Exposing Child Labor Practices in Fast Fashion

Fast fashion is everywhere, producing new trendy and cute clothes that match whatever is popular online at the moment. The latest styles appear online and in stores daily, mirroring social media trends and celebrity looks. This ongoing flow of fashionable items keeps consumers engaged, buying new pieces with no end. But behind these bargains lies a complex global supply chain that hides a troubling reality that many people never see, the use of child labor.

What is Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion refers to the rapid production of clothes to meet constant consumer demand in response to the latest trends. In order to speed up the process, many brands frequently source their manufacturing in countries where labor is cheap and the regulations are weakly enforced. From these systems, these brands typically create abusive and  labor-intensive conditions for hired workers. 

How the Use of Child Labor Comes into Play

Children, especially those who face poverty, are victims of this system. Families may rely on child income in order to survive, putting their kids in an incredibly difficult situation of providing for their family. Additionally, children are less likely or aren’t able to protest against these unfair conditions that force them to work long hours for very low wages.

PC: Unsplash

Where Your Clothes May Actually Come From

Children who are employed in the fast fashion industry often work in factories with poor ventilation and insufficient safety measures. Fast fashion often uses synthetic materials since they are cheap and easy to produce. As the clothes are being sewed, dyed and processed, they expose these working children to toxic substances and chemicals on a daily basis. According to the International Organization for Migration, there are about 152 million children under the age of 17 that participate in hazardous labor globally. About 75 million of those children contribute to the fashion supply chains where less than 2% of workers make an actual living wage. On top of that, many child workers are forced to work long hours in order to meet demand for the company. The physical strain of these harmful and stressful environments may lead to long-term health issues, and the deprivation of education and a real childhood. As stated by the Student Briefs from George Washington University, producing these fabrics and materials expose children to about 8,000 synthetic chemicals that are shown to link to cancer. 

What Can I Do About It? 

Consumers have more power than they realize. By buying fewer clothes and avoiding impulse purchases for gratification, they can help reduce the demand that drives fast fashion’s constant production cycle. Similarly, you can always choose to shop secondhand or thrift to lower consumption rates. Small actions can also make such a difference as well such as simply rewearing clothes, creating new outfit switches with pieces you already have, or repairing your clothes if they have been ripped or stained instead of replacing them. Most importantly, you should pay attention to what specific brands you consume from. Many fast fashion companies that exploit their workers are big and well-known names, therefore supporting smaller brands that are more transparent with how their clothes are made could be a better alternative. 

As consumers, we play a big role in creating demand for clothing that keeps these systems going. Buying fashion should not only be a luxury, but also a responsibility for us. In order to put a stop to abusive fashion chains, we need to make informed choices and hold companies accountable so we can push towards a fashion industry that respects the rights and futures of all children.