By Cerys Burch
Fashion is undoubtedly an enjoyable expression of individuality that is deeply positive for many people. However, we are in an age of rapidly changing trends generated by capitalist multinationals like Zara, H&M and Primark. These corporations make it increasingly difficult to adhere to current fashions when what’s ‘in’ is continuously fluctuating.
This is happening more rapidly than our environment can sustain, with an estimated two tonnes of clothing being bought each minute in the UK. In one month alone, the carbon footprint of new clothes bought in the UK is greater than flying a plane around the world 900 times.
Moreover, the impact of fast fashion extends further than just the environment, with racism and sexism running throughout the industry. 85% of garment workers are women, and are predominantly in countries such as China, Bangladesh, and India. These workers are subject to low wages and poor working conditions in order to keep production costs down. Only 2% of garment workers around the world are paid a living wage.
There is no doubt that these are crucial issues, and in response, many young people are opting for second-hand clothing and making more mindful purchases independent of brief trend cycles. But things can’t stop there. Real change cannot take place purely on an individual scale like capitalist rhetoric claims, distracting from the fundamental structural issues embedded in the endless drive to profit of modern capitalist society.
Only with collective working-class action can we begin to tackle the larger system of capitalism that works not only to oppress workers, but to disassociate consumers from the products they buy. We need high-quality clothing made with longevity in mind, produced sustainably and without exploitation. This can only be achieved in a society where ordinary people democratically decide what is useful for society, not the minority capitalist elite.
