Fast Fashion

Fashion has been at the heart of humanity for thousands of years, since the inception of clothing as a construct. It is the silent expression of self. It allows the wearer to say everything while never uttering a word. From animal hide, beads, and bone to elaborate silks and powdered wigs to shutter shades and parachute pants, fashion is a reflection of the wearer and the society in which they live. Historically, pre-industrial revolution fashion was made slowly. Bespoke items, painstakingly crafted by tailors, seamstresses, and makers of every kind. Because things took such a long time to make, they were made with integrity so they would have longevity. It was worth mending items that sustained damage because they were valuable commodities. Clothing was made of raw, organic materials that would break down over time and return to the earth in one way or another. 

After the industrial revolution, the cottage industry was put to the side and mass production was favorable. Not only did production increase, but so did the greed of the powerful. Working conditions became inhumane, forcing people to work endlessly in hot factories without proper ventilation, sometimes chained to their workstations. Often times the workers were very young children. One of the great tragedies in American history after the industrial revolution was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911 in New York City. 146, mostly women and girls, died because of the greed of the owners. Many of the exits that those people would have used to escape to safety were locked by managers to "prevent theft" and prevent them from taking breaks. This unethical treatment of the working class leads to the unionization of garment and sweatshop workers.

Unions like those lead to changes in the way that factory workers had to be treated. Over time with fast fashion taking the forefront, it became too costly to continue manufacturing in the United States because of the standards of practice. Many companies did not want to pay their employees enough or pay to bring their factories up to code and the export of labor began. It was cheaper for this multi-millionaire and billionaires to move their factories overseas and pay starvation wages to vulnerable communities. 

In addition to the humanitarian impact, fast fashion has, there is an enormous environmental burden because of the fast fashion industry. One of the biggest contributors to waste in our oceans is fashion. The pollution from factories destroys our water, which is finite. The discarded clothes of yesterday that have fallen out of favor fill the dumps. Increasingly clothing is made with stretch, which is comprised of plastic-based materials that require fossil fuels for production. Those plastic materials do not break down over time. Even when the organic material is gone, the inorganic remains. It is imperative that we think twice about the things we consume and the companies that produce those goods. Using your dollar to demand change is the best way for money-driven people to listen. Buying vintage, second-hand, and thrift items is the first line of defense. What's even better when you do that, is that generally, it costs less to do so, both financially and ethically. 

These clothes are handmade sustainably here in PR by “De La Mer”.