The Impact of Fast Fashion Ecosystem Destruction: Can Sustainability Become Fashionable?

Abstract

Background: The early 2000s inspired the creation of fast fashion, replicating trends seen on runways, television, and magazines; mass-produced at low cost and delivered to retailers when consumer demand was highest. Mass-production of commodities, energy, and raw materials is over-consumed and wasteful. While the fashion industry contributes enormously to our global economy through trade, employment, and international investment, the overexploitation of natural resources and environmental damage caused by toxic waste/pollution warns of the ecological collapse and social health concerns associated with fast fashion.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion, revealing ways to mitigate its harmful mass production/consumption through economically sustainable fashion.

Design and Method: Research methods are based on academic and popular literature, as well as statistical analysis and global initiatives in the fashion industry. Sources focus on fast fashion, including its appeal to consumers/retailers and how the mass-production/consumption process drives the global economy while undermining ecosystems and social health. Journal articles, interviews, experimental studies, popular news, and government data are reported in the Results section. The questions this study aims to address are: In what way does fast fashion contribute to the destruction of our planet's ecosystem? Could sustainable clothing be considered fashionable and mitigate the damage caused by fast fashion?

Results: The research is significant because science has found that the globalization of fast fashion leads to ecological hazards as well as social health problems from toxic chemicals such as triclosan and nanoparticles in non-decomposing microplastics from landfills and polluting the earth's water supply. Likewise, the findings suggest that consumers, retailers, and apparel brands are collectively responsible for reducing waste through recycling and circular economy initiatives. Moreover, when consumer attitudes/behaviors embrace sustainability and businesses aim to address the use of toxic textile/synthetic fabrics that don't break down, ecosystems can repair for the benefit of people and the planet.

Conclusions: At this point in history, global intervention by retailers, suppliers, and consumers will encourage more sustainable fashion production/consumption. Fast-fashion landfills are causing social health problems such as cancer and lung disease filling deserts with chemical waste and our oceans with deadly poisons. Therefore, consumers must change their shopping behaviors and advocate transformative sustainable initiatives to force retailers to use non-toxic materials that are safer for the environment and human health.

Keywords: Fast-Fashion, Circular Economy, Land Fills, Product Development, Recycle Textiles, Sustainability, Textile Waste, Vertical Supply Chains.