At this very moment our home is at war. With who? Well, none other than the destructive forces of fast fashion. Fast fashion, or inexpensive clothing mass produced unethically to satisfy the latest trends, is a serious issue facing our planet. I am not alone in believing in these ideas. Scholastic journalist Lauren Young provides insight on this topic in saying, “Over the past 20 years, fast fashion has doubled the amount of textile waste the U.S. produces. Each year, the average American throws away about 80 pounds of used clothing. That's more than 15 million tons! The dyes used to color clothing are also the second-largest polluter of clean water in the world (Young).” This quote illustrates the extreme damage directly done by the toxins, dyes, and synthetics used in fast fashion production. There is no arguing that an industry responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions (Yoon) is negatively affecting our planet, as written by Eric Yoon. While 10% may seem small, it has a big impact. Thousands of greenhouse gasses and toxins are released into the environment from this 10% alone. By eliminating fast fashion from our consumer practices, and purchasing from ethical labels, we can reduce this number, therefore reducing pollution and climate change. To summarize the words of Eric Yoon, we need to bring ethics and sustainability to fashion (Yoon). We need to create a more eco-friendly industry, and we are running out of time. 

In search of information regarding this issue among teens, I organized a survey surrounding fast fashion. In said survey conducted on a class of 14 participants, 21.2% care more about low prices than ethics of production when shopping for clothes. Only 6 out 14 care about harm imposed on the environment to the maximum level (Bomback). Slowly but surely the destructive forces of fast fashion are attacking Earth and very few people seem to care! Fast fashion leads to the creation and release of numerous dangerous substances, those that are leading the parade to destroy the planet, and we must call for action. 

Supporters of fast fashion advocate for its low prices and inclusive accessibility. Carol Kane, CEO of popular fast fashion label Boohoo claims that her brand is allowing people to spend less on clothing (Mail On Sunday), but at what cost? Is saving a few dollars off worth the harm imposed on the environment by these apathetic labels? I think not. Thrifting and shopping second hand can save just as much money, and has no negative impact on the environment. Plus, thrifted/vintage clothing are much more stylish and unique, anyways. Boohoo and its equals are profiting off the suffrage of our planet. 

One may wonder how those involved in the fashion industry feel about the menace of fast fashion. As Dori Bomback, fashion blogger and representative for numerous high fashion brands, once revealed in an interview with me, “We have a responsibility to be aware of our world, to be aware of promoting things that are good for the planet, good for humanity, good for society. We have one earth and we all have a responsibility to take care of it (Bomback).” Bomback was asked why, on her fashion and interior blog, she only promotes sustainable products, and her response strongly summed up my stance on this issue.