The emotional effects of fast fashion can be severe, as we are constantly finding out. Convenience and the pressure to look our best combine into a potent formula that can have a wider impact on emotions, stress and even guilt. However, we are becoming more aware.
Recent data, surveys and studies are finding there are many more severe issues related to the fashion industry, and these have far-reaching consequences for individual consumers, workers in the industry and the ecosystem as a whole, from feeling extreme guilt to ethical issues.
Overconsumption Anxiety
The psychological effects of consumerism are well-detailed and constantly being researched. With more access to whatever we want, when we want, than ever before, there is growing concern about the effects such as financial anxiety and emotional cycles. It might be a good idea to seek out online therapy covered by insurance if you experience an emotional void or become overwhelmed because you can’t control habits related to fashion and spending.
The Guilt Effects of Fast Fashion
Guilt is a common problem associated with consumerism. However, fast fashion has a unique angle. A survey of 16 to 24 year olds found that 65% experience eco-anxiety, where they become extremely worried about the future of the planet, citing fast fashion as a source.
The guilt of labor exploitation
Fashion manufacturers typically employ low-paid workers in undeveloped countries, and most people are willfully ignorant of this fact. In fact, children as young as six years old are exploited as cheap labor in some countries so consumers in Western nations can have nice clothing.
The environmental impact
Recent figures that have come to light reveal that most fashion manufacturers have little to no regard for the wider environment. Air pollution, carbon emissions and excessive water consumption are just a few examples of how the fashion industry causes damage to the planet.
Mental health problems
The willful ignorance of knowing how the fast fashion industry can damage the planet and exploit the poorest in society can cause anxiety and guilt. However, this is made worse when you consider the pressure to keep up in society, even resulting in issues like shopping addiction.
Feeling low self-esteem
There are many idealized images coming at people from all angles, especially when it comes to fashion. Just being a little overweight, too short, or not light-skinned enough can cause severe emotional problems for an individual. You may experience low self-esteem from following fashion as most brands use slender, beautiful, and lighter models almost exclusively. Additionally, you may not be able to afford the latest trends, further causing more anxiety.
Exhaustion from Decisions
When you must have the latest items or seasonal products, there are decisions to be made. However, the sheer volume of fashion items from brands who push fast fashion becomes overwhelming. This can lead to burnout over decisions, especially if you have an online following or are trying to become an influencer. With so many cheap clothing options, the mental fatigue that comes with making decisions about what to buy is very real and becoming common.
The Shame of More Waste
There is already so much wastefulness all over the world, and the fashion industry is no different. Fast fashion encourages more purchases and constant change, resulting in many clothing items being discarded for no reason other than they aren’t trendy. This can result in becoming ashamed of the products you waste, especially as most people are trying to reduce the impact we have on landfills and the wider environmental impact that waste can cause.
A Disconnection from Value
The more money you have, the more money you want to spend. A bigger house, a better car, and trendier clothing. However, this can lead to a disconnect from value, which is a common factor in overspending. While you might enjoy the things you have, there is an unconscious issue that can cause stress because you know you shouldn’t be spending frivolously. This can also cause a depreciation for craftsmanship and authenticity as you chase the latest trends.
The Social Effects of Fast Fashion
There is a wider social impact due to the effects of fast fashion and how it impacts you, the planet and people involved. However, there is some hope. With the rise of eco-chic, the fashion industry is changing for the better in some ways, but there are still some far-reaching issues.
The promotion of a throw-away culture
With waste already at an all-time high, clothing is also an issue. Seasonal fashion, keeping up with influencers and buying more means we throw away more clothes when no longer needed.
Gender inequality and pay gaps
It is widely known that women don’t get paid fairly in most countries. In underdeveloped nations, women are exploited even more, as 80% of garment industry workers are girls and women.
Human trafficking and forced labor
There are disturbing reports that young girls and women are forced into labor to work in the fast fashion supply chain in countries with poor labor laws, such as Bangladesh, Belarus, and Egypt.
Forced overconsumption
Because fast fashion is so cheap, people tend to buy more, leading to overconsumption. This leads to potentially damaging patterns of spending more and focusing on material possessions.
Erosion of cultural identity
Fashion has become dominant in the consumer space. However, this has impacted traditional craftsmanship and the unique identities of some cultures, and now we all look the same!
Good Old FOMO!
Pretty much everyone feels FOMO every now and then. If you are a little older, this means “Fear of Missing Out”, and it is a very deliberate tool used by brand marketers. At an all time high today, savvy branding agencies use FOMO to ensure customers keep coming back, and the fast fashion industry is no stranger to this. However combined with trend-chasing and influencer marketing, FOMO in fashion is uniquely ubiquitous, causing issues such as impulse buying.
Bad Impulse Buying
So, you buy things on a whim! Everyone has done this at some point, but the need to impulse buy is pretty strong for some people and is a leading cause of financial problems such as credit card spending. It can also lead to shopping addiction. However, when you buy something on impulse, you also know you shouldn’t have done it. You can feel very remorseful after this, but fast fashion is promoted in such a way that it makes it very challenging to not click that button!
No More Authenticity
There was once a time when fashion items were made with passion, dedication and authenticity. Up until the late 1990s, when you bought something it was pretty much well made and aimed to appeal to specific buyers. Today, fashion has lost something it once had. Mass produced clothing lacks the uniqueness of fashion of the past, causing a disconnect from uniqueness. As a result, you feel compelled to keep up with trends, which can lead to an identity crisis.
Dealing with Poor Quality
It’s no secret that most mass-produced items are little more than garbage, and clothing is no different. When something is made to be consumed as fast as possible, there is minimal concern for the quality of the item. This can lead to numerous personal issues, including a feeling of guilt for wasting money. However, you also know you are being taken for a fool and may not be able to stop due to the clever way fast fashion is marketed and aimed at buyers.
The Ethical Effects of Fast Fashion
The fashion industry is among the worst when it comes to ethics. Shockingly, 99% of established fashion brands do not disclose the number of workers in their supply chain who are paid wages good enough to live on. Of course, there are many wider issues to deal with, too:
- There is a concerning lack of accountability as third-party suppliers are used.
- The focus on lower prices and higher sales results in a “profit over planet” attitude.
- The fast fashion industry is criminally underregulated and lacks sufficient transparency.
- Because of poor regulation, there are generally very unsafe working conditions.
- There is pretty much almost zero regard for the wider environmental impact.
Unfulfilling Material Living
There are many ways branding marketers aim products at you. Fashion is just one of the sectors that takes advantage of psychological tricks and methods to get you to buy more. However, because we are under pressure to look good socially and professionally, we can just buy more. As a result, you can begin to feel the emptiness of unfulfilling purchases that add little value to your life, especially when money can be better spent on wholesome activities.
Summary
You can feel overconsumption anxiety as part of the emotional effects of fast fashion and brand marketing for other products. However, there is a wider social impact, such as gender inequality, that you may be aware of yet willfully ignore, causing stress and guilt. In the long term, you can also develop a sense of shame because you begin living an unfulfilling material lifestyle.
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