Fast fashion is, "an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers," as defined by Webster Dictionary.
The effects of fast fashion on our environment are significantly harmful. It is responsible for 10% of human caused greenhouse gas emissions and 20% of global wastewater. 53 million metric tons of discarded clothing are either incinerated or go to landfills each year. The fashion industry also produces 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 each year. To feed the fashion industry's need for wood pulp to make fabrics like rayon, viscose and others, 70 million tons of trees are cut down each year. That number is expected to double by 2034, speeding up the deforestation of some of the world's endangered forests. And this is just to name a few of the many negative effects.
There are societal effects of fast fashion as well. A U.S. Department of Labor report found evidence of forced child labor in the fashion industry in Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, Vietnam, and other countries. There is also an exploitation of women between the ages of 18-24 (which, according to Remake, accounts for 80% of people who make apparel). These women work for little to no money and can barely afford to live off their wages.
Slow fashion is centered around the concept of producing clothings and accessories that are environmentally sustainable and socially ethical. There is more time and thought put into the production of slow fashion than the fast-paced fashion that has become typical in today's society. Slow fashion artists use raw and recycled materials and works with a small team to make and sell their products. They do not outsource their manufacturing, or exploit their workers for profit.