fibers and materials such as organic cotton, hemp, recycled cotton, econyl, tencel and non toxic dyes for clothing like turmeric or indigo. The last thing to do is make sure your clothing is traceable (traces where the materials of your clothing is from) this way you know where your clothes are at each part of the supply chain.
For more information: Watch The Documentary The True Cost by Andrew Morgan
Clothing Brands Changing The World One Piece at a Time
Patagonia https://www.patagonia.com/home/
Reformation https://www.thereformation.com
Levi’s Jeans https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/
Mate the label https://matethelabel.com
How Covid-19 has Impacted the World of Fashion
With everything being virtual, fashion has become more accessible than ever for fashion lovers across the globe. Many buyers are beginning to realize they want to know where their items are made and who made them. 2020 has been an eye opening year that no one was prepared for but it has given the public time to sit and really think about cleaner, healthier living. It puts into perspective what we do and how consuming certain items can impact the next generation. Many well known designers are ditching the idea of seasonal clothing, and fabricating more designs that last longer and can be worn anytime of the year. The concept was proposed after copious stores had months of stock shipped to them that then went out of style because the stores closed due to Covid-19. The pandemic has caused the Fashion Industry to rethink its practices and to educate the consumers on sustainability. Some say the intention of the Fashion Industry lies in our generation.
I’m Curious
How has Covid-19 impacted the way you consume fashion? Do you feel like you need to educate yourself more on this huge industry? Can we really make a change?
Here’s a quick article if you are interested in furthering your knowledge on Fast Fashion:
Sources
d-environmental-disaster-report-warns
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/11/922756218/covid-19-is-turning-the-fashion-industry-on-its-head
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