A Feature on Fast Fashion

These past four years of studying fashion have really been eye opening. Not only to how intricate and expansive the industry is, but also how detrimental it is to our planet. For my final feature story for my Media Writing Course at LSU, I chose to write about it. (In AP style, per the guidelines.)

"“Wow, that's awesome, something I like to do is good for the Earth!” 

  A quote that everyone should be saying, when it comes to their clothing consumption habits, but with a lack of government regulation, few can say with confidence. 

The Fashion industry is one of the most detrimental industries to our planet. What can one do to reduce or reverse its effects? 

One of the world’s biggest pollutants is the textile industry. The fashion industry has grown at such an alarming rate, American lawmakers are unmotivated to combat its harmful effects. 

Sustainable fashion is rising in popularity, outpacing the overall retail sector. Second-hand fashion as a business is predicted to increase to $350 billion by 2028, according to ecowatch.com. The consumers of gen Z are some of the biggest contributors to the growth of secondhand fashion. They strive for a unique sense of style that second-hand, one-of-a-kind pieces can provide.

Angela Alden, second year Fashion Merchandising student at the University of Hawai’i reflects, 

 “My mom grew up being a huge thrifter, so it's kind of just nostalgic for me, but now that it's more talked about, about it being so sustainable it makes me feel like i'm doing something good”

Most consumers want to feel good about their purchases, however with a lack of government regulation on sustainability in fashion, there are still so many issues. 

Most brands that consumers see as “sustainable” today practice greenwashing– the practice of falsely promoting a brand's environmental efforts without the implementation of business practices that back up these claims– making their companies appear to be sustainable, when in all actuality, they’re just as bad as the next brand. Consumers think they are being eco-conscious and ethical in their shopping habits, but instead, they are simply being lied to. 

At a time of fast fashion being so readily available, what are countries doing to limit the negative effects? 

France is the first country to try to put a stop to this. The French Parliament was officially the first to unanimously agree on passing a bill to reduce the promotion of fast fashion in March of 2024. 

The bill aims to enforce transparency within fast fashion companies and their environmental impacts, hoping to transform the industry toward more sustainable practices. It does so by mandating a gradual increase in penalties of up to 10 euros per individual item of clothing by 2030, as well as a ban on advertising such products, according to a CNN article. 

Although the secondhand clothing market is growing at a steady rate, sustainable fashion businesses are still finding it hard to stay that way, especially in towns that aren’t as progressive. 

“As the owner of a vintage clothing showroom in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the hardest part about sustainability in my business is recycling waste, whether it be damaged coat hangers or unusable textiles. The building I rent space in does not offer commercial recycling, except for cooking oil, and as far as I know, there are no local textile recycling centers. To a certain degree it pains me every time I have to throw things out that I know could be recycled or upcycled into something new,” remarks Emily Underhill, founder of Silibi Luxury Vintage.  

It is of the utmost importance to be the change and get involved in bringing awareness to this issue. In order to make change happen, Underhill encourages those who dream of change to get involved with politics on a state and local level because politicians will not fight for these causes if they’re not even aware that this is what their constituents want."

The future of fast fashion is something that scares me, and I hope it scares you too. But in the meantime, I hope you educate yourself and your friends. Become an activist in your community and share what you learn with the world.