What Is Fast Fashion? The Definition And Its Huge Impact On The Planet

We love when something is easy to make, acquire, and show off. Especially when it emulates luxury fashion. However, doing things the easy way isn’t the best way. Fast fashion is a textbook example of that. But what is fast fashion? What’s the environmental impact? And is it such a contentious issue in clothing manufacturing?

Let’s find out why this practice of mass production presents a stark problem for the entire environment and fashion designers.

What Is Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion is the clothing manufacturing practice of mass-producing popular clothing for cheap, using low-quality textiles. It’s disposable, affordable, and stylish. It hits all the beats for fashion consumers the world over.

In short, what’s not to like?

Although it can prove to be a more accessible option for some, the environmental toll that clothing production exacts is too much to bear.

As a consumer, a few steps removed from the garment manufacturing process, fast fashion is a great idea. Trendy looks for cheap? What’s not to like?

Well, if it seems too good to be true in the fashion industry, it usually is.

How Fast Fashion Affects The Environment

It’s no secret that the fashion industry, filled with damaging textile dyeing methods, can wreak havoc on the environment in the worst-case scenario.

We often point to the infamous ‘red river’ incident in Wenzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province. Early in the morning, the village’s normal river turned blood-red in under an hour. But why?

As it turns out, the area is host to multiple factories, including a garment factory.

“Factory wastewater discharge has “a major impact on river pollution,” [says] Greenpeace East Asia toxics campaigner Deng Tingting…”When not properly treated, it can destroy fragile river ecosystems, contaminate drinking water sources, and can render water too polluted for agricultural and industrial use.”

It’s challenging to avoid talk of carbon emissions, toxic water pollution, and ethical (or unethical) production practices. Especially now.

It’s here where the ills of fast fashion rear their ugly head. Can we afford to have pollutants lingering in our waterways? The fashion industry itself is a notorious source of water pollution the world over.

Can Fast Fashion Ever Be Sustainable?

No. It’s not possible with how fast fashion producers create massive amounts of clothing.

However, not all hope is lost.

Repairing existing items can be an alternative since fast fashion lines fall apart or experience wear and tear much more quickly than bespoke clothing lines. Repairing could prove to be a step in the right direction.

Taking fast fashion items in for repair, rather than chucking them, condemning them to a massive landfill with similar items.

However, this is a tall order, even for fashion industry optimists. This would require customers to get on board with this practice and resist buying new fast fashion clothing rather than repairing what they own.

Luckily, H&M offers some crucial tips to help restore and repair your clothing. It’s a good start, and we’ll be excited to see which clothing companies, distributors, and manufacturers follow suit.

How To Ditch Fast Fashion

Understanding textile waste and the environmental impact of fast fashion is key to turning the page. It’s time to shift gears and start your own clothing line rather than depending on cheap, shoddy clothing.

Make Your Own Clothing Line

Why put a clamp on your creative ambitions? A great way to shed the ills of fast fashion is to involve yourself in the clothing design process. Get a feel for how it all works.

Are you interested in avant-garde fashion?

Maybe you’re seeing all the latest trends carving their way through the industry? Planning, designing, and producing your own clothing line with a Los Angeles clothing manufacturer like The Evans Group (TEG) opens doors for you.

Firstly, you can harness the freedom and creative power to make a new, positive impact. Both in the fashion industry and the environment. Secondly, you’ll be contributing to a better production environment. One that emphasizes ethical clothing production and sustainable materials. Speaking of which, sustainable materials are one of the fashion industry’s most powerful tools in combatting harmful water pollution and clothing ending up in massive landfills.

Using Sustainable Materials

When creating a fashion collection, emphasizing more sustainable materials can go a long way.

For example, using Tencel or organic cotton can go a long way toward curbing the rise of fast fashion’s stranglehold on the industry. By promoting sustainable materials, clothing doesn’t affect the environment in such a catastrophic way, and your independent clothing line has a unique selling point. Some of the most notable indie fashion designers use sustainable materials to design dresses, menswear, and more.

Choosing Domestic Clothing Manufacturers

Choosing American clothing manufacturers gives fashion rookies the chance to have greater control over a clothing line. When creating clothes and collaborating with experts, you can modify, plan, and revise any design throughout the manufacturing process.

You’re at the mercy of factories thousands of miles away with overseas clothing manufacturing. That means no quality checks.

Creating Couture With TEG

What is fast fashion? In short, it’s a thorn in the side of the industry and talented clothing manufacturers alike.

Listen, we understand. Getting clothes for pocket change is a pretty good deal. However, the consequences are so dire that the short-term gratification isn’t worth the excellent deal you’ll get on an outfit.

That’s why planning your own clothing line is an invaluable practice towards curbing the environmental damage tied to fast fashion.

When planning and launching your collection with The Evans Group, fashion designers work with professionals with years of experience. More specifically, the creative services team can take the germ of a fashion idea and turn it into a fully-fledged clothing line.

To sum up, the team at TEG helps designers with fashion sketching, brainstorming, and more.

For example, a fashion mood board is a great way to plan a clothing line. Think of a fashion mood board as a supremely detailed artistic collage. Anything you can think of belongs on the mood board. It could be colors, ideas, and even words.

More importantly, you will familiarize yourself with the garment production process. In short, this familiarity will allow designers to see how valuable creating bespoke clothing is compared to the ills of this practice.

Have Questions About Clothing Manufacturing?

Have any more questions on how TEG can help you make a clothing line? See the forms below, fill out all that apply, and get in contact with us today! Your new clothing line is only a few weeks away.