The Basics - Social Impact of Fast Fashion

Learn about the basics of how the fashion industry affects the lives of many and how the cost of your shirt has a hidden cost that you don't see.

Over Consumption

In recent years the fashion industry has skyrocketed and the demand for clothing went along with it. It is estimated that the average person today buys 60% more clothing than in 2000 (just 20 years ago). And why is this? Because of trends and the low cost, cheap quality clothing on the market today. Society in this day and age trains you to feel like you "need" more clothes, shoes, purses etc. and promotes happiness through physical things. It's this exact mindset that you see on birthday's when people ask for things rather than experiences and is why the first thing people think of when someone is sad is to buy them a teddy bear to cheer them up. As a world we think happiness is the solution and therefore things are the solution. But this does not only affect us but millions of garment workers around the world.

Why is it so cheap?

Ever wonder why your t-shirt is only a dollar or that sweater costs less than a fresh apple? If you have, the answer is so complex, but if you haven't don't be surprised. In the fashion industry there is a huge lack in transparency for the environmental impact AND social impacts. The real true cost is hidden.

Fast fashion is so cheap because it takes the cost from somewhere often times being from it's garment workers... the most vulnerable down the supply chain. These workers are often paid LESS than a living wage and struggling to support their families let alone themselves. Their pay is also often delayed or not even given which puts even more stress on their financial stability and home situation. Many times the children of these workers are sent to live with relatives because the parents and care givers can't phyically take care of them with the wage they have. It is heartbreaking to say the least.

Not only that but there is barley any money put into keeping the workers safe. As shown in the Rana Plaza Tragedy (click here for more info), this was a clear example of these big corporations ignoring and turning a blind eye to the horrible working conditions of these workers. Aside from the little pay they receive garment workers are often physically, emotionally, and sexually abused while begging their bosses to do something about the crack in the walls and broken toilets.

Beyond the working conditions the hours and hours of labour these people are put through is unimaginable. Workers are often forced to take long shifts with overtime sometimes reaching up to 15 hours!

To reiterate, the cost of fast fashion is cheap because of the money taken away from people who desperately need it.

Child Labour

Around 260 million children are employed around the world, of whom an estimated 170 million are engaged in the kind of child labour that should be destroyed. This doesn't mean that children don't have to do light chores, it means that they shouldn't be put in situations that could be their health and safety at risk, doing work that could physically and mentally hurt them, and having their basic rights as a child taken away.

Child labour exists because of the hidden loopholes in the industry and how this labour goes quite unnoticed by regulators. When it comes to children in developing countries they often have less supervision in the workforce and no unions to protect them. This makes them easy "targets" for big corporations to take advantage of. Not to mention how some are forced into this due to lack of financial stability within their own families.

Child labour persists in many parts of the fashion industry but especially in cotton farming. Cotton farming uses child labour to cross pollinate crops, harvest, and for spinning/weaving/dyeing. These children are at direct risk for the many diseases linked to the thousands of chemicals used to increase productivity and to treat the cotton crop. According to goodonyou.eco "In cotton mills in Southern India, poor girls are often enticed to work in circumstances that are virtually bonded labour where factory managers may even have hormones put in their food to stop them menstruating, as women are seen to be less productive during their menstrual period." This is just another heartbreaking way these children are being taken advantage of for our selfish consumption habits.

Environmental Racism in the Industry

"Environmental racism is a term used to describe how marginalized communities and BIPOC are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis due to placement of hazourdous waste sites and the issues that affect people in that area."

But this term doesn't just apply to people within those communities but also to those working in the fashion industry. It has been said that fast fashion is the "epitome of environmental racism". The workers in this industry are predominately white in the corporate and head office positions but the people lowest in the supply chain (majority being black or a person of color) are impacted most with low pay, horrible working conditions, and exposure to heavily toxic chemicals. This impacts them most definitely in negative ways through mental struggles and physical illnesses. The fashion industry relies on the exploration of it's workers and undoubtedly has become a race issue.

What Can you Do?

After knowing all of this there are several actionable steps you can take like... wearing what you have and making it last, holding brands accountable/demanding greater transparency via emailing, commenting, messaging etc. You can also simply look into sustainable and ethical brands and look for certifications when purchasing your clothes or even shopping secondhand is a good way to ditch fast fashion. But the most important step is education so here are a few resources that might help you:

The True Cost - Documentary

Fashion's Future: The Sustainable Development Goals - Course

fast_rev (fashion revolution) - Instagram Page

Good On You - App to help you navigate between ethical and not ethical brands

I don't have all the answers to why this happens and definitely have a lot of learning to do myself but what I do know is that to take action you must educate yourself and that work starts with YOU taking the initiative. You have the power... so use it for good.