Fast Fashion: The true price of cheap clothing

The true price of cheap clothing

Fast fashion stands for rapid trends, low prices, and high availability. What appears economically efficient is ecologically and socially problematic. The industry is based on high production volumes, short product lifecycles, and a material mix that is hardly recyclable.

The high plastic content in cheap fashion

A crucial aspect that is often underestimated is the enormous proportion of synthetic fibers in the low-price segment. Many inexpensive garments consist primarily of:

• polyester

• nylon

• Acrylic

• Elastane

• Mixed fabrics with plastic content

These materials are petroleum-based. Clothing is therefore effectively made into a plastic product. This has direct consequences for the environment and waste disposal.

Consequences of Fast Fashion:

• Microfibers are released during washing and enter waterways as microplastics.

• Mixed fabrics are technically almost impossible to separate into pure types.

• High-quality recycling is rarely possible.

• Many pieces are burned or landfilled.
  

Furthermore, cheap products in particular are often not collected or recycled because their quality and resale value are too low.

Resource consumption and waste problem

Fast fashion is a linear system: produce, sell, dispose of. Environmental pollution occurs along the entire value chain.

Key problem areas:

• High water consumption in fiber production

• Use of chemicals in dyeing processes

• Energy-intensive production of synthetic fibers

• Overproduction and short lifespan

• Export of used clothing to countries without functioning waste disposal systems
  

The result is growing mountains of textile waste worldwide.

Social dimension

Low prices are only possible through extremely efficient and cost-effective production structures. This often leads to:

• Low wages

• High time pressure in manufacturing

• Limited transparency in supply chains

The environmental and social costs are not reflected in the selling price.

Ecological alternatives

Sustainable fashion relies on a different principle: quality, transparency, and circularity. Key approaches include:

• Natural fibers such as organic cotton, linen or hemp

• Certified production standards

• Recycled materials where synthetic fibers are needed

• Monomaterial instead of difficult-to-recycle mixed fabrics

• Durable workmanship and timeless design

However, the greatest lever for sustainability remains the length of use. A garment that is worn for many years significantly improves its environmental footprint.

Conclusion

Fast fashion is often plastic in textile form with a short lifespan and limited recyclability. This model generates significant environmental pollution and growing disposal problems.

Ecological alternatives show that fashion can work differently: sustainably, with a focus on materials, and in a circular economy. The key is not deprivation, but conscious choice.