And that doesn’t even take into account the long hours, unfair wages, lack of resources, and even physical abuse. The health of garment workers is always in jeopardy through exposure to these chemicals. For example, according to the Environmental Health Journal, conventional textile dyeing often releases “heavy metals and other toxicants that can adversely impact the health of animals in addition to nearby residents” into local water systems. This danger only increases in factories, towns, and homes where fast fashion is made. As our skin is the largest organ of the body, wearing these poorly made clothes can be dangerous to our health. Harmful chemicals such as benzothiazole-linked to several types of cancer and respiratory illnesses-have been found in apparel on the market today. In addition to environmental impact, fast fashion affects the health of consumers and garment workers. In the documentary " The True Cost," author and journalist Lucy Siegle summed it up perfectly: ”Fast fashion isn’t free. And garment workers are undoubtedly being paid well below the minimum wage. These brands earn millions of dollars while selling pieces cheaply because of the sheer number of items they sell, no matter the cost or markup. Companies like Topshop and Fashion Nova are greatly concerned with their bottom line and are banking on the “ocean of clothing” they churn out for profit. The same urgency that throws quality out the window also keeps the costs of these garments incredibly low. The fast-fashion manufacturing process leaves a lot to be desired, and pieces are often thrown away after no more than a few wears. There isn’t enough time for quality control or to make sure a shirt has the right amount of buttons-not when there is extreme urgency to get clothing to the masses. Clothing is made in a rushed manner, and brands are selling severely low-quality merchandise. Yet, with this increased rate of production and questionable supply chains, corners are inevitably cut. It’s hard to say, but there is no doubt that we thirst for the “next best thing” every day of our consumer-driven lives. Many people debate what came first: the desire for fresh looks at an alarming rate or the industry’s top players convincing us that we’re behind trends as soon as we see them being worn. “If the industry keeps up its exponential pace of growth, it is expected to reach 160 million tons by 2050.” According to Fast Company, “apparel companies make 53 million tons of clothes into the world annually,” and the amount has surely increased since the article’s original release in 2019. While brands like H&M, Topshop, and Zara have been the brunt of overproduction complaints, even luxury brands measure growth by increasing production. The brands then have massive amounts of clothing and can ensure that customers never tire of inventory. By replicating streetwear and fashion week trends as they appear in real-time, these companies can create new, desirable styles weekly, if not daily. According to author Elizabeth Cline, this started when Zara shifted to bi-weekly deliveries of new merchandise in the early aughts. Since then, it’s been customary for stores to have a towering supply of stock at all times, so brands don’t have to worry about running out of clothes. Nowadays, fast fashion brands produce about 52 “micro-seasons” a year-or one new “collection” a week. According to the Sunday Style Times, “It particularly came to the fore during the vogue for ‘boho chic’ in the mid-2000s.” However, it wasn’t until a few decades later, when fast fashion reached a point of no return.
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