Fast fashion, a term that refers to low-cost apparel created quickly by mass-market merchants in reaction to the newest trends, is currently at its apex. The increased operation is due to the rise of social media marketing, the rapid trend cycle, and consumers’ need for lower-cost items, among other factors. Essentially, this surge in textile production has caused adverse effects on society’s wellbeing. However, some may argue that it contributes to economic growth by increasing the GDP of the developing countries. Its effects, such as poverty cycle, limited child development and opportunities, and the creation of toxic chemicals leading to environmental pollution and hazardous working conditions, still outweigh the benefits, as this paper seeks to discuss.
The fast fashion industry creates a poverty cycle among the vulnerable population. The fast-fashion retailers are motivated by how much profit they can turn. This makes them offer nominal wages below the minimum wage, which creates a poverty trap. According to Buffaloe, low-income households are paid less than the base pay. She claims that workers spend up to 16 hours a day working in the sweat sports and that low-income families frequently pull their children out of school to work in these enterprises, thereby prolonging the cycle.
Aside from the poverty trap, the fast fashion industry creates limited opportunities for child development. Lloyd argues that the revolving web of fast fashion makes it difficult for workers to leave the sector to pursue education or higher-skilled work. Despite a 30% decline from 2000 to 2012, the International Labor Organization predicts a rebound in child labor (Lloyd). The industry’s heavy demands prevent 11% of young employees worldwide from attending school (Lloyd). Thus, many young children lack the developmental skills required to advance to higher education.
Finally, fast fashion industries create environmental pollution coupled with unfair and hazardous working conditions. Along with protracted hours, children forced into child labor receive little pay. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandates that employers pay workers a minimum salary of $4.25 per hour, plus overtime if available (Lloyd). Many companies that use child labor to meet their fast-fashion needs, on the other hand, rarely raise compensation for individuals who work long hours. Conversely, large firms pay workers a pittance, frequently insufficient to support them and their families. Additionally, according to the International Labor Organization, approximately 35 percent to 40 percent of workers do not receive the legal minimum wage (Lloyd). Most youngsters in the textile industries are forced to work in precarious conditions from an early age. They are exposed to harmful Chemicals such as fiber dust and dyes. Consequently, the dangerous machinery and the exploitation adversely affect children’s physical and mental health.
On the contrary, some would argue that the fast fashion industry positively impacts economic growth through massive employment and the amount of money it generates. This is significant to the progress of nations, but the strategy of employing children limits actual economic development in the long run. With limits to child development and education coupled with hazardous working conditions that kill or cause disability among the children, the future innovation and workforce are tarnished, thereby killing prospective developments.
To eliminate child labor in fast fashion industries, the government should implement a mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice in the textile industry. These Sustainable practices will help eradicate the externalities and adverse effects caused by the fast fashion companies. For instance, the CSR practices will be significant in ensuring fair wages and salaries, eliminating pollution, ensuring safe working conditions, and eradicating child labour. On the other hand, western consumers should avoid buying fast fashion products and instead shift to high-quality fashion products. This would reduce the demand for cheap fashions and, therefore, shift the fast fashion industries’ attention towards producing high-quality goods that need skilled labour rather than children.
In conclusion, fast fashion industries pose various threats to society. However, poverty traps, limited opportunities for child development, and pollution are among the prominent ones. Therefore to end child labor and provide a sustainable fashion industry, the church should stabilize its stance on child labor and fast-fashion wear. The government should enforce stringent laws that prohibit child labour. Consequently, people should avoid shopping at stores that perpetrate fast fashion.
Works cited
Buffaloe, Marry. “Sustainable fashion as a tool for alleviating poverty.” Borgen, 2021.
Lloyd, Allison. “Child labour amid the rise of fast fashion.” Borgen, 2020.