Today, we live in a world obsessed with the 'ins and outs' of fashion, so much so that we often overlook the harsh truths hidden behind a singular piece of clothing. We chase trends without pausing to consider the reality woven under each seam: unsustainable resource use, labor exploitation, environmental damage, and pollution. While the spotlight remains on trends and low prices, the social, ethical, and ecological impacts remain beneath the surface.
The term “fast fashion” is defined as the speedy production of cheap, trendy clothes mimicking designer or popular pieces that are quickly available to shoppers. The fast fashion industry is now worth over $150.82 billion, profiting off of overconsumption and rapid style changes, prompting brands to churn out clothes faster and faster. But every new outfit comes at the high cost of water, air, land, and labor. In 2025 alone, the fashion industry used over 41 million hectares of land, and 170 billion cubic meters of water. What’s more, the entire industry hires around 430 million workers, out of which most are underpaid and exploited for work in gruesome conditions.
Overconsumption is one of the biggest contributors to the fast fashion industry. New trends of clothes worn by influencers and models make an impact on consumer habits. In order to fit into a group or society, many will shop the trendy look despite understanding the impact behind their purchase. The “in and outs” of styles are so rigorously followed, that most people are blind to see the real story: pollution, landfills, and underpaid labor.
The societal pressure associated with fashion trends has caused significant damage to the environment. The desire of many to stay in style leads to overbuying of clothes, creating overflowing wardrobes, with many retiring outfits after only one or two wears. This incentivizes the fast fashion industry to produce more clothes at an even faster pace, without giving a thought to the burden on our environment and the laborers working.
The fast fashion industry may offer cheap clothing, but the unseen cost is passed onto workers and the environment. Behind the low costs, the trendy clothes industry is an industry that thrives on the exploitation of both people and the planet. Workers are underpaid while busting out new, stylish clothes and often working in unsafe conditions, while being exploited for their labor. It doesn’t end there. Fast fashion also spreads its stitches in the water, gushing out toxic dyes and chemicals in the water, harming marine life and ruining the world’s limited oceans. 35% of the microplastics in our oceans come from the fast fashion industry by washing, dyeing, and cleaning the fabrics. It also relies on non-renewable resources, like oil, needed to power the industry, and consumes around 1.35% of the world’s oil supply. If this industry continues to receive public support, we are directly endorsing an industry that destroys human lives and our environment, while promising a future without some of our valuable resources.
We can stand up to the fast fashion industry by understanding the truth behind each article of clothing we purchase. Every time we tap our card on the machine, we are openly choosing the world we want. Ask yourself—do we deserve a life with respect for people and the environment, or should we remain complacent in a world with rampant exploitation of people and our environment? Change in the world can start with a small stitch—us, our closets, and our mindfulness every time we buy and wear.
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