As teenagers, many of us have begun defining ourselves and expressing our thoughts through various outlets such as fashion. Ask a seemingly average seventeen year old what their clothes would say, and replies would range from exclamations of different personalities to the bold emotions that their garments seem to exude. Underneath this surface level understanding comes the realization that clothes have origins still unknown to many. Like our backgrounds and ancestries, clothes also have layers. Beneath the cotton and polyester blend of threads lies stories detailing the labor and design poured into fast fashion. Tales of unsustainability and tragedies plague our fashion industry, with much of the public still unsure of their contributions to this practice.
As a consumer, have you ever wondered how you can access a cheap pair of jeans at your local Target? Have you ever been shocked at the speed that stores push out new, trendy garments? The clothes acting as your second skin range from trendy pieces being replicated from big fashion brands to t-shirts made affordable through labor in the developing world. With the rise of celebrity culture, many look up to influencers such as Kim Kardashian for fashion approval. New and trendy garments worn by influencers are pushed into the spotlight, with many items selling out rather quickly. People who are comparatively less well-off struggle to buy luxury items like those owned by influencers, but still wish to replicate and live a luxurious lifestyle. This is where brands like ZARA, H&M, and Fashion Nova come into play. Such brands are able to take designer items, replicate them through cheap labor, and market garments that will appeal to the public on a large scale. Trendy garments sell out fast, and the cycle continues with brands receiving shipments of clothes to the extent of four times a week.
With a high demand for clothing comes an increase in the number of companies that branch out to developing nations (China, Vietnam, Bangladesh) to create clothes in bulk, while exploiting underpaid workers. Workers are typically women and young girls who suffer from poverty, likely searching for any labor opportunities they can find. These women perform in even poorer conditions: unbearable heat, faulty building structures, lack of natural ventilation/light, and machinery hazards. Shockingly, building fires or collapses causing mass casualties are not uncommon, with the Bangladeshi workers killed in the 2013 Rana Plaza tragedy only being one instance of mistreatment. Even if laborers choose to protest conditions, there is also no guarantee that minimum wages will increase, which can be seen as the Cambodian government tightened restrictions on protestors pleading for better working conditions.
Even if consumerism is argued to be at its peak, there are many precautions that can be taken to stop supporting the fast fashion industry. Thrifting for used clothes is increasingly popular among teenagers due to the ability to find cheap vintage items in a sustainable way. A quick google search on popular thrift stores near your neighborhood would provide easy access to more sustainable shopping, while also allowing communities to still support small businesses. Size and style inclusive options include the practice of buying reliable clothes, but purchasing garments more scarcely throughout the year. Such approaches promote sustainability by using goods to their full potential before discardment. By purchasing garments through other means, fast fashion companies are faced with less demands for clothing, and loss in sales would push for better practices within the business. For generations to come, clothes will provide millions with the ability to boldly express themselves, and we, as consumers, have a responsibility to pay back those who continue to labor for our comfort.
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Written by Archini Desai from Kearny, New Jersey
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