Fast Fashion and Student Ethic: Staying Stylish Without Fracturing the Planet or Your Wallet

Written by Ruby Her

If you’ve ever snagged a cute top for $10, worn it once or twice, then tossed it into the back of your closet, you may be familiar with fast fashion. Fast fashion is exactly what it sounds like: clothing that’s made fast and cheap, yet is extremely trendy. Think speedy production cycles from brands like Zara, H&M, Shein, and Temu: churning out fresh styles before you can even ask “should I buy this for fall?” The low prices, ever-changing trends, and instant gratifications are irresistible for a fashion devotee. However, beneath these deals lies a larger cost involving the health of the environment and people who make these clothes.

Let’s face it: student life can be very expensive. Between rent, textbooks, meals, and the occasional splurges on a coffee or night out, budgeting for clothes can feel impossible. So when you stumble across a stylish jacket or trendy sneakers that seem to fit your wallet perfectly, it’s almost impossible not to click “add to cart.” On top of that, there’s the unspoken social pressure to keep up appearances and rock the new season’s top looks. The result? Fast fashion becomes a lifeline for students trying to balance style, social life, and financial reality.

While fast fashion might seem like a student’s best friend, the environmental and social costs behind it tell a different story. The fast fashion industry is one of the largest polluters worldwide, responsible for massive water consumption, chemical pollution, and textile waste piling up in landfills. In fact, producing a single cotton T-shirt uses approximately 2,700 liters of water (enough for one person’s drinking needs for two and a half years). In addition, many garments that we scrap out of our wardrobe are made from synthetic fibers that release microplastics into our oceans every time they’re washed.

Socially, the story isn’t any better: millions of workers (men, women, and children), often in developing countries, endure unsafe working conditions in tight factories and low wages. Take Anjana, a garment worker in Dhaka, Bangladesh, for instance. For more than two decades, she worked from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. in order to complete all the factories’ targets, which dictated whether or not they were allowed to leave. There were even some nights where Anjana would be up until midnight, increasing stress and harm to her mental/physical health. In efforts to spread awareness of factory workers’ rights and need for justice, Anjana is now a member of Women’s Cafe, a safe place where women come together to “learn about their personal rights and share experiences.” Consider every time that we purchase that cheap outfit, we are unknowingly supporting a system that harms both the planet and our people.

Given these harsh realities, it’s understandable why students might feel caught between a rock and a hard place. The good news? There are plenty of sustainable alternatives that don’t require you to sacrifice style or money.

If you’re interested in reducing your impact, consider exploring thrift stores or vintage shops. In Madison alone, there are a number of goldmines for unique and affordable clothing that’s also eco-friendly and recycled: Goodwill, Dane County Humane Society, Ragstock, Agrace Thrift Store, and Salvation Army. Secondly, organizing or joining clothing swaps can turn fashion into a fun, social experience where everyone benefits by sharing their wardrobes. If you are more of a creative soul, upcycling and DIY projects can breathe new life into old clothes. Think turning old jeans into shorts or revamping a worn-out sweater with creative stitching. By making small changes like these, students can enjoy fashion that reflects their individuality and style, without being trapped in the fast fashion cycle.

Ultimately, while fast fashion may offer students a quick fix for style on a budget, the impact on our environment and the exploitation of factory workers are real and far-reaching. By making more mindful choices, whether through thrifting and/or upcycling, we can still enjoy fashion without compromising our values. Fashion is a great reflection of expression, but also symbolizes what you stand for.

Edited by Claudia Rothberg, Isabella Zapata, & Polly Drebin

Works Cited

“Fast fashion: EU laws for sustainable textile consumption | Topics | European Parliament.” European Parliament, 12 September 2025, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20201208STO93327/fast-fashion-eu-laws-for-sustainable-textile-consumption. Accessed 17 October 2025.

“How women garment workers are standing up against workplace exploitation: Anjana’s Story.” ActionAid, 2023, https://actionaid.org.au/women-workers-stand-up-against-exploitation/.

Savelli, Heidi. “Fashion’s tiny hidden secret.” UN Environment Programme, https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/fashions-tiny-hidden-secret.