Letter: Individuals can help curb the harmful effects of the fast fashion industry. Heres how. [Video]

In an age of constantly cycling microtrends and online shopping, the fast fashion industry has exploded in popularity where brands like H&M and Zara have a seemingly unbreakable chokehold on today’s youth. Bright colors, contemporary silhouettes, and most importantly, affordable prices, attract 72% of American college students (Forbes) and garner an estimated over $106 billion in profit (Statista). However, with the rise of sustainability awareness, the deleterious impacts of fast fashion are becoming more apparent to the eyes of the world.

The fast fashion industry cuts multiple corners at the expense of the environment and human health to keep costs at a minimum. For example, companies use toxic dyes in fabrics that are detrimental to health to reduce the cost of materials. Additionally, much of the clothing that fast fashion companies produce requires significant amounts of water and oil, which depletes resources and pollutes the environment. Furthermore, the fast fashion …