#fast-fashion

#fast-fashion

An uncertain economic environment has led some consumers to be more selective about where they spend their money. As a result, some are reaching for cheaper styles - fast-fashion retailers like Shein took market share from competing brands in 2024, according to data and analytics company GlobalData - or buying secondhand clothing. Many retailers and restaurants, such as baby apparel brand Carter's and department store chain Macy's, have been shuttering stores.

Catch up quick: Fast fashion makes it easy to buy cheap, trendy clothes. But some shoppers, especially those focused on sustainability, are shunning what they see as low-quality synthetics in everything from basics to luxury brands. Just this week, some Swifties were seeing red about Taylor's latest limited-edition cardigan, partly because it's made from a lot of plastic. State of play: Roughly 9,000 TikTok posts were tagged #NaturalFibers during the first half of 2025 - up more than 230% from the same time last year, according to data the platform shared with Axios.

Four years ago Asos, and its fellow online fast fashion purveyor Boohoo, were booming as the high street suffered from Covid pandemic lockdowns, and largely housebound shoppers had cash to spare for slouchy leisurewear. They thought shoppers had been permanently converted to online shopping, and stocked up accordingly, only for Asos to find itself lumbered with a 1bn stock hangover as, post-pandemic, young and old alike once again enjoyed the freedom to try on clothes and stalk the high street.

Fast fashion, which emerged in the 1990s, has changed global clothing consumption by prioritising affordable, mass-produced garments. However, this model comes with significant environmental and social costs. Socially, fast fashion is tied to serious issues like labour exploitation, particularly impacting women and children in developing countries, which continues to tarnish many big brands' reputations. The true cost of fast fashion The fashion industry produces around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and uses a massive amount of water annually.

Italy's competition watchdog imposed a fine of one million euros on Infinite Styles Services Co. Ltd for misleading environmental claims about Shein's clothing products.

"Consumers will see higher prices and potentially longer shipping times as Shein and others move from direct shipping to sending volumes of goods in containers to the USA to be re-sent from their USA-based warehousing."

The Summer 2025 UG collection merges Takahashi's rebellious spirit with GU's ready-to-wear sensibility, creating a bridge between high concept and everyday comfort.

"The past 12 months have been rough for many retail chains, with major names filing for bankruptcy and closing hundreds of locations, leaving a significant impact on the retail landscape."

Fashion education still emphasizes traditional creative skills, leaving a gap in sustainability awareness. As the industry faces environmental crises, urgent reforms are needed.

Forever 21's decision to close its stores signals a significant shift in the fast-fashion landscape, exacerbated by competition from online retailers and recent economic challenges.

"When there is a cost of living crisis you look for that cheap fashion, you don't ask where it comes from. How many of us actually ask where our clothes are made?"