How Are Upcoming Fashion Trends Responsible For The Rise Of Fast Fashion

Fast Fashion can be very problematic and its often because of a lack of understanding in what it actually is and what causes it.
fashion · 2 min
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Never in the history of the world has fashion moved as quickly as it does in the digital era. Between Tiktok and Instagram, we now see millions of strangers' outfits a day. We also see how quickly trends can change. 

Trends are very fun but they can have a detrimental effect on the environment. Companies like Forever 21 and H&M feed off of this. Typically, trends cause Fast Fashion. Any clothing can end up as fast fashion depending on how it's used, really. 

Companies like Forever 21 and H&M are only a few of the hundreds of companies that contribute to fast fashion globally. They follow internet trends very closely and quickly reproduce items. They often create millions of items and sell them at low prices. They will also make them of poorer quality. 

When the trends end, they are often left with a lot of stock. When the pieces go completely out of style for the consumers, they end up in the same place as the leftover stock; oftentimes it's the dump. Some of the pieces might be donated or passed on, but a good amount of time, its thrown out in the end, 

Fast Fashion is one of the largest contributors to pollution. Pieces are thrown out while they still can be used if managed efficiently. They go to the trash because they're out of style or because the consumer no longer wants them, even though they still have use for them.

Fabrics are also made with less and less natural materials. Many manufacturers are switching to man-made plastics for their clothing. Not to say some haven't switched to recycled materials, but many haven't. The creation of fabrics in factories is another contributor to air pollution. 

There’s a lot of ways you can help fight fast fashion. You also have the power to choose more sustainable brands. Another option is to not follow trends! You have so many options out there for how you choose to dress, you shouldn't feel dominated by trends!

In summary, most large brands are often contributing to fast fashion waste because of how they follow trends. They often make too many pieces and can't sell them all before the trend goes out of business.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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GutHealth-Guru commented GutHealth-Guru 3 years ago

The fast fashion cycle is exhausting to keep up with

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Elaine-Newton commented Elaine-Newton 3 years ago

We need more repair services for clothes

1
Giana-Peterson commented Giana-Peterson 3 years ago

Mindful consumption takes practice but worth it

4
Brielle_Stardust commented Brielle_Stardust 3 years ago

Learning to appreciate quality over quantity

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Style-Snob_55 commented Style-Snob_55 3 years ago

The article really hit home about overconsumption

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Daphne_Ford commented Daphne_Ford 3 years ago

Sometimes feel like the only one not buying new trends

4
Liana-Wright commented Liana-Wright 3 years ago

Been upcycling old clothes into new pieces

4
PaisleyMae commented PaisleyMae 3 years ago

The fashion industry needs serious reform

5
Trend_Setter commented Trend_Setter 3 years ago

Shopping my own closet first before buying new

1
Nevaeh_K commented Nevaeh_K 3 years ago

Anyone tried fabric recycling programs?

6
Mode_Maven commented Mode_Maven 3 years ago

The article inspired me to do a wardrobe audit

1
ZenMasterMind commented ZenMasterMind 3 years ago

Traditional craftspeople could teach us a lot

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Tatum_Sunset commented Tatum_Sunset 3 years ago

My kids grow out of clothes so fast its hard to be sustainable

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StyleIcon_55 commented StyleIcon_55 3 years ago

Fast fashion ads are everywhere on social media

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YogaAndChill commented YogaAndChill 3 years ago

Learning to repair shoes instead of replacing them

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Marley-Hudson commented Marley-Hudson 3 years ago

The article could have addressed size inclusivity issues

4
HazelDream commented HazelDream 3 years ago

Started following the 30 wears rule before buying

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Sarah commented Sarah 3 years ago

Amazing how much influence TikTok has on fashion now

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Lillian_Glow commented Lillian_Glow 3 years ago

Looking at price per wear changed my shopping habits

6
Holistic_Glow_360 commented Holistic_Glow_360 3 years ago

We need more transparency from fashion brands

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AryaLynn commented AryaLynn 3 years ago

