Green Daily

Fast fashion equates to clothing that are made from such poor quality materials it's practically disposable. A girl who buys a $5 dollar shirt from one these clothing stores isn't going to think twice about throwing it away when it falls apart after one wash.

I think that Liz Jones from the Daily Mail says it best, "Ever-cheaper fashion... is like cheap food: it means people's lives and the environment are being violated."

Unfortunately folks, we're in a recession (whether Bush will admit to it or not). The poor economy means that a lot of people aren't going to be willing to shell out $80 bucks for organic jeans not made in sweatshops if they can pay $15 somewhere else, regardless of the human and/or environmental cost.

There are alternatives -- let the "slow fashion" movement begin! Thrift stores are a great place to start out -- although you'll most likely find some Forever 21 cast offs at least they're not in a landfill somewhere. Buy locally made products whenever possible. Shop less -- you don't need to follow every single trend out there. Educate yourself about the stores where you shop to find out how their products are made. Look for good deals online from green sale outlets like Youdeserve. Plan ahead -- just like people on a diet sometimes end up in trouble when they're on the road and they haven't planned ahead because the only place open is McDonald's, you can save yourself the same trouble by starting Back to School shopping early. That way you can get used clothes online or wait for the sales at eco-boutiques, rather than running into a fast fashion chain at the last minute.

It's easy to walk into a fast fashion store and focus on how much you can get for so few dollars. But don't ignore the fact that somewhere across the sea, someone else's children are sewing the clothes that your children might be wearing.

Via Jezebel.