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Week 3 [21-27.10.19] Fast fashion and it's true cost.


Recently, attending the summer course, I got a class, which was called “The sustainability in the fashion industry”. I was so shocked by the truth that lies behind the brand new sweater or tee from H&M. I want to share the experience with you. There is a movie, that is called “True cost”. You are free to watch it later on for yourself, it is a bit long for this blog post. So I am adding in a small review of it for you. 



So, here are the questions:
1. What do you think about fast fashion? Had your opinion changed after watching this video? 
2. Had your opinion changed after watching this video? 
3. How do you think, will the world of clothing production change now, when the real situation is not a secret anymore?
4. Will you ever buy any unnecessary items from the “fast fashion” brand again?
    

Comments

I think nothing about it. I know it’s bad, we all see this. But this is all because we are main reason. Big brands only give us what we ask. We require and desire only one thing and it’s “cheap as possible”. Because the “guys” on top, who represents our interests only care about themselves. Nope, my opinion haven’t changed. People afraid, they won’t do anything, at least most of us. We stop consume because of lack of money. But as we start get them we go ahead and spend little bit more, because we didn't have opportunity before. So it will last forever until smth really, really bad happens. Yes, I'll buy, because it’s mine(our) nature, have fun and pleasure buy stuff what we want at the moment when we see it.
Roman Batyuk said…
To my mind, the same situation is not only in the clothing industry. In the companies' priority lists on the first place always was and is money. That is why they care less about us and the environment. Until there are people who are ready to buy unnecessary items from the “fast fashion” brands they won't stop selling them. They just are not interested in losing easy money.
Marta Matysik said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
1. Overall, my consciousness has not changed. I would prefer that things to be produced in the country where they are sold. But you know how it is. It must be cheap and good, and that is. Someone somewhere bears the price.
3. I don't think so, I think people have to feel something on their skin to change something. I mean that for example if there are no garbage cans in the estate, they will appear because it will disturb the group of people who have real influence on it. Everyone cares about their own piece of land, and I think that's good.
4. I always have a problem what someone can have on mind saying unnecessary. It depends what is unnecessary for someone. But to answer the question in straight way, probably i will buy.
Anna Koca said…
1. What do you think about fast fashion? Had your opinion changed after watching this video?
Fast fashion is a term which goes with consumerism. It has many disadvantages, like those presented in the movie. Lower quality of products, spending much more money than we used to, buying without the need. Of course it has some advantages to, for example lower prices or availability and variety of products.

2. Had your opinion changed after watching this video?
I think that world is going in the wrong direction, and we have to not get carried away. We have to learn to take or buy things we need or eat only then when we are hungry and be guided by reason in our life because we won't change the world.

3. How do you think, will the world of clothing production change now, when the real situation is not a secret anymore?
I hope that local manufacturers will be appreciated more and opinion about importance of quality and not quantity will come back.

4. Will you ever buy any unnecessary items from the “fast fashion” brand again?
Probably yes, we are just human and cheat day is good for every rule. We shouldn't
go to extremes in our habits. Attitude like this is mentally too hard.
Kristina Moroz said…
Fast fashion is obviously bad thing in this world. But let think about why is this happening? There is a demand for cheap clothes and to achieve the minimum cost of it companies decrease qualified specialists, fabrics etc. Money and all of us is the main reason of it. My opinion doesn't change after watching this video. I still think that the world of clothing should invest some money in recycling used fabrics for creating new ones.
What about buying unnecessary clothing. Can't say that I have this kind of habit.
Iryna Lehusha said…
I don't follow fashion. I like to dress nicely, but I won't buy a thing that I don't like or that doesn't suit me just because it's fashionable. Fashion changes every season and is cyclical. Now the fashion is what was fashionable in the 2000s. If there is no demand, there will be no supply. If brands produce new clothes every season, polluting the environment, then people buy it and demand it. I have no other explanation.
Piotr Bednarek said…
1,2. I think that fast fashion is unwanted influence on our world. Firstly it affect our enviroment in badly way, for instance fast fashion contribute to water polulutions, textile waste. Moreover producers of fast fashion exploit workers. This video confirm my attitude toward fast fashion, because I got bogged down in this topic before.

