NOMAD: When It’s Fashionable to Be Environmentally and Socially Responsible

Fast fashion refers to the rapid mass production of cheap clothing inspired by catwalk trends to meet consumer demand. The term originated in the 1990s when the New York Times used it to describe Zara’s business model that displayed a new garment after only 15 days of design. Online shopping, ease of access and rapid trend cycles gave rise to fast fashion, which has detrimental environmental and social costs.

Environmental & Social Impacts of Fast Fashion

When it comes to some of the social impacts, the industry doesn’t have a good reputation either. Less than 3% of garment workers earn a living wage. Many garment workers are young single females in low-income countries – predominantly in Asia – who are often let go when they get married or become pregnant; they work in tough conditions