Fast fashion describes cheap, stylish, mass-produced clothes that have a huge impact on the environment. These garments appeal to shoppers because they are affordable and trendy. However, they aren't built to last and quickly go out of style, and because they're also relatively cheap, these clothes are often quickly discarded, piling up in landfills.
In addition to environmental issues, fast fashion garments spark a lot of ethical concerns. They are often made by underpaid workers who are employed for long hours in unsafe conditions and are exposed to harmful chemicals used in textile production.
The History of Fast Fashion
In 1960, the average American adult bought fewer than 25 items of clothing each year. The average American household spent more than 10% of its income on clothing and shoes. And about 95% of clothes sold in the U.S. were made there, too.
But things began to change in the 1970s. Massive factories and textile mills opened in China and other countries throughout Asia and Latin America. With the promise of cheap labor and materials, they could mass-produce inexpensive garments quickly. By the 1980s, a few big American retail stores began outsourcing production.
“Any company making clothing in the United States couldn’t compete,” writes Elizabeth Cline in “Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Fast Fashion.” “They either had to shut down or move on to importing.”
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