Most clothing manufactured today is made by workers in developing nations, in unpleasant and abusive circumstances. It’s more like an oppressive practice that consumers and companies have normalized today. Disposable clothing is made in inhuman conditions and also hurts our surroundings. Indeed, it makes fashion accessible, and women have a variety to choose from, but is that all really worthwhile? And would you feel confident knowing the ugly truth of mass replicating catwalk trends? 

Two Major Concerns of Fast Fashion

Several glitches begin to arise when we look into the supply chain of disposable clothing companies. Imagine that $5 T-shirt you saw online the other day. Take a moment and think – can it be made with sustainable fabrics? Can the T-shirt last long? And do the people behind sewing such cheap stuff receive reasonable wages? 

The industry isn’t as regulated as it seems. Someone somewhere is paying the cost of accessible fast fashion. Therefore, two major concerns with fast fashion include the following:

• Negative Environmental Impact
• Human Rights Violation

Fast fashion companies cut corners when it comes to their environmental responsibilities. So, greenhouse gas emissions, incinerating unused or excess items, discarding synthetic dyes in the water bodies, and overflowing landfills are all deeply hurting the planet. 

Moreover, not just small brands; several big names like Urban Outfitters, Walmart, Zara, H&M, Michael Kors, and Victoria’s Secret are polluting the environment, damaging human and animal health, and consumers aren’t even aware of it. 

Another reason the advocates encourage not investing in fast fashion is due to the exploitation that takes place at the backend. You think manufacturers use industrial machinery to sew garments? Many do, but most brands employ female and child labor across all levels of the process to keep fast fashion going. 

Knowing the agony workers go through, the strenuous hours they work without getting fair compensation, and the harmful environment they are exposed to would certainly not make you feel empowered and confident in what you wear. 

Impacting Mental Health

Quality concerns, inconsistent sizing, and mass-producing trends are just some of the many other problems associated with fast fashion. Many women are constantly searching for stuff that looks and feels good and is ethically made. But all they find is an endless barrage of sponsored ads, paid promotions, and fashion that isn’t right for them. 

Fast fashion doesn’t always embrace body positivity, proving impractical and unsustainable. It only propagates negative body image issues as many cannot fit into the trends and get behind achieving the impossible. Women feel conscious about their bodies, which negatively impacts their mental health. Moreover, cheap products aren’t often true to size, creating confusion about their appearance. Mid-sized women may fit into plus-size clothing, and plus-size women can’t seem to fit into anything at all. 

Brands might not be purposely tricking consumers into this body dysmorphia mentality. But the carelessness while mass-producing stuff leads women to compete with photoshopped fashion and untrue beauty standards. 

The Solution? Slow Fashion.

Where fast fashion concerns getting every piece from the design phase to the store racks in days, slow fashion does the exact opposite. If fast fashion is about making fashion accessible regardless of its human and environmental impact, slow fashion is sustainable and mindful.

Slow fashion involves the utilization of environment-friendly practices, mindful manufacturing, and fair labor practices. It focuses on quality rather than quantity. There is a big emphasis on offering consumers high-quality products, probably a bit pricier than fast fashion pieces, but long-lasting, reusable, and recyclable. 

Besides, not everyone can afford slow fashion, and the obsession with the latest trends is real. But slow fashion is a worthy opponent of the mass market fashion to change the devastating reality of unsustainable clothing. 

Empowering Women through Ethical Fashion

More than 80% of consumers in the United States prefer fast fashion for its ease and affordability. But is it all worth the conveniences consumers want? Not really. Fast fashion rejects the all bodies are beautiful concept. Plus, it’s only about pushing huge quantities to boost profits. 

However, ethical, slow, and sustainable fashion is about how clothes are produced, worn, and disposed of. Sustainability is a standard in fashion for women. Every piece is responsibly made, maintaining fair labor standards and helping women develop a positive body image with themselves. 

When you slowdown in the constant race for the latest trends, you focus on your individual style and not try to fit in. You feel less insecure and more confident, strong, and empowered in what you wear. This can certainly lead every woman to embrace her real body and choose fashion that makes her feel included and celebrated. 

Slow, sustainable brands like Saina create high-quality, uber-sustainable garments for modern women to elevate their wardrobes with a sense of elegance and no guilt. Saina is a women’s clothing brand offering beautifully designed sustainable fashion so every woman can feel her best in every piece. Saina is on a mission to make a positive impact while women shop for their unique clothing needs. Sustainability is the ultimate goal for the brand, providing viable collections for conscious shoppers who wish to feel confident and be proud of what they wear today, tomorrow, and every day. 

At the core, sustainable clothing is about getting away from the toxic representations of beauty and fundamentally becoming body positive – not just for the sake of it, but so that every piece can be well-loved for seasons to come. 

Diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability empower women to embrace the female form. 

The Bottom Line

With fast fashion, consumers that enjoy affordability, convenience, and the latest styles, benefit the most. Furthermore, it helps companies boost their profits, and the consumers can immediately participate in trends. 

But somewhere down the road, fast fashion is host to numerous concerns. It is more problematic than beneficial and contributes to enormous textile wastage, climate issues, and dangers to workers to achieve cost efficiencies and speedy production. 

The debate over fast fashion will continue as long as consumers are willing to buy different styles at lower costs and ignore the real issues. But if you realize how wrong a practice it is, invest in clothing that’s sustainable, fit for your form, and long-lasting. It may be expensive, but least harmful to our communities, knowing which, you can confidently dress as you have always dreamt of.