In this episode, Vinisha and Shannen discuss fast fashion and it’s effects, along with Jiya Joshi, the Fast Fashion co-chair at MTHS EAC. Fast fashion is when companies copy runway designs and mass produce them in a short amount of time. However, these clothes wear out easily and their production is terrible for the environment. Fast fashion clothing production uses cheap synthetic fibers, which take hundreds of years of years to biodegrade, and most of the synthetic textiles that wind up in the ocean come from the production of these clothes. Despite having so many terrible effects, companies continue to use fast fashion because they are able to get cheap labor, since labor laws are loosely enforced in many places, and companies can make more profit. In sweatshops, which are fast fashion factories, millions of women and children are abused and have to work in unsafe areas. After the Industrial Revolution, inventions were available that sped up clothing production and people wanted more clothing, which is how fast fashion began gaining importance. Make sure to stay to the end to find out ways that you can be more mindful about the terrible effects of fast fashion and reduce your contribution to this huge issue. 

To learn more, refer to these sources: 

https://www.blankstyle.com/articles/clothing-and-textiles-industrial-revolution

 https://fashionista.com/2016/06/what-is-fast-fashion 

https://jiyajoshi101.wixsite.com/mysite-4