Environmental Price of Fast Fashion in the Age of Sustainability

The fashion industry faces global scrutiny of its environmentally polluting supply chain operations. The industry is ranked as the second-largest contributor to pollution, accounting for 10% of all carbon emissions and 20%–25% of global water waste, with an estimated 50% increase in greenhouse gas emissions by 2032. The industry continues to grow despite its widely publicised environmental effects. Fast fashion products are inexpensive and widely available as “the-moment-garments”, which has changed the way people buy and dispose of clothing. Fast fashion has, however, emerged as a dominant business model, leading to a significant increase in garment consumption. Its production relies on cheap manufacturing, frequent consumption, and short-lived garments, posing a threat to the environment in the age of sustainability. This chapter underscores the environmental issues posed by fast fashion and accelerates the transition towards more sustainable fashion production and consumption. We discuss the environmental impacts of fast fashion at precarious points in the fashion and textiles value chain. The chapter again considers various measures to enhance ethical behaviour in companies, arguing that the slow fashion movement provides an alternative paradigm to the fast fashion model, since the slow fashion movement connects suppliers and producers more closely with consumers, thereby enhancing sustainability and corporate responsibility. The chapter concludes with research directions to help improve sustainable fashion research in the future.