3. In my opinion it may have influence on demand for fast fashion, because people will be aware that this production is bad for our world. Moreover they will notice that fast fashion cloathing is poor quality, due to using cheap materials and labour.
In consequences people will change their custom to buy fast fashion cloathing. They will buy clothes from sustainable brands or buy second hand.

4. I used to buy unnecessary things from fast fashion brand, because I wasn't consious about what it mean. Now I try to buy less and choose better quality clothes. I am sure that this movement is beneficial for our enviroment and labour market on developing countries.
1/2. Fast fashion is a byproduct of humanity consumerism, it's almost impossible to stop, you would need to change almost whole population. From a producer point of view it's a great opportunity for growth and gaining more money. I'am not surprised that they use workers from cheaper countries, it is profitable for them after all and they also do this to cope with rising demand. This is a difficult topic and a difficult change that requires the cooperation of almost the entire population to be able to change anything.

3. In my opinion, it will not change much, people continue to buy products in an alarmingly fast pace. Some clients will probably go to regional producers, but most will remain with mass manufacturers.

4. Probably yes.
1. I don’t like the idea of it but that’s how the world works nowadays, we can’t run from it and people seem to be okay with it. And I’m still sticking with my opinion after watching the video.
3. Of course not. It is nice to think that knowing the truth will magically make people act and change everything but it makes something more than just that.
4. I don’t like buying clothes anyway, let alone buying unnecessary items of clothing so I can’t really relate.
Kuba Berliński said…
1. Usage of cheap labour is nothing new in our world, fighting it however is not what we can really do in my opinion. That is unfortunatelly how the market works.

2. The video brought nothing new to my knowledge really. My opinion about that matter remained the same.

3. I honestly think that nothing will change at all. People are too much used to what they have now and they will not want a change.

4. Shame on me, but most likely yes. I used to do so and likely I will carry on.
Alex said…
I guess that at some level the fact how damaging textile industry can be not only for the enviroment but also for workers. The video didn't change my minf only made me more selfaware. I thing generaly in all starts with the consumer. If people star buying from more ethical fashion brands, there is a real chance for a change in the matter.
Ivan Mazuryk said…
Actually, I don't care much about trends, of course, it has some impact on me, but I just buy what I really like, even if it's not trendy. Don't follow trends, do this instead. Definitely, there are a lot of controversial thing related to fast fashion. For example, it's cheapness. From one side it's good for us as customers as we pay less, but from the other the prices are too low that the people start to think that clothes are disposable and can be easily thrown out. Sometimes it happens to me when buying a new thing I'm thinking that I would wear it or use it but in reality - no.
1 and 2 What do you think about fast fashion? Had your opinion changed after watching this video?
Not because I always dress as I want. I mainly choose a classic style that doesn't go out of style. The rest is marketing.

3. How do you think, will the world of clothing production change now, when the real situation is not a secret anymore?
I don't think so. Too many people like this and treat it as their main occupation. Look at the women who are obsessed with it.

4. Will you ever buy any unnecessary items from the “fast fashion” brand again?
Hahah it is very possible
Yubin said…
1. What do you think about fast fashion? Had your opinion changed after watching this video?
I have watched a documentary called The True Cost in netflix 2 years ago, it was talking about the dark side of fast fashion, and how it influences workers in Cambodian, so my opinion actually had changed since that time, such fast fashion just makes workers get less and less salaries and safety.

2. Had your opinion changed after watching this video?
Yes, this question is the same as the first question.

3. How do you think, will the world of clothing production change now, when the real situation is not a secret anymore?
I don't think so, it is hard for people to change what they used to do, just look how they treat our earth when the real situation is not a secret too since long before, for example the Amazon forest fire.

4. Will you ever buy any unnecessary items from the “fast fashion” brand again?
If it is unnecessary items, then yes, I will never buy it as long as it is from fast fashion brand.
1. I didn't know that this has it's own term, but i'm conscious that how it's working nowadays. People always try to find shortcuts whether to save time, money or resources.

2. My opinion haven't changed after watching this video

3. I think it never was a secret. Industries will always try to make their products as cheap and sell them as expensive as they can whether it's this 'revealed' way or another.

4. I don't enjoy buying new clothes anyway so i buy only necessary things.
1. Fast fashion was born with globalization. Clothing manufacturers have changed their approach to filling market supply. Thanks to this, we have seemingly low prices and, unfortunately, low quality. The film describes all the features of such a solution very well.

2. I think we are going in the wrong direction, but luckily the topic of ecology is very fashionable lately and it may stop the current situation. Habits are the most important in this situation. We must stop looking at promotions and start to be guided by needs. We should develop a habit of planning purchases and sticking to plans.

3. Unfortunately, I think not for a long time. I am waiting for the topic of ecology to be foreign to Asian countries. In addition, local producers will be more accessible to every people and will invest more in marketing.

4. Of course, it is. I'm a woman and sometimes I have to buy something to improve my mood. The good news is that lately, I try to look at the labels of what the clothes are made of.
Kgajewska said…
1. I think that fast fashion is created by people and it will not change until we rise awareness about the consequences of our actions. Unfortunately most of our generation is very superficial and follow fashion at any cost.

2. No, my opinion didn't change, mostly because I was aware about the situation in the fasion industry.

3. I hope so, but I'm pretty sure that it will take a lot of time. The only thing that can change people is pain and as long as they will not feel something on their skin, people just don't care. We have to change people's mind globally and stop the demand for cheap clothes

4. I don't follow fashion and I'm trying to be practical. As a customer I'm trying to buy eko/bio/vegan things and choose brands wisely so I think it has to be a big impuls shopping for me to buy something unnecessary from fast sahion brand.
Mateusz Szych said…
1. Fast fashion is something that will stay with us. It dominates the stores and probably nothing will change. I'm aware of the production of such things, but it doesn't change the fact that I use such products. This video didn't provide me with any new information.

3. Only the development of automation can make a difference because people like low prices of fast fashion.

4. Yes, I will. I see no reason to limit myself. Only technology development can change that.
s15052 said…
1. To be honest, I didn't really know what does it mean. This is how the free market works.
I'm not guided by fashion so it's not my problem. I buy only clothes which I like or need.
3. I doubt it. Why would it change? Customers are rather satisfied because they can get a fresh product at a reasonable price.
4.As I wrote before. I'm not guided by fashion, so I don't think that this question concerned me.
Anna Moskalenko said…
I mean, it’s all good and fine, but in real life fair trade products costs not 1-3% more, but 20-100% or even more. That’s why fast fashion is popular now and will be popular always. Sometimes people just cannot afford to buy very similar thing but 2 times more expensive. And I can totally understand those people: if you don’t have much money - you think about yourself and your family, not about a person who made your t-shirt.
I think world is not going to change anytime soon. Only if there’ll be some law regulations regarding minimum wage and restriction for not eco-friendly methods of producing goods in every country. But this change will be hard to introduce for sure.
Yes, I am buying from fast fashion brands sometimes, for the very simple reason: I, too, cannot always afford to buy 200$ shoes.
But if ethical products will be not more than 5% more expensive that fast fashion brands anytime soon - count me in.
I must say, that deeply in my heart, I am a shopaholic. I have tons and tons of clothes that are vacuumed into the ikea bags and stored on a top shelf of my wardrobe. But immediately when I discovered the topic, I have stopped. My addiction was gone in a second.
But do you think that one day, all the people in the world will discover this bloody truth and step back with the consumption?
I am happy to read your comment. I am very glad that people are aware of the problem. Of course everything in the world takes time, but hope it will happen someday. As far as I see, the only thing we can do now, is just say no, so the demand will fall down and the production will also.
Than, you are not the person, whom it may concern. You are out of this part of the society who create the problem.
Roman Dubovyi said…
1-2. First of all fast fashion is also a cheap fashion. I don’t see a problem here, there is a demand for such a product. About production of fast fashion being harmful to our environment and abusive to workers - don’t forget the source of fast fashion is usually China, communist country, that’s not a surprise.
3. It wasn’t really a secret, probably nothing will change soon.
4. I won’t stop buying fast fashion, some parts of the wardrobe have to be updated from time to time, you know...
The problem is not an occasional purchase with the need, but these huge hauls, that are all over internet. Of course there is an alternative! All over Warsaw there are concept stores that carry local small brands that are made in Poland and are fully ethical. Also, there is a slow fashion weekend that happens few times per year. You can discover it on facebook and instagram.
Most of the clothing now is produced in Bangladesh and Morocco . Not so communist, is it? It is all about the real price of a product. The tee from H&M costs 50 cents max in production and is sold for $20+. Isn't that funny. While higher end and slow fashion brands do use nice and not cheap fabrics, so that tee that is sold for $50 is $35 worth.
1. While "tolerant" fashion became cheaper ! Once I could not even imagine of owning some High-end items, because they were so expensive. But with the beginning of globalisation their priced have reduced by almost 20%!
Today’s statistics looks this way: OFF-White had reported that they got 150% of their customers this year, in a comparison to 2017. That means, that more and more people, who become avare. This means, that there are much more people, who can afford a luxury stuff, but they still do fast fashion only because they don't know what it is really like!
Anonymous said…
1. What do you think about fast fashion?
I don't like fast fashion trend that we are seeing right now. For me it's just a lot of poor quality clothes that will be will be out of date next season. For me it is better less, but made of textiles with a good quality.
2. Had your opinion changed after watching this video?
No, I know that information about fast fashion.
3. How do you think, will the world of clothing production change now, when the real situation is not a secret anymore?
I don't think that it is possible. Because high quality fabrics are expensive, what means that people couldn't afford to buy all necessary clothes made of a high quality textile, so they would buy clothes made of polyester, etc. Also for many young people it is important to wear clothes that are in trend.
4. Will you ever buy any unnecessary items from the “fast fashion” brand again?
I have never bought unnecessary items from the “fast fashion” brand.
1. What do you think about fast fashion?
I don't like fast fashion trend that we are seeing right now. For me it's just a lot of poor quality clothes that will be will be out of date next season. For me it is better less, but made of textiles with a good quality.
2. Had your opinion changed after watching this video?
No, I know that information about fast fashion.
3. How do you think, will the world of clothing production change now, when the real situation is not a secret anymore?
I don't think that it is possible. Because high quality fabrics are expensive, what means that people couldn't afford to buy all necessary clothes made of a high quality textile, so they would buy clothes made of polyester, etc. Also for many young people it is important to wear clothes that are in trend.
4. Will you ever buy any unnecessary items from the “fast fashion” brand again?
I have never bought unnecessary items from the “fast fashion” brand.
1. What do you think about fast fashion? Had your opinion changed after watching this video?
To be honest, I heard a lot of points before viewing the video, so it doesn't changed my opinion that much.

