Tennis skirts, tote bags, crewnecks. Fashion trends are changing weekly and the desire to keep up with them is pushed on us by fashion influencers. Boasting the biggest wardrobes and posting new outfits for us to see, we feel inclined to follow their paths and buy new clothes regularly. But where do we get them from?

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

We find shein hauls and aliexpress partnerships attractive, the low prices of new clothes pulling us in and leaving us hooked on buying new items, the excitement leaving us to sometimes forget the truth behind these fast fashion brands.

While we click and buy everything in trend, fuelling our desire for the cheapest and most fashionable clothes, the people behind these garments work extensive hours on a fraction of the wage of the influencers promoting them. So why are we still encouraging the possession of these products?

The rise of social media influencers has warped our perception of fashion, where ‘repeat outfits’ are no longer socially acceptable and we feel pressured to have full wardrobes, coming at the cost of the environment and workers overseas.

Fast fashion companies take advantage of places with low labour laws such as China and Bangladesh and set up sweatshops, hiring women and children on minuscule salaries in dire working conditions. Our expectations to receive items instantly in the modern world means air mail carries these cheap, poorly made products from Asia to Europe, further adding to carbon emissions around the planet.

Additionally, these clothes are made so cheaply that they barely last one season, encouraging the possession of an even bigger wardrobe.

Pollution, low pay and low quality. The craving of an expanded wardrobe nowadays is encouraged by young, relatable influencers on social media forming new social norms and transforming fashion as we know it, having the power to advertise whatever they want and create trends as we know them.

In conclusion, the modern-day internet has created a natural routine for younger generations to consume clothes almost daily before throwing them out, influenced by famous teens their age who have the money to buy ethically made garments. However, the accessibility to such large amounts of clothing is only made possible through fast fashion to many people. The awfully cheap prices draw in customers, without the thought of the workers making these products in harmful working conditions.

Read More

Photo Credits:
https://www.highlandernews.org/20850/fast-fashion-the-real-costs-of-your-cheapest-clothes/
https://bugle24.com/emma-chamberlain-joins-the-boujee-community-up-in-west-hollywood/
https://www.aliexpress.com/premium/leopard-print-tote-bag.html?d=y&origin=y&catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20201031103329&SearchText=leopard%20print%20tote%20bag



About Post Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *