Historically, clothing was a luxury, often made from durable natural fibers and bought infrequently. Over time, synthetic materials made from plastics began to replace natural fibers, and more clothing started being manufactured overseas where labor was cheaper. In the 1980s, reductions in import taxes made it more cost-effective for brands to produce their goods abroad, giving rise to fast fashion. Fast fashion refers to clothing produced quickly and sold cheaply to keep up with rapidly changing trends, encouraging consumers to frequently purchase new items.
The advent of the internet accelerated this trend, leading to the emergence of ultra-fast fashion brands. These brands produce super cheap clothes often mimicking expensive styles. Australians have embraced this trend, with research indicating they buy more new clothes per person than any other country.
This rampant consumption, however, has significant downsides, including poor working conditions, low wages, and environmental damage, with 92 million tonnes of clothing ending up in landfills annually. To combat these issues, some experts advocate for stricter regulations on the fashion industry, including holding manufacturers accountable for waste. France is leading the way by planning to ban fast fashion advertisements and imposing a tax on ultra-fast fashion garments. This approach aims to counter excessive consumption and its negative impacts.
Vocabulary:
• Outfit (noun): A set of clothes that you wear together.
• Build to last (verb): Made to be strong and efficient for a long time.
• Overseas (adjective): In or to a different country across the sea, very far away.
• To soak something up (verb): to absorb.
• Landfill (noun): A place where garbage is taken and buried under the ground.
• To afford (verb): To have enough money to buy something.
• Occasionally (adverb): Sometimes, not frequently.
• Labor (noun): Work, especially physical work.
• Trend (noun): A general direction in which something is developing or changing.
• Garment (noun): An item of clothing.
• Consume (verb): To buy and use products and services.
• Developing (adjective): Growing and becoming more advanced.
Source: Behind the News YouTube channel.