Sustainability and ethical use of resources are crucial in today's day and age. We all have read enough about how it is pertinent that people are environmentally conscious, make informed decisions and do their bit to reduce wastage and carbon footprint. This also applies to the mega fashion Industry in India today. This giant industry provides income to lakhs of people right from the grass root level like the local suppliers of textiles, weavers, tailors, distributors etc. up to the top management. While we all love to dress up and look our best, but have you ever stopped to wonder how does it affect the environment? The current spotlight on fast fashion highlights the consequences of mass-produced garments that offer incredible variety to consumers but does so by causing great harm to the environment. The desire to be trendy and make headlines often overshadow the practise of recycling or reusing.
Over years, there have been many clashing opinions about fast fashion being a boon or a bane. The fact of the matter is that producing high-quality garments is expensive and many in the country cannot afford to spend such a large amount on clothes. So, an easy alternative is inexpensive, mass-produced clothes that are focused on setting new trends and 'use and throw'. The question then arises is that can the consumers be blamed? Or should the brands be held responsible?
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What Makes Fast Fashion Bad?
Here Are A Few Reasons Why Fast Fashion May Be More Of A Bane Than A Boon
1. Environmentally Hazardous
Mass production of low-quality and cheap garments generates a lot of waste and also uses a lot of resources. The labour cost is hence very low and the working hours - skyrocketing. Contrary to common belief, fast fashion uses the same resources as regular production but on a much larger scale and at a greater frequency.
2. Storage Issues
Right from the generation of these clothes, storage becomes an issue. The bulk production does not ensure a guaranteed sale of the garments. In case a trend fails to work, a lot of created garments go to waste. The weekly trends bring in weekly collections from the Fast Fashion brands which are a great trouble to store.
3. Low-Quality Garments
The trend followers go on with their regular purchase of these garments. Some just buy these because they are cheap and abundantly available. However, they are made of inferior quality. They cannot be used for a longer period and need to be replaced frequently. This adds to the total cost and makes these garments more expensive than better-quality garments. Hence, quality over quantity is something the consumers must keep in mind.
4. Psycho-Social Impact
The 'Trend Culture' harms the overall mindsets of people. There is a constant urge to level up to others and be in the race. There is a status, a position to be maintained which then leads to great anxiety in many. In addition to the economic impact, the social and psychological impacts should also be kept in mind when one looks at the repercussions of fast fashion.
So, we would like to conclude by saying fast fashion needs to be given a sincere thought by the masses and we all should make conscious buying decisions each time.
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