Why Should We Say No to Fast Fashion?

In April we’re offering 15% off retail pricing on our Say No to Fast Fashion collection – our fair trade tee and new notebook made of recycled textile waste.  Read on to get inspired to take up the cause!

According to the World Bank, 700 million people across the globe live in extreme poverty earning less than $2 per day by definition.  Researchers across organizations have agreend that less than 2% of workers in the global fashion industry earn a livable wage, most earn less than $2 per day putting them in the 700 million in extreme poverty.  Estimates of global garment workers vary from 100 million to 300 million depending on if you count the entire supply chain or just those in garment factories.  Whichever number you choose, apparel is a major contributor to poverty even though the employees typically work long hours 6-7 days per week. 

This is not a work ethic problem or even a lack of job opportunities problem – this is a value proposition problem.  Consumers do not perceive clothing to have the same value as other items.  Inflation statistics are very telling – while the overall CPI in the US rose 13% from 2020 to 2024, apparel prices rose only 7%.  This is driven largely by fast fashion which keeps prices low by sacrificing quality of fabrics and fit creating garments only meant to be worn a couple of times and then discarded.  Prices  may seem low but the cost per wear is increasing rapidly.  Read on to learn more about the harmful effects of fast fashion and why we should all say no!

Fast fashion has significant adverse effects on the environment, labor conditions, and consumer behavior.  Here are a few of those effects.

1. Environmental Degradation

Water Pollution and Waste: The fast fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater due to dyeing and textile treatment processes. Factories often discharge untreated water filled with toxic chemicals into rivers and oceans, particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh and India.
Carbon Emissions: Fast fashion contributes to 10% of global carbon emissions—more than aviation and maritime shipping combined. This is exacerbated by the use of synthetic fabrics derived from fossil fuels, which are energy-intensive to produce and non-biodegradable.  Add shipping to that and the total is even more shocking.

2. Textile Waste

Landfill Overflow: Approximately 85% of all textiles are discarded each year, with most ending up in landfills or being incinerated. Globally, consumers generate 92 million tons of textile waste annually, a figure projected to rise to 134 million tons by 2030.
Microfiber Pollution: Washing synthetic garments releases 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean annually—equivalent to dumping 50 billion plastic bottles into the sea. 

3. Exploitative Labor Practices

Low Wages and Unsafe Conditions: Less than 2% of garment workers globally earn a livable wage.  Many work up to 16 hours a day in unsafe environments for as little as $2 per day, particularly in countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam.
Child Labor and Forced Labor: The industry employs millions of children in low-skill roles, often under coercive conditions. Forced labor is also prevalent, with workers subjected to wage theft, gender-based violence, and hazardous chemical exposure.
False Claims Related to the Above:  Brands like Shein and Temu are masters at hiding their labor practices.  They contract factories to produce who contract all of their labor paying them by the piece.  The brand can then claim people make decent wages but don’t unpack that they earn those higher wages only by working 10-12 hours per day 7 days per week.   

4. Consumerism and Psychological Impact

Throwaway Culture: Fast fashion promotes a “disposable” mindset by encouraging frequent purchases of low-quality garments that are quickly discarded. This cycle fosters overconsumption while diminishing the perceived value of clothing.
Social Pressure: The industry leverages influencer culture and social media to create an insatiable demand for new trends, leading consumers to feel dissatisfied with their existing wardrobe.
 

These impacts highlight the urgent need for sustainable alternatives such as slow fashion, which prioritizes ethical labor practices and environmentally friendly materials.

So how is GOEX setting an example in the apparel industry of how to do things differently?

Our fabrics are made in the USA and our garments are sewn in the Caribbean or in the USA.  This means higher environmental standards than found in developing nations and a low carbon footprint from very short shipping lanes.

All of the polyester used in our garments is either recycled or, after recent changes, made with Ciclo.  Ciclo polyester biodegrades like cotton in ocean water or a landfill meaning harmful microplastics do not live forever in ocean water or soil like with conventional or even recycled fibers.

Protecting and empowering people throughout our supply chain is our top priority.  Every supplier we partner with shares our values in caring for people and planet.  We want you to be absolutely confident in these claims.  To that end, this year we opted into an additional customs review on each import checking that our supply chain is free of risk for human trafficking or child labor.

We use quality fabrics and produce quality garments.  We actually want you to wear your garments over and over again and use high quality, made in America fabrics to ensure it will look great wash after wash.
 

Please join the movement to say no to fast fashion.  Grab your tee and notebook and start telling others!