As a sophomore, I was assigned the task of researching a controversial topic for this year’s research paper. I have always loved expressing myself through clothing; therefore, it was no surprise that I was interested in the topic of fast fashion. Through this project, I learned about the many consequences of fast fashion and how important it is to be a conscious consumer.
At first, you may not be familiar with the term fast fashion and all that it is. Essentially, fast fashion is the name for companies that produce designs quickly with an inexpensive price tag. Some fast fashion businesses work to release new designs daily. Most of your favorite businesses may be considered fast fashion. For example, stores like Forever 21 and H&M are fast fashion companies. However, the biggest name in fast fashion today is Shein.
These businesses seem extremely tempting to buy from. Who doesn’t love a $5 top? And with many new designs, you are almost guaranteed to find something you like! Of course, this comes with its consequences.
To allow for these low prices, businesses must cut costs somewhere, and unfortunately, the cut seems to be within the factories. Within the factories of these companies, workers face extreme conditions. They work for long hours with minimal pay. These poor, overworked laborers are also exposed to terrible chemicals with lasting health consequences. Picture this: 27 days a month within an unsanitary space where you are scared of many different diseases. Even worse, your pay is only a couple of cents an hour. It is barely minimum wage, and you cannot afford any of the necessities needed to live. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many of the workers within those factories, and that is no exaggeration.
These factories also produce extreme amounts of greenhouse gases. These greenhouse gases cause irreparable damage to the environment. Similarly, the many products that these businesses create produce excessive amounts of waste that arrive in landfills. These businesses promote overconsumption, which is incredibly dangerous to the environment.
With so many new trends, prices begin to add up. Therefore, a different version of a popular product with a cheaper price tag is extremely appealing. However, many of these designs are stolen. The original business rarely receives credit for the original product, as they may not be able to afford the legal battle. Similarly, many smaller businesses are run out of business by the swift pace of fast-fashion companies.
Overall, this is a lot of information to take into consideration when purchasing clothes. Avoiding all of these fast-fashion companies with a budget is nearly impossible. Instead, I’ve learned how important it is for consumers to be just a little more conscious of the decisions they make when purchasing their clothing.
Unfortunately, fast fashion is not going away anytime soon, but small changes to your shopping habits allow everyone to be one step closer to tackling this issue. Here is a list of some things you can do as a consumer to reduce your consumption of fast fashion within a reasonable budget! 
- Thrifting
I absolutely love going to thrift stores. It is one of my favorite activities to do with friends. It is also so much more affordable than going shopping! Buying clothes second-hand reduces the amount of clothes arriving at a landfill and gives them a second life. By doing this, greenhouse gases may be reduced, which is better for the environment! When thrifting, you can even find some great pieces, and not all thrift stores are the same. There are the standard thrift stores like Goodwill and Community Aid, but there are also more luxurious thrift stores, such as Re-Uzits, which are larger and provide more name-brand clothing still at a reduced price!
- Limiting consumption
Instead of purchasing new clothes frequently, limit your consumption. Repeating outfits is not a bad thing! It means you are getting wear out of the clothes you purchase! By limiting your consumption, you are again limiting the clothes that are deposited in a landfill. Keeping up with every trend is nearly impossible, so instead of putting that pressure on yourself, just continue wearing the clothes you do have. You may end up saving more money than you think!
- Encourage your friends
You can continue to spread awareness of this issue. Action is always greater in numbers, so by promoting awareness, you are encouraging others to make small changes to their fashion habits as well. Everyone can make a difference!
While these actions may seem small, they truly can make a difference in discouraging fast fashion! I hope that this has inspired you to become a more responsible and conscious consumer!