Fast Fashion: Definition and Famous Brands

Fast Fashion is defined as the quick production and sale of inexpensive clothing in response to the latest fashion trends. This business model relies on low-quality materials and designs intended for limited wear.

Definition: Fast Fashion refers to clothing that is produced quickly and cheaply to meet rapidly changing consumer demands.

Famous Fast Fashion Marken include:

• Zara
• Forever 21
• Bershka
• Hollister
• C&A
• Topshop
• Shein
• Primark
• Gap
• Urban Outfitters

Highlight: Even some smaller brands are adopting Fast Fashion practices to remain competitive in the market.

Ecological Consequences of Fast Fashion

The Fast Fashion Umwelt statistik reveals alarming trends:

1. CO2 Emissions:

   • The fashion industry produces approximately 1.2 trillion tons of CO2 annually
   • Overproduction leads to increased waste and emissions

2. Chemical Usage:

   • Toxic chemicals are used in almost every step of clothing production
   • Cotton cultivation alone uses 10% of the world's pesticides
   • Synthetic fiber production, cleaning, coloring, and finishing processes all involve harmful chemicals

Highlight: Finished garments often contain residual toxic chemicals that can be absorbed through the wearer's skin.

3. Water Pollution:
   • Producing one pair of jeans requires about 700 liters of water
   • The global textile industry used 79 billion cubic meters of water in 2015
   • In the EU alone, 266 billion cubic meters of water were used in 2017
   • Textile dyeing and finishing is the second-largest cause of freshwater pollution globally
   • The industry is responsible for 20% of global water pollution
   • An estimated 0.5 million tons of microfibers are released into the oceans annually

Vocabulary: Microfibers are tiny synthetic fibers that shed from clothing and enter waterways, potentially harming marine life and ecosystems.