Is the Appearance of Worth the Hidden Dangers? - Essay Sample

Introduction

Fast fashion seems to appear good on us but the other hand, it is destroying us on the background. Fast fashion these days is everywhere one can look. It is cheap, convenient and trendy. Consumers have been in a position where they want clothing fast and affordable, and so we expect to have our shelves in good appearance with the very trendy clothing (Helen, 23). We as consumers are driven by what sounds appalling but it is unfortunate for not everything that looks good is the best choice.

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Fast fashion is destroying our environment at a breakneck pace. We do not know how much dangerous clothes on our body are to the environment and our health. There is an extreme amount of harmful substances in clothing that most people do not know about. Research revealed that there was 900 times more than the normal amounts of chemicals in garments shipped from countries manufacturing fast fashion. These substances are harmful to our bodies and not just the environment (Neukirchen, 15).

Fast Fashion has hidden psychological, health and environmental hazards. Everyone would want to purchase affordable styles, and an assorted number of garments in order to maintain a wardrobe that is satisfactory and fashion-oriented as dangers as the effects of fast fashion is evident in the environment our health conditions and economic problems. Fast fashion industries are one of the most polluters of the environment in the world.

Extravagant Consumption of Fast Fashion

The business perception of fast fashion is based on consumer craving for new and trending clothes to wear and in to fulfill this need, fast fashion manufactures produce affordable prices and a wide range of clothing that marge the latest designs. This business trick leads to overconsumption. Based on planned obsolescence I economics, fast fashion is intensely committed to built-in obsolescence. For instance, skirts that are designed this year are to meant to replace that of last year. In this case, clients are lured to purchasing new ones while the old ones are still wearable. This phenomenon causes economic constraints and unnecessary dumping of clothes (Judy, 16). Fast fashion brings significant consumption as it appears to benefit manufacturing industries from its uniqueness in business terms. However, it has brought about the problem of overconsumption whereby a tremendous amount of waste ends up in land fields.

Psychologically fast fashion has fed us with an addiction. Most people are addicted to acquiring the latest designs or trending garments at a low price; this contributes to the mindless purchase of clothes leading to addictive shopping. The quality of fast fashion is unique and simple in consuming, but it can lead to anxiety and unrest to its consumers.

Environmental Effects of Fast Fashion

There are several environmental consequences caused by fast fashion both from the manufacturing process and consumption of end product (Xiao-Kun Yu,11). The surrounding has greatly suffered from the manufacturing of fast fashion clothing as a result of pollutions from the massive amounts of chemicals used in synthetic fiber and dyes. When these clothes are thrown out after use, the high amounts of textiles inland causes off-gassing, a process by which clothing materials decompose to give toxic chemicals. Fast fashion is a rapid production process of clothing leading to more traffic on air since most airlines are used in the distribution of these products and it has led to air pollution.

Fast fashion mainly focusses on the speed and low cost with the aim of delivering new collections frequently to the customers. Their designs are based on celebrity styles and catwalk looks, but these acts are particular dangers for the environment. It is for this fact that environmental concerns are cut off as pressure to decrease cost and the amount of time it takes to finish the manufacturing process and distribution of the garments to consumers is in prior. Paints, vibrant colors and fabric finishes are used as the appealing properties of fashion garments. The use of toxic chemicals attains many of these features. Application of dyes is one of the big polluters on the planet. Many tested on various brands confirmed the presence of dangerous substances. This chemical builds up very fast in the bloodstream disturbing the process of metabolism. This disrupts hormonal functions and carcinogenic (Andrew Zimbroff, 22).

Polyester is the standard fabric used in fashion manufacturing industries, but when this substance is washed off, they discharge microscopic fibers that have led to the rise in the plastic content in the oceans. These substances are tiny that they can penetrate through the sewage and passed to our waterways and since they cannot decompose, they pose a serious threat to aquatic life and water that we drink. The ultimate effect of these substances is on the food chain to aquatic animals we feed on.

It is right to say that nowadays well-known companies hire manufacturers who then hire contractors to carry out the production process. This extended production proses pose a challenge in workplaces and unfair treatment down the chain of manufacturing to the low wages paid to workers who are the ones designing and creating the clothing. Also, the working conditions for the employees are deplorable as they are highly exposed to harmful chemicals content present in the products they handle. Companies who hire subcontractors do this in order to avoid any human rights and violation of environmental laws. Companies should implement ethical and more sustainable activities that are good for their workers and the environment. Fast fashion is not the same as high standard fashion because of its intention for mass consumption compared to small production and consumption rates (Tsan-Ming, 13). Fast fashion relies majorly on the mass market, large departmental stores and vast amounts of orders.

