What: Fast fashion production has increased twice as much compared to 20 years ago, leading to a 10-fold increase in textile waste every year.

Why it is important: Calls for reduced consumption of fast fashion items are multiplying and increasingly echoed in mainstream media (such as the FT). Department stores must pay attention to this movement, as it might propagate by capillarity to consumption of other goods in a context combining  inflation with customers having lower purchasing power and climate crisis.

In its opinion column, the Financial Times reviews the fast fashion business model and consumption patterns. In the $100bn fast fashion market, industry players produce twice as much as they did 20 years ago, and it is estimated that 50bn items are thrown away every year.

Since recycling is labour-intensive, the use of new plastics is easier, leading to an increase in permanent waste (polyester is not biodegradable). The Financial Times mentions that industry solutions include lab-grown fibres, however, it strongly advocates for a reduction in consumption instead.

Calls for fast fashion consumption reduction are multiplying