What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion is a term used to describe the cheap, poorly-made clothing made to keep up with current fashion trends. It is seen as an affordable alternative to fashion trends depicted in social media and as seen on the catwalk. Companies who practice fast fashion speed up the process of designing and producing their clothing articles to get them in stores as soon as possible. That way, at the height of their popularity, customers have access to the latest fashion trends. The reason why fast fashion is incredibly popular among consumers is it allows consumers to stay on top of fashion trends without breaking their wallet. It is not uncommon for consumers to wear their clothing articles only a couple times before they move onto the next fashion trend.

Fast Fashion Companies

• Zara
• Forever 21
• Topshop
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How does fast fashion negatively impact the environment?

Fast fashion negatively impacts the environment in many different ways. Companies use fabrics and textiles that are cheap and of poor quality in order to lower the cost of the final product. These cheap fabrics that companies use are toxic and pollute both the water and the atmosphere. In fact, the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters of clean water worldwide. For example, polyester is a popular fabric used within the fast fashion industry. It is derived from fossil fuels, so the production of polyester contributes to global warming.

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