Fast Fashion (the high cost of cheap fashion)

I am always one to take advantage of a good deal when I see it--especially when it comes to my wardrobe. My job requires me to be put together and presentable. But buying clothes for myself at the high end retail cost is not a practical way for me to be spending my money...especially when there are other expenses to take into consideration! The solution that my friends, colleagues and I have come to is to shop at the trendy "cheap-chic" stores such as Forever 21, Heartbreaker, and H&M. I love these stores. They circulate clothing frequently and their clothing is very affordable for a poor young adult such as myself. These stores allow my bank account and my closet to exist together in harmony. Seems like the best of both worlds, right? well...not entirely.

I read an article this morning that was published a few months back that discusses over-consumption and its effect on people all over the globe. The people who produce the clothing. It is because of this fast production and high turnover of merchandise that clothing must be produced at an equally rapid rate, if not faster. This results in poor working conditions and wages for their workers.

The history of this dates back all the way to the early 1900's, years after the invention and popularity of the sewing machine. Like the printing press, the sewing machine allowed for faster production of a medium. For the printing press, it was books and newspapers. For the sewing machine, it is men's, women's, and children's clothing. Garment makers were soon pushed into a new pressure zone of having to produce clothing at a much faster rate than ever before.

In the early 21st century we now have a similar issue. NPR news aired a story about fast fashion and the Chinese takeover in Italy. This "takeover" in the Italian town of Prato has been known for its textiles and top-quality craftsmanship for centuries. Now the Italians are ruffled and beginning to resent the Chinese (some legal, some illegal) immigrants because they are themselves fashioning a new globalized market in this town of Prato. And taking jobs away from the legal residents of Italy. Its an interesting story, one that I intend to keep tabs on.

Before I read these articles and began to research only this morning, I had previously heard of stores having sweatshops and child labor workers to manufacture clothing. This was years ago, and I had always assumed that those problems had been resolved. I'm not saying that these stores such as Forever 21, Heartbreaker, and H&M have illegal workers working on assembly lines with unfair working conditions and wages, but it certainly does make you think about where the clothes are made, and how these companies are able to make so much money off of these cheap clothes.

Discovering these tidbits of information is a little unsettling for me. Especially since I was only at the mall today. I love going to stores with low prices and trendy deals. As mentioned before, it helps me stay fashion forward. And not everyone can afford to shop at the high-end retail stores either.

Maybe its not as bad as it is made out to be. As a result of these clothing companies outsourcing their productions, people in other countries are employed. However, depending on the country, there might not be the same kind of regulations set for the working conditions as there are in the US.

 I'm not saying that I will necessarily stop shopping at these stores altogether. What I have been trying to do (even before I read these articles) is to buy fewer more expensive articles of clothing that will last for years to come. Even just buying things off of the sales rack at department stores and other retailers, and buying clothes that are for sure made in the US would be a good start. The idea is that I will look nicer, more mature, and have more flattering quality pieces of clothing rather than having more of something that looks cheap...even if it is trendy. Maybe I will be more motivated to do so now. Only time will tell what will really happen, especially as my research continues.

-Courtney