Just discovered visible mending and love it

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RoseWaters commented RoseWaters 3 years ago

The article makes good points about consumer power

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OliviaM commented OliviaM 3 years ago

Finding sustainable workout wear is particularly challenging

3
Body_And_Soul-Fit_777 commented Body_And_Soul-Fit_777 3 years ago

Maybe we need to bring back home economics classes

0
HappinessHacks commented HappinessHacks 3 years ago

The pressure to keep up with trends is especially hard on teenagers

8
PenelopeXO commented PenelopeXO 3 years ago

Started a clothing swap group with friends

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Style_Flair commented Style_Flair 3 years ago

Remember when seasons actually meant something in fashion?

8
Luxe-Charm commented Luxe-Charm 3 years ago

The article really opened my eyes about synthetic materials

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AmberGleam commented AmberGleam 3 years ago

My wardrobe is much smaller now but I love everything in it

2
Vogue_Lifestyle commented Vogue_Lifestyle 3 years ago

Wish more people understood the true cost of cheap clothing

8
MiraX commented MiraX 3 years ago

The environmental impact numbers are staggering

3
MotivationDaily commented MotivationDaily 3 years ago

Learning to style what I already own differently

3
Edgy-Couture commented Edgy-Couture 3 years ago

Anyone else feel overwhelmed by constant new collections?

7
TaliaJ commented TaliaJ 3 years ago

Started following slow fashion accounts for inspiration

5
Outfit_Express commented Outfit_Express 3 years ago

The article could have mentioned more solutions

3
Paula-Duncan commented Paula-Duncan 3 years ago

Miss the days when clothes were made to last

3
DailyAffirmations commented DailyAffirmations 3 years ago

Small businesses often have more sustainable practices

4
Sasha_McCoy commented Sasha_McCoy 3 years ago

Wonder what future generations will think of our throwaway culture

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SelfLoveWorkout commented SelfLoveWorkout 3 years ago

The amount of plastic in our clothes is frightening

0
Norah_Bloom commented Norah_Bloom 3 years ago

Making my own clothes now. It's surprisingly rewarding

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SkylarJane commented SkylarJane 3 years ago

Pretty scary how these companies track social media trends

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Sabrina_Wonder commented Sabrina_Wonder 3 years ago

I've started asking myself if I really need something before buying

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Jenna_Hope commented Jenna_Hope 3 years ago

The fast fashion business model is basically designed to create waste

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YogaFlowDaily commented YogaFlowDaily 3 years ago

We need more education about sustainable fashion in schools

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PositiveEnergyOnly commented PositiveEnergyOnly 4 years ago

Been trying to shop secondhand but sizing can be really frustrating

1
Statement_Styles commented Statement_Styles 4 years ago

The article made me rethink my whole approach to shopping

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SeraphinaJ commented SeraphinaJ 4 years ago

Anyone else noticed how trend cycles are getting shorter and shorter?

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ColetteH commented ColetteH 4 years ago

My sister works in fashion design and says the waste in sampling alone is crazy

4
Nicole_Soft commented Nicole_Soft 4 years ago

Interesting point about Forever 21's quick turnaround on trends

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Wellness_Vision_101 commented Wellness_Vision_101 4 years ago

Quality over quantity should be our new shopping mantra

5
Gabriella_Wells commented Gabriella_Wells 4 years ago

Sometimes I feel judged for wearing the same outfit multiple times

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Janelle-Haynes commented Janelle-Haynes 4 years ago

The pressure to constantly update our wardrobes is exhausting

1
Elsa99 commented Elsa99 4 years ago

Learning to care for clothes properly helps them last longer. My mom taught me that

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Edgy_And_Classy commented Edgy_And_Classy 4 years ago

Started selling my unused clothes online instead of throwing them away

7
Trendy_Waves_99 commented Trendy_Waves_99 4 years ago

The article doesn't mention how social media influencers contribute to this problem

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Victoria-Adams commented Victoria-Adams 4 years ago

