Fast Fashion: The Hidden Fees of Trendy Clothing

If you’ve ever told yourself, “30 more minutes,” and then 2 hours of doomscrolling go by, you’ve probably seen the videos. People wearing colorful but disjointed outfits. Or, it was someone, bags in hand, exclaiming the results of their recent clothing haul. Maybe you’ve even glanced at the affiliate link attached to the post and decided to check out the clothes. Maybe you’ve even bought a few items. What could hurt? They’re so cheap and their quality seems alright. Yet, when they actually arrive, they lose their appeal. They’re worn a few times and then relegated to the depths of your closet or dresser, or even returned before you even wear them. In a few days or weeks, this cycle might begin anew. It might only cost you some money, time, and a bit of regret, but the same can’t be said for the environment.

The U.N. Environmental Programme (UNEP) reported that globally, the fast fashion industry generates more carbon dioxide than aviation and shipping combined. Estimates from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change predict textile industry emissions will be 60% higher before 2030. This is obviously an issue, as more CO₂ contributes to global warming and all the environmental damage that comes with that. What’s the point in buying clothes to layer if the planet gets too warm to comfortably do so? 

This issue of emissions comes largely from the fact that in the fast fashion industry, there are so many products being sold, the products are made at high speeds, and their lifespans are lower than clothes made outside this industry. During the process of production itself, industry reliance on synthetic fibers increases microplastic pollution chances. Even after being sold, products are often returned and if unable to be sold again, end up in landfills. Methods of disposal like incineration produce greenhouse gases; however, letting them naturally decompose risks the same issue, as well as harmful chemicals from dyes leeching into the soil. Once in the soil, they can runoff into water sources that we use for drinking or cleaning. 

Some countries are particularly affected by this issue. In Chile, the Atacama desert is a popular tourist spot, known for its unique geography, stargazing potential, and unique local culture. It is also a popular dumping ground for clothing. The UNEP reports that piles of clothes are so high they can reportedly be seen from space. It is illegal to dump textiles in Chile’s landfills due to the chance of causing soil instability, so dumping them in the desert “fixes” the issue, though the Guardian writes that this dumping is still illegal. This issue manifests in other forms in places like Bangladesh and the English Channel, with the former having a river being discolored due to textile dyes, and the latter having researchers find synthetic fibers in the stomach of fish. The problem of animals we eat consuming microplastics is already severe, and the fast fashion industry exacerbates this problem.

With this problem coming from an industry so large, and one that only seems to be increasing its size and influence over time, it may seem hard to find solutions. Despite this, the UNEP, Georgetown Journal, and people like Chellie Pingree (the U.S. representative for Maine) have outlined ways to make progress towards solving this problem. Just like how recent years have brought innovation and efficiency to metal and plastic recycling technology, better textile and fabric recycling could turn unsold but still usable clothing into new clothes. If manufacturers can make more sustainable clothes, they will stay in circulation longer, reducing the chance of cases like the one in the Atacama desert being more common. Less reliance on synthetic fibers and dyes can reduce water pollution or biomagnification. As consumers, trying to reduce overall buying of clothes in exchange for higher quality clothes can help as well. 

So, next time you feel compelled to buy some cheap clothes to hop on a trend or just want to quickly expand your wardrobe, maybe take some time to think that decision through. Try to support smaller shops or brands who sell more sustainably made and sold clothes. While it may cost a bit more, it will help the planet in the long term. 

1. Johnson, Sarah. “Castoffs to Catwalk: Fashion Show Shines Light on Vast Chile Clothes Dump Visible from Space.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 8 May 2024, www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/may/08/castoffs-to-catwalk-fashion-show-shines-light-on-vast-chile-clothes-dump-visible-from-space.

2. Koep-Andrieu, Hannah , and Julia Del Valle. “Hitting the Headlines: The Ultra-Fast Fashion Business Model and Responsible Business Conduct.” Oecd.org, 2025, www.oecd.org/en/blogs/2025/10/hitting-the-headlines-the-ultra-fast-fashion-business-model-and-responsible-business-conduct.html.

3. Lusher, A.L., et al. “Occurrence of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Pelagic and Demersal Fish from the English Channel.” Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 67, no. 1-2, Feb. 2013, pp. 94–99, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X12005668, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.11.028.

4. Niinimäki, Kirsi. “From Fast to Slow: How to Construct a Better Balance in the Fashion System.” Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, 30 Aug. 2021, gjia.georgetown.edu/2021/08/30/from-fast-to-slow-how-to-construct-a-better-balance-in-the-fashion-system/.

5. Pingree, Chellie. “Curbing Fast Fashion Pollution | U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree.” House.gov, 13 Nov. 2017, pingree.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14924.

6. UNEP. “Five Ways to Reduce Waste in the Fashion Industry.” UNEP, 25 Mar. 2025, www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/five-ways-reduce-waste-fashion-industry.

7. Weis, Judith S., and Francesca De Falco. “Microfibers: Environmental Problems and Textile Solutions.” Microplastics, vol. 1, no. 4, 1 Nov. 2022, pp. 626–639, https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics1040043.