Retailers oversaturate both international and domestic markets, and there is yet to be an adequate discourse on the harmful effects of these manufacturing industries. These retailers have also influenced fast fashion, according to Merriam Websteris, an approach to creation, design, and promotion of clothing fashions which emphasizes on making trending fashions at high production rates and cheaply available to the clients. This act triggers massive production of low-quality fabrics, which are easily disposable in short after using for a short period and finally causing an overflow on land fields. One must be aware e that the massive production of cheap and low-quality clothing pose not only a challenge on communities in third world countries but also the global environment. To understand better the gravity of the circumstance, it is vital to evaluate the basis of the retail shops. Throughout all the stages of the textile manufacturing process and the aquatic, atmospheric and terrestrials' ecosystems are experiencing environmental problems all o, over the world (Johanna Mair, 20).

The Health Effects of Consuming Fast Fashion

Fast fashion industries use hazardous chemicals additives to promote the functionality of their goods. It is unfortunate that the health of the consumer is the cost of this functionality. Research by the National Institute for biotechnology information on chemical properties of fabrics showed that textiles could penetrate the skin. They indicated that benzothiazole is released from textile materials, penetrates the skin and to the rest of the body through blood. It is proven that the existence of these textile properties contains potential health hazards. One of the common causes of these substances is an endocrine disruption. According to hormone health network, chemicals that cause endocrine disruption can leach onto our bodies very quickly. Director of sustainability and materials exploration also provided adequate evidence to support this phenomenon. She wore fast fashion consumers on the dangers of it which include skin rashes. These chemicals limit mildew, mound and pathogens resistance in humans. From the same article, it is mentioned that flame retardants do not improve overall safety from fire.

Impacts of Endocrine Disruption in The Human Body

According to the Hormone Health Network, endocrine disruption affects the human body in the following ways:

• It affects body response to psychological stress leading to neurological, behavioral disparities and reduces our capability to handle stress.
• Metabolism regarding obesity
• Causes Type II diabetes and thyroid roles
• Leads to reproductive abnormalities; this happens by mimicking or hindering the effects of female and male reproductive hormones.
• Risk of conducting cancer a result of exposure to estrogen and androgen mimicking.
• Endocrine disrupting chemicals can potentially cause growth and development of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer; it may also interfere with hormonal therapy of cancer.
• It may also hinder growth and development hence low-birth weight as a result of high exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals during the gestation period.
• It also causes altered development in children
• Weakens immune system

We absorb the chemicals through our skins high exposures to these substances leads to high risk, moreover developing fetus or babies are very vulnerable. In order to lower exposures adults should wear sustainable clothing other than fast fashion. According to KatherineMartinko, children are more sensitive to these chemicals than adults. Furthermore, the alkylphenols that are present in most textile and leather finishers are very harmful (Joyce W, 24).

Toxic chemicals in fast fashion clothing that pose adverse effects on human health.

Other chemicals remain hidden from consumers and are commonly in the production process of fast fashion. These are:

• Acrylic acid, this substance is very corrosive and irritating when it comes in contact with the skin
• Ammonia, it is a compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, and it is very caustic and harmful
• Acetone, it is an organic chemical used in fast fashion; this substance is linked to mutation, chronic neurotoxicity, and epilepsy.
• Benzene, a constituent of crude oil and one of the alimentary petrochemicals. This chemical is used in dyes, detergents, and rubber and it is the cause of plastic anemia, bone marrow cancer, and acute leukemia.
• Bromines, a strong-smelling substance that is used as a flame retardant in fast fashion. Flame retardant consists of several chemicals which include chlorinated Tris, Tris, and PBC, these chemicals have been linked to various diseases such as thyroid infection, neurodevelopment problems, reproductive health problems, immune system suppression, the sudden death of the infants and cancer. Some industries have replaced the use of Tris with Chlorinated Tris with the aim of improving safety, but this replacement is still unsafe and not trusted.
• Colors and dyes, carcinogen a synthetic based substance causes cancer. These substances are used to give color to the garments we wear. Surprisingly, the colors we love most in our garments are toxic. For instance, Azo and Acid should never be used on clothing, basic red 46 and 9.
• Dioxins, this chemical alters the defense system in our bodies; it is also known as persistence bio-accumulative toxicants.
• Nanosilver and Nanoparticles, microscopic particles including titanium preliflourinated chemical compounds zinc oxide, and aluminum can pass through the skin and can easily be absorbed directly into the bloodstream and to body tissue. Nanoparticles are linked to brain damage; also it causes failure of the nervous system. Some of the Nanoparticles used in fast fashion industries are fluid fabrics and spray on fashion.
• Phthalates, these are the chemicals that are heavily used in screen printing, a suspension of polyvinyl chloride in a plasticizer which is...