We really need to stop treating clothes as disposable items

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Alice_XO commented Alice_XO 4 years ago

Anyone tried clothing rental services? Wondering if that's a good alternative

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Ariana commented Ariana 4 years ago

Was surprised to learn how many clothes end up in landfills before even being worn

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Designer_Details commented Designer_Details 4 years ago

The fashion industry needs stricter regulations on environmental impact

5
Madison commented Madison 4 years ago

I've started mending my clothes instead of replacing them. Learned from YouTube tutorials

2
Holly_Dew commented Holly_Dew 4 years ago

The article makes me feel guilty about my shopping habits but change isn't always easy

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BodyMindBalance commented BodyMindBalance 4 years ago

Someone mentioned affordability earlier but there are lots of sustainable options if you get creative

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Miranda_Sky commented Miranda_Sky 4 years ago

My local thrift stores are getting picked clean by resellers these days

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Streetwear_Power commented Streetwear_Power 4 years ago

Trying to find a balance between staying current and being sustainable is really challenging

5
JoelleM commented JoelleM 4 years ago

I actually disagree about trends being all bad. They can be fun if we approach them mindfully

1
Herbal-Healing_77 commented Herbal-Healing_77 4 years ago

The part about synthetic materials really got me thinking. Most of my workout clothes are basically plastic

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SerenitySeeker commented SerenitySeeker 4 years ago

Been trying to teach my kids about conscious consumption. It's harder with all the social media influence

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Jillian_Lavish commented Jillian_Lavish 4 years ago

Anyone else noticed how H&M always has those sustainable collections but still produces tons of waste?

5
Alondra-Green commented Alondra-Green 4 years ago

Just watched a documentary about this. The amount of water pollution from textile manufacturing is insane

0
HarperSunshine commented HarperSunshine 4 years ago

I try to stick to a capsule wardrobe now. Makes getting dressed easier and more sustainable

8
Lara_Twilight commented Lara_Twilight 4 years ago

The article doesn't mention how fast fashion companies often exploit workers in developing countries

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AnyaM commented AnyaM 4 years ago

Let's be real though, these sustainable brands are way too expensive for average people

0
Fashion_Obsessed_27 commented Fashion_Obsessed_27 4 years ago

I've started buying mostly classic pieces that won't go out of style. Saves money in the long run too

1
Winona_Lavish commented Winona_Lavish 4 years ago

My grandmother used to make her own clothes. Maybe we need to bring back some of those old school skills

8
AubreyS commented AubreyS 4 years ago

The statistics about fabric waste in landfills are shocking. We really need to rethink our consumption habits

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SlowLiving_Advocate_2024 commented SlowLiving_Advocate_2024 4 years ago

Totally agree with avoiding trends. I've developed my own personal style and it feels so much more authentic

3
LydiaRussell commented LydiaRussell 4 years ago

Does anyone else feel overwhelmed by how quickly trends change now? I can barely keep up

0
AlignYourSoul commented AlignYourSoul 4 years ago

I work in retail and the amount of perfectly good clothing we have to dispose of is heartbreaking

5
Camilla-Knight commented Camilla-Knight 4 years ago

We need to normalize wearing the same outfits multiple times instead of this constant pressure to have new clothes

2
Eva commented Eva 4 years ago

The article makes good points but fails to address how unaffordable sustainable fashion is for many people

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Fashion_Addict_01 commented Fashion_Addict_01 4 years ago

I started thrifting most of my clothes last year and honestly find much better quality items than what's at fast fashion stores

1
GiselleH commented GiselleH 4 years ago

Actually got rid of my TikTok because I was constantly feeling pressure to buy new trendy outfits. Best decision I've made for my wallet and closet

1
Dahlia99 commented Dahlia99 4 years ago

What bothers me most is how these companies keep churning out new styles every week without considering environmental impact at all

1
Style-Guru commented Style-Guru 4 years ago

I never realized how much social media influences these fast fashion cycles. Pretty eye-opening article!

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