Shop Less, Shop Better: ethical and sustainability concerns throughout the fast fashion supply chain
Format
Capstone
Faculty Mentor Name
Brian Klunk
Faculty Mentor Department
Political Science
Abstract/Artist Statement
My capstone project is a series of short essays that describe how fast fashion is having negative impacts on local environments, communities, and supply chains. This research is a review of technical sources describing manufacturing of clothing and certification processes for alternative, sustainable textile production. Additionally, this review incorporates perspectives from journalists and documentarians, visiting and describing farms and factories that are involved with fast fashion production. This project was carried out over the course of a semester, as an independent study. The essays focus on the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion. Each of the six essays approaches a different topic within the realm of clothing production, shaping an argument against overproduction and overconsumption. Illustrating the human and environmental impacts of the clothing system, the essays combine the social and sustainability concerns. They also focus on alternatives to fast fashion. Fast fashion describes the rapid system of design, production, and distribution of low-quality clothes. Additionally, fast fashion necessitates resource exploitation that is inherently unsustainable. Finally, fast fashion presents ethical and humanitarian concerns. Currently, workers within the fast fashion supply chain lack freedom of association, union representation, and adequate wages. Globally, a transition away from fast fashion will decrease pesticide use, decrease pollution, and benefit human rights along clothing production supply chains by ending the practices of forced, coerced, and child labor. However, there is an associated cost with this transition. Consumers must become more discerning and selective about their purchases, opting for more ethical and sustainable clothing options. Third party ethical and social certifications are one step towards shaping a more conscious clothing economy. Already, sustainability is on trend in some markets. In the future, the interest and desire for environmentally conscious clothing will continue to increase and clothing producers will respond accordingly.
Start Date
29-4-2023 10:00 AM
End Date
29-4-2023 1:00 PM
Shop Less, Shop Better: ethical and sustainability concerns throughout the fast fashion supply chain
My capstone project is a series of short essays that describe how fast fashion is having negative impacts on local environments, communities, and supply chains. This research is a review of technical sources describing manufacturing of clothing and certification processes for alternative, sustainable textile production. Additionally, this review incorporates perspectives from journalists and documentarians, visiting and describing farms and factories that are involved with fast fashion production. This project was carried out over the course of a semester, as an independent study. The essays focus on the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion. Each of the six essays approaches a different topic within the realm of clothing production, shaping an argument against overproduction and overconsumption. Illustrating the human and environmental impacts of the clothing system, the essays combine the social and sustainability concerns. They also focus on alternatives to fast fashion. Fast fashion describes the rapid system of design, production, and distribution of low-quality clothes. Additionally, fast fashion necessitates resource exploitation that is inherently unsustainable. Finally, fast fashion presents ethical and humanitarian concerns. Currently, workers within the fast fashion supply chain lack freedom of association, union representation, and adequate wages. Globally, a transition away from fast fashion will decrease pesticide use, decrease pollution, and benefit human rights along clothing production supply chains by ending the practices of forced, coerced, and child labor. However, there is an associated cost with this transition. Consumers must become more discerning and selective about their purchases, opting for more ethical and sustainable clothing options. Third party ethical and social certifications are one step towards shaping a more conscious clothing economy. Already, sustainability is on trend in some markets. In the future, the interest and desire for environmentally conscious clothing will continue to increase and clothing producers will respond accordingly.