Trends are very convenient. They give us something to look forward to when we are dressing for a special occasion. For example, if you are about to go out and buy a new outfit, it is easy to find something fashionable and chic in stores. Trendy clothes provide excitement, and it is easy to get caught up in the current fad. However, there are some dangers of fast fashion.
Trends are changing too quickly that stores can’t keep up: Trends create excitement, but they also create anxiety about remaining fashionable. This is the danger of Fast Fashion: mass-manufactured, cheap, disposable clothes. Trends affect the cost of clothing, because the materials and processes used to create new styles are more expensive than materials and processes used to produce older styles. As a result, the manufacturer runs up the price of the item.
The clothing and textile industry produces large amounts of chemicals. Many of these chemicals are harmful to humans and animals. Dioxane, which is an agent used in many plastic products, is considered a carcinogen. In fact, the EPA advises that people should avoid products that contain dioxane. Some manufacturers have agreed to eliminate dioxin from their products. Others still use dioxane in some parts of their manufacturing process, despite the EPA’s warnings.
Trends that increase the production of artificial fibers may be good for the production of certain types of clothing, but these fibers often do not make up a part of a sustainable fashion. By increasing the amount of synthetic fibers used, manufacturers can lower the price of a garment. However, these high prices mean that the garments may not be as comfortable or as durable as true cost garments made from pure, natural fibers. Since most people cannot afford to keep changing their clothes, designers often use genuine fibers in their clothing and accessories to make the clothing more affordable. Unfortunately, the true cost fashion is becoming rarer.
Trends come and go, but the trend of decreasing the use of toxic chemicals in the production of clothing and other items is not one that is likely to disappear any time soon. A part of the reason for this trends are the recognition of the social and environmental costs of producing and using chemicals. Trends that decrease the use of toxic chemicals in the fashion industry generally require consumers to pay a little more for their clothing. High-end clothing can also be produced more cheaply using recycled materials, minimizing the environmental costs of production. The trend toward eco-friendly clothing is likely to continue.
Trends come and go, but the need to protect our environment and reduce the harmful effects of chemical additives in the production of clothes and other items cannot go away. Our continued dependence on fast fashion means that we are being forced to put our health and the health of our planet at risk. Trends may change, but the need to protect the health of humans and the earth will always be strong. When we shop according to a new trend, we should expect to put our bodies at risk if we choose incorrectly. If we do not pay attention to the trend of the season, we are often stuck buying clothes that are harmful to us.