Can College Students Change the Culture of Fast Fashion?

Despite all its allure, fast fashion is extremely unsustainable, bringing havoc to the environment. More so, with today’s panic surrounding the devastating impacts of our lifestyle on the world at large and with climate change steadily approaching a point of no return, nurturing a responsible mindset is more important than ever. Luckily, more and more fashion brands are emerging that aim to revolutionize the culture of fast fashion, and the help of young people worldwide is the key to long-term success.

Join us as we examine the rapidly altering consumer sentiment towards the fast fashion industry, how college students are pivotal in minimizing its catastrophic effects on the planet, and more. Let’s dive right in!

The Forward-Looking Sentiment

Over 58% of consumers claim they’re unhappy with the modern-day operations of the fast fashion industry, with the majority being students. Students worldwide are taking critical steps in the right direction, increasingly wary of purchasing excessive clothes to wear on rare occasions and intending to reuse or recycle their clothing on a regular basis. 

True, a plethora of innovative businesses working to combat the damaging effects of fast fashion can do little without the support of customers. While older people tend to be more resistant to change, students are quickly becoming the primary driving force for altering the culture of fast fashion.

Problems with the Fast Fashion Industry 

Along with the consumption of animal products and the burning of fossil fuels, fast fashion has long secured its place as an unviable cultural trend that devastates our surroundings. Accounting for over 8% of global carbon emissions and mind-boggling water waste worldwide, the fast fashion industry’s effect on our planet is inconceivable, and progress is few and far between. What’s more, more and more stories emerge that stress the exploitation of workers. In a nutshell, the problems with the fast fashion industry are diverse and ever-present. 

Even though students have been born into a capitalist society, with a flood of firms urging them to disregard serious moral considerations for vain day-to-day pleasures, there is a growing trend among young people to counter similar destructive lines of thought. 

Modern students are doers, not leaving any stone unturned to excel in their professions, be it nurturing writing skills with TopEssayWriting professional services or honing a diverse set of skills on their own. This mindset is also helpful for today’s extremely vital battle against the deeply-ingrained cultural trends that are hurrying us toward a climate breakdown.

Calling for Legislation

Increasingly willing to shift the trend toward more sustainable living, forward-looking students are demanding taxing the use of synthetic materials like polyester and nylon, as well as supporting regenerative agriculture and disincentivizing materials that seep methane for several generations to come. They also demand total supply chain transparency and more global initiatives to support their cause. 

As is the case with any unsustainable industry that starts to alarm its own customers, the days of fast fashion are numbered. More and more firms emerge that are willing to use natural, renewable materials, and students are quick to encourage even more to come.

Alternatives to Fast Fashion 

Doing the right thing for the benefit of us all and countering the adverse effects of fast fashion is even more delightful when there are a plethora of one-of-a-kind alternatives out there. The rising allure of second-hand stores, re-selling used fashion items online, repairing damaged clothes, and only using a limited amount of clothes are examples of sustainable fashion trends that are quickly gaining traction among college students. Over time, similar trends are expected to have a life-saving, long-term impact on the health of our planet and, therefore, on our health as well.

The Way Forward

Everyday decisions we make have a vital impact on our surroundings. Be it ditching plastic in favor of more sustainable materials, adopting a plant-based diet, or shopping ethically, there are myriad things we can do daily to combat the rapidly accelerating impacts of climate change. In this fight, students are the primary drivers of change. Be sure to delve deeper and rethink your everyday choices for the benefit of the world!

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Carl Hill is a student counselor, environmental activist, and blogger. Apart from imparting his best knowledge to students on a daily basis, Carl also shares his extensive environmental know-how through weekly blog posts, encouraging students to start taking steps in the right direction.

Photo by Juan Mendez on Pexels