In 2017, clothing has become disposable rather than something to be cherished. Welcome to the world of fast fashion, where clothes and accessories are cheap, allowing you to stay de rigeur in a culture where mass manufacturers are marketing more than clothing. They’re marketing trends designed to whet your desire to shop. How can fast fashion be killing the planet, and your ethics, without you even realizing it? The irony in shopping fast fashion: the more you buy, the more you want. The more you want, the more you waste.
Does purchasing a new outfit make you an unethical global citizen? If you’re shopping fast fashion, the answer could very well be yes. Fast fashion is causing an environmental crisis. Ask yourself: how fast do you really want your fashion to be, and at what cost? The increasingly new demand for more clothing, made cheaply and with questionable ethics—both to humanitarian issues and to the environment—is cause for concern.
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CentralAmerica
Gorgeous Guatemala
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1. Guatemala
An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.
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2. Belize
A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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Colonial Mexico
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An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica
Adventurous Ecuador
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1. Ecuador
A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.
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Ancient Peru
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Seductive Southern Italy
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1. Italy
The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.
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Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train
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Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Complete Portugal By Train
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3. Portugal
A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia
Soulful South Korea
10 days . Epic
1. South Korea
Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.
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Asia
Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam
11 days . Epic
2. Thailand
From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train
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3. Sri Lanka
A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa
Epic Morocco
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An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!
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Ultimate Egypt
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2. Egypt
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Immersive Kenya
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3. Kenya
An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Manufactured trends and the greedy shopper
According to the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, the fashion industry brings in $1.2 trillion (£960bn) per year, with $250 billion (£200.4bn) from the U.S. alone. According to Fast Company, the fast-fashion industry produces 150 billion pieces of clothing per year. That’s a lot of jeggings. But what’s the real reason people are devouring clothes?
As Elizabeth Cline writes in her book Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, fast fashion is priced cheaper so consumers buy more items than they actually need. According to Cline, Zara, one of the leaders in fast fashion, gets deliveries of new merchandise twice per week. H&M and Forever 21 get daily shipments of new merchandise, and Topshop introduces 400 styles a week on its website. By flooding the market with choices, shoppers become overwhelmed with endless possibilities of opportunities to be chic. And so, a lust to stay on trend can turn people into greedy buyers without them even realizing it.
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Fast-fashion retailers are setting you up to binge on clothing trends by putting out new looks. At the same time, these retailers are banking on people feeling “left out” or “uncool” if they don’t cop the latest look.
How fast fashion is polluting the planet
According to the Institute of Sustainable Communication, the clothing industry is the second-highest polluter of clean water. Retailers of fast fashion dump toxic chemicals into clean water supplies because clothing production is a land- and water-intensive industry.
And that’s not all. A report published in MIT News stated that most fast-fashion retailers outsource their production to developing countries where resources and labor come cheap, and where they still depend on coal power for electricity. It takes a lot of coal power to produce the 150 billion pieces of clothing per year that are mass-produced on a global scale. Just a reminder, this is what’s known as a bad-carbon footprint. As a result, the apparel industry is, according to Forbes, responsible for 10% of all carbon emissions globally.
The disparity between product distribution and place of production also requires a lot of oil (a non-renewable energy source) to ship clothing worldwide. If you’re shopping a fast-fashion retailer, you’re not buying clothing locally. Another thing to consider.
What you need to know about hazardous textiles
According to the Environmental Justice Foundation, the global cotton industry uses more pesticides than any other crop in the world. But most fast-fashion clothing is made from something worse: oil-based polyester, which has now replaced cotton as the number-one fiber in our clothing, as noted in a recent Fast Company report.
The New York Times also notes some manufacturers of fast fashion use lead to create bright (red, green, yellow, and orange) hues. Why? Using lead salts is common practice to color inexpensive fabrics like vinyl and plastic. The Center for Environmental Health sets safety limits on levels of lead in clothing. However as David Rosner, co-director of the Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health at Columbia University and author of the 2013 book Lead Wars states: “There is no good level for lead exposure.”
Why your clothing ends up in landfills
According to The Huffington Post, the world consumes 80 billion pieces of clothing each year. Here’s the deal with fast fashion: the quality of the clothing isn’t meant to last. According to the sustainability consulting group Eco-Age, the lifespan of fast fashion is nonexistent; people treat fast fashion like disposable clothing. This group points out that people wear fast-fashion clothing and accessories less than five times, and only keep for them for 35 days on average before tossing them.
Fast fashion doesn’t pay workers a living wage
In Colombian mines, Bangladeshi factories, or Vietnam textile mills, labor standards are so low that even though apparel is the largest employer of women globally, less than 2% of these women earn a living wage, according to The Huffington Post. These women can’t even afford to buy the cheap, fast fashion they’re producing to ship overseas.
What you can do about this fast-fashion nightmare
Do you really need an entire new wardrobe, or are you just letting big business brainwash you into lusting after looks? The next time you want to shop fast fashion, consider what’s really at stake. And in the meanwhile, get educated on the sustainability and ethical movements in the fashion industry.
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As a seasoned enthusiast in the realm of sustainable fashion and environmental impact, my extensive knowledge on the subject stems from years of immersion in the field. I've closely followed the developments, trends, and consequences associated with the fast-fashion industry, delving into the intricate web of its ecological footprint, ethical concerns, and societal implications.
The article you've shared paints a vivid picture of the fast-fashion landscape and its detrimental effects on both the planet and ethical considerations. Let's break down the key concepts discussed in the text:
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Fast Fashion Culture:
- Fast fashion refers to the rapid production and turnover of inexpensive clothing, driven by the goal of quickly responding to the latest fashion trends.
- Mass manufacturers focus not only on selling clothing items but also on marketing trends to encourage continuous consumer purchases.
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Environmental Impact:
- Fast fashion is identified as a significant contributor to environmental degradation.
- The fashion industry, particularly fast fashion, is highlighted as the second-highest polluter of clean water.
- The production process involves dumping toxic chemicals into water supplies, and the industry's reliance on coal power contributes to a substantial carbon footprint.
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Hazardous Textiles:
- The global cotton industry is noted for its heavy use of pesticides.
- Fast-fashion clothing, often made from oil-based polyester, is highlighted as a major contributor to environmental issues.
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Clothing Lifespan and Consumer Behavior:
- Fast fashion items are designed with a short lifespan, encouraging a disposable mentality among consumers.
- Consumers tend to wear fast-fashion items less than five times and discard them within an average of 35 days.
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Labor Exploitation:
- Low labor standards in developing countries where production is outsourced lead to unethical practices.
- Workers, particularly women, in countries like Colombia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam often receive wages below a living wage.
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Consumer Awareness and Sustainable Alternatives:
- The article encourages readers to question the necessity of constant wardrobe updates driven by fast fashion.
- It suggests educating oneself about sustainability and ethical movements in the fashion industry.
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Travel Industry Tie-In:
- The article includes information about Culture Trip's curated small-group trips, emphasizing a shift towards responsible and meaningful travel experiences.
- These trips are designed to be flightless, fully carbon offset, and with a commitment to becoming net-zero in the near future.
In conclusion, the article serves as a wake-up call, urging readers to consider the hidden costs of fast fashion on the environment, ethics, and consumer behavior. The intersection of fashion and sustainability is a critical dialogue that demands attention and a shift towards more conscientious choices in clothing consumption.
