The rise of international e-commerce platforms like Shein has introduced ‘ultra-fast fashion’, a model characterized by rapid production cycles, opaque supply chains, and severe environmental and social consequences. This article examines the unsustainable practices of these platforms, highlighting the exploitation of workers and the urgent need for transparency and regulation to curb the industry’s harmful impacts.
This article explores the role of fashion in a world grappling with economic hardship and climate change. It questions the sustainability of fast fashion and highlights the appeal of slow, conscious consumption through bespoke tailoring and heirloom pieces. The article uses personal anecdotes and insights from Filipino designers to illustrate the importance of quality over quantity and the emotional connection we can have with our clothes.
Austria, Finland, France, and the Netherlands have called on the EU to implement levies on clothing companies that promote ‘fast fashion’ consumption. The countries argue that the unsustainable practice of producing and discarding cheap, disposable garments is contributing to resource depletion, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. They propose amending the Waste Framework Directive to hold producers responsible for the environmental impact of their products and encourage the adoption of more sustainable marketing strategies.
The environmental impact of fast deco, the rapidly growing market for low-cost, disposable furniture and home decorations, is comparable to that of fast fashion. Fast deco items are often cheap imitations of high fashion trends and are replaced quickly by the next craze. The business model of fast deco revolves around huge quantities of low-cost products and rapid collection renewals, exploiting commercial holidays and social media to stimulate purchases. Environmental organizations are calling for a culture of reuse and repair to replace fast deco. European social reuse enterprises saved around 1 million tonnes of goods and materials from landfill sites in 2022, highlighting the potential for reducing waste and CO2 emissions.
On World Earth Day, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) raised awareness about the negative impacts of fast fashion through an online campaign. Citizens also gathered to demand accountability for tree plantation along KP North Main Road as per the Tree Act rules.
