The impact of fast fashion

The cost of fast fashion is low on the consumer’s pockets. But textile workers and the environment end up paying a high price. Fast fashion is cheap because the workers aren’t paid adequately. Clothes aren’t of good quality and are quickly discarded. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for about 10 percent of global carbon emissions. Aaradhana Shrestha from ApEx spoke to three people to find out their thoughts on the impact of fast fashion on the environment and how people can make more sustainable choices.

Aayush Shrestha, 24

Fast fashion’s environmental impact is alarming, driven by quick, cheap production to meet trends. This results in massive waste, with textiles filling landfills and synthetic fibers taking centuries to decompose. Resource depletion is severe, as cotton production for a single t-shirt uses thousands of liters of water, and the dyeing processes pollute water supplies. The industry’s carbon footprint is also significant, from manufacturing to global shipping. To counter this, consumers can buy less and choose well-made, timeless pieces, support sustainable brands with fair trade certification and shop secondhand. Proper care, such as following washing instructions and repairing clothes, extends their lifespan. By educating ourselves and others, we can shift towards more sustainable fashion consumption, thereby reducing the industry’s environmental impact.

Aarju Joshi, 27

Fast fashion is characterized by rapid production scales, where trends in clothing styles and often subpar materials have severe and negative effects on the environment. We can choose to be more sustainable by buying less, choosing well made, good quality items, supporting sustainable brands, opting for secondhand and thrifted items, prioritizing quality over quantity, and caring for your clothes. As a fashion student studying in Thailand, I’m exploring and researching thrift stores, sustainable design, and methods that have less impact on the environment. I believe that with a strong sense of fashion, we can transform any design or vintage clothing into trendy and innovative styles that align with our fashion preferences.

Sumnima Bantawa, 22

Fast fashion has a great impact on the environment. According to research, around 85 percent of the fast fashion ends up in landfill. But in the context of Nepal, we Nepalis love to reuse everything. The new shirt gets worn until it turns into a mop. The mop isn’t even the last stage. It’s then turned into fillers for ‘chakati’ or ‘dasna’ at last. I love how I have learned to make the most out of every product from my mother. Like cutting the moisturizer tube to scoop out the last bit of it, which ends up lasting more than a week, and DIY-ing the clothes you own for new looks, for instance, cutting my jeans to turn it into a skirt. To stay sustainable I purchase from thrift stores and once I’m done with styling and taking pictures I thrift it back, at a lower price. I do the same with my new clothes. It’s a cycle.