Fast fashion and the effects it has on our planet

The fast fashion market has existed since the 1990s but has grown at alarming rates in the past five years, and it is ruining our planet. Fast fashion is a market of clothing brands that specifically create cheap clothes in a timely manner, and it is a factor in the killing of our planet.. According to Uniform Market, the fast fashion market is worth over $136.19 billion in 2024, while in 2021, it was only worth $91.23 billion. So why the extreme increase? This could be due to the rise in popularity of companies like Shein.
The company Shein is based in China and is known for its incredibly low prices. So-called ‘dupes’ from other expensive popular brands can be found on the website being sold for under $5. But with its cheap prices also comes its cheap material. You can watch any of the thousands of $500 Shein Hauls’ that pop up in YouTube recommendations and visibly see how thin and poorly made each of the clothes are. However, the quality of the clothes isn’t the real problem. Instead, it’s the company’s environmental impact.
Shein’s sustainability report claims it emitted 16.7 million metric tons of carbon in 2023. That is equivalent to the amount of greenhouse gas from 150 billion miles driven in a gasoline-powered car. It is astonishing that so many people would rather have cheap prices than protect our planet.
The Earth has an abundance of clothing items on it and we don’t need to keep mass-producing more pieces that will end up in a landfill within a year. Per Boston University, “Every year, people in the United States throw out more than 34 billion pounds of used textiles.” The amount of clothing waste in landfills is why companies like Shein thrive so much; instead of buying secondhand clothes that are already manufactured, we have to keep buying new cheap pieces.
Some ways to fight against fast fashion are buying clothes second-hand: thrifting, marketplaces, hand-me-downs, clothing swaps, and donating are all sustainable options. Local thrift stores in the Fargo area that you can go to include Savers, The Arc, St. Francis, and Goodwill, among others. If thrifting clothes isn’t your top choice, then you can instead be more conscientious when buying clothes firsthand. Some brands that put the environment before their sales are Patagonia, Organic Basics, Tentree, and Kotn.
Buying eco-friendly clothing helps lower carbon emissions, which is extremely important for the longevity of our planet. Sustainable shopping also frees up landfill space, decreases unnecessary labor, and ultimately saves you money in the long run.
According to a student at Fargo North, and member of Eco Club, Shemonti Noor, “Shein isn’t the direct problem of fast fashion. Majority of brands have the exact same impact, Shein is just known for its terrible effects on our planet.” Noor claims to “…not always shop sustainably but I try to purchase clothes from thrift stores and not follow microtrends.” Help save the environment by researching brand sustainability before purchasing and boycotting brands that don’t focus on their environmental impact. Eliminating funding for brands like Shein can significantly decrease carbon emissions, helping the chances of saving our planet.