Clothes creation relies heavily on technology. Hence, technological evolution provides an impetus for the emergence of new products and trends. It is the first measurement that allowed the mass-market ready-made clothes to occur. Due to the growth of demand, ways to increase supply were found, and as a result, the movement from the individual tailoring of clothes was made. The generalized data used made clothes start losing their uniqueness. Yet, it offered convenience to the largest amounts of people; the mass production of clothes began (Niinimäki et al., 2020). The growth of production caused new social and ethical issues to occur. As a result of fashion development, overconsumption and globalization led to abusive practices in the fast fashion industry. It is therefore important to address the ethical issues involved in fast fashion and consumerism culture that started with the first examples of ready-made clothes.
Improvement in manufacturing is one of the critical factors that spearheaded the growth of consumerism in modern society. The artisans had to increase their speed in work production by either doubling it or tripling it instead of handcrafting every single part of anything they were building, and hence they could utilize the machines to make their production mass and simple. The manufacturers would make sure that they produce more individual pieces of products, which in turn would reduce price, and this means they would be accessible to everyone in the market and make the products more durable nature. The adoption of interchangeable parts in the textile and clothing industries become cheaper in terms of operation which produced goods reduced in price and large quantities and available to consumers (Niinimäki et al., 2020). The emergence and improvement of manufacturing pioneered the shift of individualism where farmers and even families would work in industries and produce cheaper products, which are affordable and accessible.
Fast fashion creates a huge demand for clothing, which piles up pressure on the factory workers at the bottom of the supply chain. The owners of the factories force workers to work in very bad working conditions and sacrifice their liberties and time with their families (Brewer, 2019). The cost paid for such sacrifices is the true social cost. Secondly, the cost to nature is another major cost component. The big demand created by fast fashion exerts pressure on the production of raw materials such as cotton and leads to the overexploitation of natural resources such as land and water. The cost to nature is often disregarded in the supply chain, but it is among the true costs.
Finally, the environmental cost of fast fashion is quite outstanding. The fast-fashion leads to a higher rate of disposal of textile materials. Most of the textile waste dumped into the environment is usually non-biodegradable and causes greenhouse gas emissions (Brewer, 2019). Also, the textile-producing factories use chemicals that are dumped into the environment causing pollution of water and other natural resources.
Fashion brand companies have a major role in improving the situation through corporate social responsibility. They ought to acknowledge that they enjoy their profits through the sweat and blood of poor garment factory workers. They should as well disassociate with factories undertaking unfair labor practices. Fashion brands ought to pay fairly for the garments for the benefits to trickle down to the bottom of the supply chain. Consumers are also important stakeholders who, through a shift in their spending patterns, may alter the social and environmental impacts. Reducing the consumption and disposal of clothing will have a positive environmental impact.
References
Brewer, M. K. (2019). Slow fashion in a fast fashion world: Promoting sustainability and responsibility. Laws, 8(4), 24.
Niinimäki, K., Peters, G., Dahlbo, H., Perry, P., Rissanen, T., & Gwilt, A. (2020). The environmental price of fast fashion. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1(4), 189-200.