Originally Published in the November 26th Print Publication
You’ve probably seen some adorable sweater or a really cute skirt that people have been rocking around school that has sparked your interest. You might ask them where they got the cute sweater or skirt. They may look embarrassed or hesitate to answer, not wanting to admit they bought from Shein after hearing about all the horrible allegations people have claimed. But is it really the consumers fault? Should people feel guilty about buying from fast-fashion brands?
Fast fashion has been quite a controversial topic lately. On one hand, you can buy adorable, trendy clothing at an affordable price. On the other hand, you are buying bad-quality clothing and filling landfills with trash. Some say you should not waste your money on clothes that are cheap and bad for the environment, and rather you should invest in high-end, more expensive clothing. On the contrary, people believe that fast fashion is a short-term, cheaper option that is a good short-term investment so you can look cute for a low price. However, I hold the belief that fast fashion’s pros outweigh its cons.
Many people will argue that fast fashion is a problem because of the landfills, because of the emissions. People will say that landfills are getting filled too fast from all the overconsumption. However, if we stop buying from fast fashion businesses, the landfills will still get filled either way. Additionally, the fashion industry is responsible for less than 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions annually, according to Greenpeace. There are bigger problems than cheap nylons and hoodies.
Many people, especially teenagers, have the desire to be in style and be able to keep up with the fashion trends. Fashion trends come and go. One minute everyone’s in skinny jeans and the next people are in cargoes or flare jeans. Many teenagers cannot afford to buy a whole new wardrobe of designer clothes every time a new trend pops up. Many want a fast and affordable way to be stylish.
With fast fashion companies, they can be able to look stylish without having to spend a fortune.
Fast fashion is another way for people to be able to express themselves. People have different fashion styles. Fast fashion brands usually have a great variety of clothes so everyone can find something to express their style. Investing in expensive, high quality clothing means you might be stuck with those clothes until they wear and tear. It isn’t for everyone, and while some people prefer simplicity over style, not everyone does.
