Skip to main content

Fast Fashion

Starting in the 1920s, people became obsessed with wealth and keeping up with new trends and fashions. Today, the same phenomenon occurs in the American middle/upper class.






In my own life, I am constantly pressured to buy the newest shoes, the trendiest clothes, and the latest accessories in order to stay relevant. However, I think that it is time for this to change, particularly because of its environmental and ethical implications.

Fast fashion is defined as cheap clothes that can be produced in bulk quickly in order to meet consumer demand. In the fashion industry, styles and trends are constantly changing due to celebrity influence, social media, and fashion shows. This leads to stores quickly disposing of perfectly sufficient clothing in favor of making the most money. The fashion industry is one of the world's biggest polluters, creating 92 million tons of garbage every year, further advancing the world's climate crisis.






Not only has fast fashion affected the world on an environmental level, but companies like Abercrombie and Finch, Nike, and L.L. Bean have been found to use Uyghur forced labor in China in order to keep costs low. This clear exploitation of low-class individuals indicates a moral issue with fast fashion. Other companies use sweatshops and other ways to keep costs low in order to create the most profit.







Current solutions to this issue are often expensive and hard to find, leaving little room for improvement. However, we can make small changes by doing our best to shop locally and buy used clothing. These seemingly minor actions can collectively make a significant difference in promoting sustainability and responsible consumption.

Comments

  1. HemnaOctober 15, 2023 at 12:01 AM

    This is very true, overconsumption is still rampant a century later. At times I develop a want for new shoes or technology because I see how happy someone is because of it. However, I have to realize that happiness doesn't come soley from materialistic desires and those desires don't matter as much as the negative implications of wasteful habits. We need to change our wasteful habits in the fashion industry, both corporations and consumers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. VandyaOctober 15, 2023 at 6:57 AM

    Reading this blog post reminded me of our summit trip :). I love how you related it to the 1920s and consumerism as well.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

attempting to plan out my life

I can't lie - I don't know how likely I am to really come back to this list. Regardless, here are the books I hope I read in the next ten years: 2026 - The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley I'll be honest - my dad has been begging me to read this for the last few years, and I think it's finally time I listen. This will be my first year of college, meaning it's time to really get educated beyond just the subdued version of history I am exposed to at school. Especially because I will be spending so much time in Detroit during my freshman year, I think it is imperative that I learn about black history and its ties to the city. 2027 - American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins I've heard a lot about the life-changing nature of this novel, and by 2027, I truly think this issue will be a prominent focus in American politics, culture, and society. When I was a freshman, I vaguely remember listening to a podcast episode featuring Cummins during a long drive,...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Best Sapphic Artists (in my professional opinion)

Since we read "The Three Girls" this week, a very queer-coded piece, I made a list of my favorite sapphic artists: 5) Chappell Roan It seems impossible to compile a list of sapphic artists without including Chappell Roan. After her viral Coachella performance in April this year and her subsequent release of "Good Luck, Babe!" Chappell seems to have come out of nowhere. She is known for her love of drag and won Best New Artist at the VMAs. In some ways, she reminds me of the Marilyn Monroe we studied in "The Three Girls," especially in her desire to escape fame in some moments. However, she is also the opposite, incredibly vocal about her queer identity in every aspect of her life. I can't list her as my favorite, simply because I have not listened to her music enough, especially because she is so new to the spotlight. However, I absolutely love her unapologetic nature and can't wait to see what she does next! 4) LYVIA LYVIA is definitely the smalle...
Post a Comment
Read more

race plays a role

Elham: "They like English accent French accent not your accent not my accent" This line stuck with me as I read the play, especially when you mentioned your inability to relate to it because you are two generations deep, almost fully assimilated into "American" culture. I am also 2 generations deep, a second-generation American. So why is my experience different? It's because: - The sub spells my name when calling attendance instead of attempting to say it. - My first-grade teacher refused to believe I celebrated Thanksgiving. - No history textbook has a picture of someone like me. It's because I've had the following conversation more times than I can count: Them: "Where are you from?" Me: I live in Michigan, I'm American. Them: "No, where are you really from?" And as much as I feel the urge to respond passive-aggressively, I’ve come to realize that these questions often come from kind, well-meaning people who are simply curious. ...
Post a Comment
Read more