5 REASONS TO GIVE UP FAST FASHION

To begin with, what is fast fashion?

In the early days of the fashion industry, there were only 2 seasons for collections. There would be Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Then it went from the normal 2-4 seasons to 52 seasons with fast fashion. Work that took half a year to create collections began to be allocated just a few days, because in fast fashion, clothes are made with the idea that you will only wear them 7 times. Yes, only seven times.

Along with this, workers are not treated fairly in production processes or harmful chemical materials are used in designs. The reason they are so preferred is that they are cheap and accessible.

1- Labor Exploitation

You can find many articles about unethical treatment of workers in fast fashion brands. To learn more, you can watch the documentary called The True Cost and better understand the issue with real footage.

2- Negative Environmental Impact

The fashion industry is one of the world's top 5 polluters. Most clothes are made from synthetic materials like polyester, which can take 20 to 200 years to decompose. The synthetic yarn creation process is full of toxic chemicals and uses a lot of water. Additionally, most dyes are also toxic and mix into waterways. So, would you want to wear something that requires so many chemicals to produce? In summary, in all processes of a fast fashion garment, there is no respect for the planet and people.

3- Higher Cost in the Long Term

Since you won't be able to use products that wear out quickly due to poor quality materials for a long time, you'll need to go shopping frequently. Especially during discount or campaign periods, with the instinct to buy more, you'll end up spending the money you would have spent initially anyway. Thus, the real cost of the clothes you buy will be much higher than the price tag you see.

4- Changes Your Perspective on Fashion

We no longer look at fashion as an art form or something to be valued. There should be more love and time behind the production of something you wear and carry on yourself. We don't think about the people or the planet we affect with our purchasing decisions. We've lost our respect for fashion and the people who make it.

5- Makes You Feel Like You're Not Enough

As if following trends wasn't hard enough, the marketing departments of fast fashion companies make this almost impossible. They sell you this lifestyle that constantly changes and needs to be updated. They create the perception that "your wardrobe cannot be considered complete for this season without this, this, and this." They constantly present a new object of desire that you don't have, making you feel incomplete without buying it.

In summary, we know that giving up fast fashion is not a solution to climate problems or worker rights issues, but it's a very important beginning. We cannot continue this cycle; we must reconsider our purchasing choices so that nature and living beings are not harmed.