Fast fashion has become a global phenomenon with consumers being able to purchase celebrity-inspired outfits for a very cheap price. It is estimated that the global fast fashion market was worth $122.98 billion in 2023 and is expected to be worth $136.19 billion by the end of 2024. This is a lucrative market, so it is no surprise that fast fashion brands are popping up everywhere.

But fast fashion is a damaging industry when it comes to our planet. There have been numerous reports of workers being exploited as well as evidence that the way clothes are made isn’t sustainable or safe for the planet. Here are some reasons you should ditch the fast fashion brands and switch to second-hand or eco-friendly clothing.

Exploitation of workers

To keep the price of your newest dress low, companies are constantly looking to save money in other areas. It is common for fast fashion brands to be based in countries where there is cheap labour and no minimum wage laws.

Countries such as China and Bangladesh are targets for these businesses. Factories where there is no worker protection put their workers in hazardous working conditions, meaning their safety is at risk and they get paid very poorly. There have been interviews with workers who say they are working 75-hour weeks which is very unsafe.

Quality

In the same way companies save money on labour, they also tend to choose materials that are of lower quality. Materials such as polyester aren’t as durable as cotton or linen, leading to clothes wearing out quickly and being thrown away.

Material choices have fed into a culture of throwing clothes away rather than recycling or mending them. It is thought that around 300,000 tonnes of clothing end up going into landfill every year.

Design theft

Many young children dream of being a fashion designer. It is an incredibly hard job to be successful in, so nothing can be more frustrating than a large fast fashion house ripping off one of your unique designs.

Many small businesses have seen giant companies such as Shein or Temu making exact replicas of their products for a fraction of the cost. This leaves small businesses unable to sell their products, making it hard to succeed. It’s good to have a team of expert fashion lawyers who can guide you through the process.

Pollution

The fashion industry as a whole has started to think about sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing processes. Fast fashion, however, does not seem to have that goal in mind.

Waste occurs at every stage of fast fashion production, harming water, the air and wildlife in the wider area. Clothes going to landfill are also a large contributor to the pollution surrounding this issue.

Chemicals are also widely used in this industry. Wool is commonly combined with fibres that are born from fossil fuels and then coated with toxic chemicals. This production creates a host of harmful gases that are released into the atmospher