The Problem With Fast Fashion

Over the past 20 years there has been significant changes in the way clothing has been produced, manufactured, shipped and sold. Clothes have become more cheaper, there are more trend cycles and shopping has become a regular event for many of us. 

Today, fast fashion can be found everywhere, from shopping malls to online retailers and everything in between. However, the rise of fast fashion has devastating effects from its use of synthetic, plastic filled fabrics to its enormous carbon footprint and less than desirable workers rights.

Here we will discuss the problem with fast fashion and ways to cultivate a better future through sustainable swimwear and clothing production practices.

What Is Fast Fashion?

Traditionally, fashion trends have followed 4 main fashion seasons – summer, sinter, spring and fall. These seasons have all but fallen away in constantly changing and updating trends. While this type of production ensures that brands are able to meet emerging trends while still being affordable for the majority, this fashion model is simply not sustainable.

As such, fast fashion refers to mass-market stores increasing the production of clothing pieces to meet the demands of ever-changing trends often to the detriment of quality, durability and sustainability. In addition to this, fast-fashion effects include:

Textile Waste

Fast fashion is known to produce larger quantities of textiles than standard production. This leads to large amounts of textile waste that often ends up in landfills or oceans where it affects the environment and wildlife. 

Additionally, with this type of production, clothing trends are changed more frequently, leading to the production of more clothing that will ultimately be discarded within months which contributes to even more textile waste. 

Sustainable fashion, on the other hand, aims to produce less textile waste. We focus our production on using more sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton and recycled plastics to produce pieces that stand the test of time.

Unethical Working Conditions

While fast fashion production is typically more affordable, the drive for cheaper products often comes at the expense of the workers who make them. Many clothing companies outsource their manufacturing to countries where garment workers are often underpaid and overworked for extremely long hours in dangerous conditions. 

With Sustainable fashion, brands aim to create a safer work environment for all workers in the garment supply chain, from production and packaging to shipping and selling.  Workers are treated respectfully and fairly, with livable pay and safe and ethical working conditions. Many sustainable brands, such as HoneyTrap Swim offer additional benefits such as health care.

Excess Carbon Emissions and Pollution

In addition to the sheer amount of textile waste that pollute our oceans and waterways, fast fashion production also has a significant carbon footprint. With the rise of e-commerce and direct to consumer options, we see more and more transportation as part of the manufacturing process.  This is partially due to fewer people purchasing clothes in brick-and-mortar stores, opting for the ease of online shopping. 

Sustainable fashion aims to reduce this carbon footprint by using more eco-friendly fabrics and materials that are produced closer to home.

Combat Fast Fashion With Honey Trap Swim

While fast fashion is a difficult issue to face, there are ways we can combat the problem. HoneyTrap Swim offers a wide range of sustainable swimsuits made from fully recycled materials such as ECONYL and REPREVE. 

Supporting sustainable fashion ensures that you are not just making clothes that stand the test of time, but also supporting fair working conditions for garment workers. Combat fast fashion with HoneyTrap Swims’ line of premium, sustainable swimwear.