Fast Fashion is the mass production of cheap, disposable clothing. In around the last 20 years fast fashion has become a commonplace in the industry. Clothes are cheaper than ever because they aren’t made to last. But why should they be made to last? With trends changing so quickly consumers are constantly updating their wardrobes and discarding clothes after only a few wears, but this is only the start of the issues with the fast fashion industry.
The fashion industry is the second largest polluter, right behind oil. In many of the countries where these products are produced, the wastewater is dumped straight into rivers. The industry also requires mass amounts of water, which is not as much of a plentiful resource as Americans are led to believe. Waste is another huge problem in the fashion industry. Clothing dumped in landfills can take up to 200 years to decompose.
The conditions under which most textiles are produced is appalling. The employees generally work in unsafe buildings with no ventilation, causing them to breathe in toxic substances. Accidents, fires, injuries, and disease are common occurrences. Additionally, the workers often face verbal and physical abuse.
With all the technology available today, there is no need for the clothing industry to have such a disastrous impact on the environment. There is a time crunch on how far the biophysical boundaries of the Earth can be pushed before extreme consequences are unavoidable. Addressing the problems with the fashion industry will help to limit the harmful impact humanity is having on the environment, and it will raise the quality of life for industry workers.
For this advocacy project, I chose to create an infographic. When people go shopping, they don’t set out to harm the environment or to support the mistreatment of factory workers. This is an issue that goes deeper than most people are aware of. Giving them the facts will expose the ugly nature of the fashion industry and will inspire change. Facts may not be enough, however. Facts can be forgotten easily. That is will my infographic will also contain visuals that will use pathos to really grab the consumers attention and make them feel a connection to the issue.
Consumers can vote with their dollars to make the difference, so they are my target audience. I am partnering with Sustain Your Style, an organization dedicated to exposing the harmful nature of the fashion industry and to helping consumers make sustainable choices when purchasing clothing.
Project memo (for website): “Are you aware of the true cost of fashion? The Cost of Fashion infographic exposes the ugly side of the modern fashion industry which is built up of a long history of crimes against the environment and humanity. Read it to find out the true cost of fashion and how you can become part of the solution.”