1. Blog 
2. / Fast Fashion and Hoarding

Fast Fashion and Hoarding: A Deep Dive

Fast fashion and hoarding, two seemingly unrelated phenomena, are intricately tied in a cycle that impacts our environment, economy, and mental health. This blog post seeks to shed light on these two issues and their symbiotic relationship.

Fast Fashion: A Brief Overview

Fast fashion refers to inexpensive clothing rapidly produced by mass-market retailers, like Zara, Shein, H&M, Uniqlo, Forever 21, Victoria's Secret, Hollister, Old Navy, in response to the latest trends. The goal is simple: get the latest designs on the shelves as fast as possible. However, this 'wear once and discard' model comes at a significant cost to our environment, resulting in enormous waste and pollution.

The Link Between Fast Fashion and Hoarding

The culture of fast fashion feeds into the psychological phenomenon of hoarding. As clothes become cheaper and more disposable, the allure to purchase more increases, often leading to a compulsion to buy beyond our needs. Hoarding, typically characterized by excessive acquisition and an inability or unwillingness to discard items, can be inadvertently encouraged by fast fashion.

The Environmental Impact

The rapid production and disposal of clothing contribute to increasing levels of waste and pollution. The textile industry is one of the world's leading polluters, with fast fashion significantly contributing to this environmental crisis. The hoarding behavior exacerbated by fast fashion is further fuelling this environmental burden.

The fashion industry contributes 10% of global carbon emissions, more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Approximately 21 billion tons of clothing are sent to landfills each year, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

As of July 12, 2023, France will pay bonus for shoes and clothing repairs to cut waste. Under the scheme, customers will be able to claim 7 euros for mending a heel and 10-25 euros for clothing repairs. The country hopes the discount will incentivize people to keep the items they already own, rather than throwing them away and purchasing brand new items.

Psychological Implications

While hoarding can stem from various psychological factors, the mass consumption encouraged by fast fashion can trigger or amplify these tendencies. The satisfaction derived from acquiring new items can become addictive, leading to compulsive shopping and hoarding behaviors.

Breaking the Cycle

To mitigate the impacts of fast fashion and hoarding, we must shift our focus towards sustainable and conscious consumption. Embracing slow fashion, donating to places like the Salvation Army or your local thrift store, reusing and recycling, and addressing hoarding behaviors with professional help are crucial steps towards a healthier relationship with our possessions and the planet.

Conclusion

While fast fashion provides us with affordable and trend-responsive clothing, the environmental and psychological costs are significant. As consumers, we have the power to break the cycle of fast fashion and hoarding by choosing sustainable fashion practices and being mindful of our consumption habits.