For the greater portion of the 2010s, fast fashion was dominated by brands like H&M and Zara. Nearly seven years ago Netflix released a documentary profiling H&M that revealed footage of trash, water pollution and unsafe working conditions connected to the company.
Seven years later, fast-fashion prevalence has only increased, largely thanks to China-based fast-fashion company, SHEIN. SHEIN has not only replaced H&M and Zara as the highest-grossing fast-fashion company but is now worth more than the two combined.
The most alarming part? No one seems to care.
Sure, this is a loaded statement. Yes, those who closely follow fast fashion news care. And those who make a conscious effort to shop sustainably and ethically care. But companies like SHEIN are clearly still on the uptick, pointing towards either a significant lack of awareness or a mere lack of concern amongst consumers and media companies.
It is no secret we are in a time of urgent pushes for sustainability amongst students, politicians and activists alike. Demands for divestment are heard across U.S. college campuses, with students rightfully calling to action the administrations that are making a direct impact on the future of the environment.
It is baffling, therefore, as to why fast fashion’s detrimental contributions to both our planet and its people are so easily shoved to the back burner. The fast-fashion industry is extremely harmful to the environment and is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. Moreover, fast-fashion factories are often outsourced to places with weak environmental regulations, leading to toxic, untreated wastewater being dumped into local waterways and ultimately the ocean.
Fast-fashion factories are also replete with child labor, unlivable wages and worker exploitation. In 2021, SHEIN factory workers reported working 75-hour workweeks. Eighty-five percent of garment workers internationally do not make minimum wage, bringing home 2-6 cents per article of clothing.
Clothing from fast-fashion brands is also infamously cheaply made, typically falling apart after only a few wears. SHEIN, in particular, has also mastered the profitability of following the rapid trend cycle. Trends change almost daily now, and the cheap prices of companies like Shein make it all too easy to throw away an item after wearing it once to replace it with an equally cheap, equally trend-dependent piece. It is estimated that 92 million tons of textiles are thrown away yearly. It isn’t difficult to see that the fast-fashion industry has undeniably contributed to that staggering volume.
Consumers are not entirely to blame, however. Fast fashion rarely gets reported on in the media, and it is not usually included in articles concerning carbon emissions or international human rights violations. A sweeping lack of awareness—made possible by a sweeping lack of media coverage—has allowed companies like SHEIN to grow exponentially.
It is clear that the fast-fashion problem is only getting worse. Grappling with how to make a difference as an individual in the fight for sustainability and ethical consumption can seem daunting—and financially costly—at times. Start with something small. Stop supporting SHEIN, as it is undeniably clear that this incredibly unethical company already has more than enough profits to continue its harm.
While supporting ethically made brands is the ideal alternative to supporting fast fashion brands, it is not financially realistic for everyone. Thrifting and upcycling clothing is a more manageable solution that is both affordable and accessible. Above all, however, we should at the very least avoid the biggest culprit in the fast fashion industry, SHEIN.