2. Had your opinion changed after watching this video?
No, because as I explained earlier I heard a lot of this facts before and alredy had some opinion about fast fachion and all about it.

3. How do you think, will the world of clothing production change now, when the real situation is not a secret anymore?
I am not sure, because people need to wear something. We can try to make some impact by preassing those companies. If we all unite in this movement it will make it's impact and we will change the situation.

4. Will you ever buy any unnecessary items from the “fast fashion” brand again?
Sometimes and most of those purachased were an emotional ones and completely stupid. Now I am trying to deal with this problem and rationally thing do I really need this item.
1. My opinion on this subject has not changed. I am aware that nowadays money and the desire for quick profit stand above product quality or other features. This is sad, but true and unfortunately this applies not only to the clothing industry.

2. I think it can change. Conscious buyers will be looking for high quality products, which will be a chance for a renewed demand for local good environmentally friendly products. The only downside of this is that such clothes are definitely more expensive than those for fast fasion, and the price can unfortunately play a more important role here than quality for same buyers. Thinking must change in people, I mean that, we don't need so many clothes to look good. People also need to think about the consequences of supporting fast fashion and not just about theyself benefits.

3. I think that it may happen that I use and buy products from fast fashion, but before I do it I will think hard about that whether I really need it.
1. To be honest, I didn't really know what does it mean. This is how the free market works i think so.
2.I am not intrested in fashion so it is not my problem.
3. I doubt it. Why would it change? Customers are rather satisfied because they can get a fresh product at a reasonable price.
4.As I wrote before. I'm not guided by fashion, so I don't think that this question concerned me.
I didn't know before about statistical percentage of pollutants that are produced by fashion industries but actually it's not as surprising to me. I'm not very much into fashion at all and clothes shopping is pure torture and huge waste of time for me. That's exactly why I was always trying to check on where the clothses i'm buying was made and out of what materials so they last longer in good condition.
I'm affraid nothing will change anytime soon in such a huge industries.
As I said before i'm already buying clothes very rarely and quite warily so nothing will significantly change for me.

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