As a single parent, fast fashion is my lifeline. The feeling of guilt stings though! I know about the waste and exploited workers. But when my kid needs school clothes or I need a decent outfit for a job interview, H&M’s $5 t-shirts or Shein’s $10 dresses are what I can afford. A $50 sustainable shirt is unthinkable when that’s a week’s groceries.
Fast fashion understands my need to look good and feel confident. Fast fashion lets me walk into a meeting without feeling out of place. With my hectic lifestyle, I have no time to thrift or browse boutique sites with pricey shipping. Fast fashion is everywhere: malls, markets, apps, ready when I need it.
The one thing helping me sleep at night is remembering that fast fashion supports millions of jobs in developing countries. For example in Bangladesh, garment factories are vital, providing funding for schools and meals. If those jobs disappear, workers could face poverty with no alternatives. The wages aren’t great, but they’re often the only income families have.
I hate the harm, but sustainable fashion feels like a privilege for the wealthy. Fast fashion is my unfortunate reality.
Why I Choose Sustainable Fashion
I get why fast fashion tempts; budgets are tight, and style matters. But its low prices hurt workers and the planet, producing 10% of global carbon emissions, worsening floods in India, and polluting rivers in Vietnam with toxic dyes. Discarded clothes, 92 million tons yearly, add 35% of ocean microplastics to our food.
Many miss how developing countries like Bangladesh rely on fast fashion’s millions of jobs to fund schools and meals.
What if workers lose these jobs? They’d face poverty, turning to unstable gigs like vending for under $1 a day, especially women, who are 80% of workers.
Are wages fair locally? The $1.58/hour pay falls below Bangladesh’s $3-4/hour needed for basics; Ethiopia’s $26/month is under $100/month required. The 2013 Rana Plaza disaster killed 1,134 due to negligence.
Solutions include regulating fast fashion to enforce living wages and safe conditions, preserving jobs. Retraining for textile recycling or ethical brands like PACT can create fairer jobs, as seen in India’s NGO programs. A $5 shirt lasts seven wears, costing $0.71 each; a $25 sustainable shirt lasts 100 wears at $0.25.
The industry as a whole must respect local economies. Regulating fast fashion ensures jobs while improving ethics. Supporting ethical brands and retraining programs offers workers stable futures.
Here are some tips on sustainable shopping without breaking your wallet:
> Check certifications like GOTS (organic, fair), Fair Trade (living wages), B Corp (high standards), Fair Wear (no child labor), or OEKO-TEX (chemical-free).
> Use Good On You to see the sustainability & ethics ratings of fashion and beauty brands.
> Shop affordable sustainable brands that are rated well and have certifications to prove their claims.
> Extend garment life, shop secondhand on Vinted, repair clothes, or find sales.
You can also browse through these certifiably sustainable brands that won’t break your wallet:
Yes Friends
Certifications: Fair Trade, GOTS certified, Organic Cotton, Vegan, and utilizes solar-assisted factories.
Good On You Rating: Great
Price Point: $
Prices highly competitive with fast fashion brands.
No Nasties
Certifications: Vegan, 100% Organic Cotton, Fairtrade, GOTS, Carbon Negative
Good On You Rating: Great
Price Point: $
Prices highly competitive with fast fashion brands.
PACT
Certifications: Certified sweatshop-free, child-labor-free, certified organic cotton, and over 50% of products are Fair Trade certified.
Good On You Rating: Good
Price Point: $$
Prices highly competitive with fast fashion brands.
Kotn
Certifications: Certified B Corporation ("Best for the World"), ensures garments are created in a fair and safe environment, and assists suppliers in transitioning to organic practices.
Good On You Rating: Good
Price Point: $$
Budget friendly, offering accessible price points.
Armedangels
Certifications: GOTS, Fair Wear Foundation (FWF), Global Recycled Standard (GRS), and has carbon offset initiatives.
Good On You Rating: Great
Price Point: $$$
Prices are generally higher than typical fast fashion.
Fast fashion keeps millions clothed and employed, yet its hidden costs hurt workers and our planet. Sustainable fashion offers a path forward, balancing affordability with ethics through smarter regulations and local solutions. By choosing one ethical purchase or demanding fairer practices, we can protect jobs in places like Bangladesh while building a cleaner, fairer world-together, our small steps shape a future that works for everyone.
