Fast fashion news and archive

Most consumers know cheap fashion isn’t sustainable—so why do they keep buying it?

Despite growing awareness of the fashion industry's negative impact, consumers continue to purchase affordable, trendy clothes from fast fashion brands and retail giants. Why is that? How can these two realities coexist? The inspiration for this piece comes from a recent article published by Dutch investigative journalism platform De...

Background

The Gen Z dilemma: eco-conscious but addicted to fast fashion

One of the most-read articles on FashionUnited in October was about unauthorised Shein outlets -- pop-up shops that pretend to be by the Chinese internet giant but are simply riding on the brand's popularity. Pop-up shops opened in Dutch cities such as Arnhem, Utrecht and Rotterdam, offering clothes at extremely low prices. These shops have been...

Business

Fast fashion setback: Indonesia wants to block popular Temu shopping app

The Indonesian government appears to have taken steps to potentially restrict online marketplace Temu's presence in its region, asking Google and Apple to ban the app. While Temu is a relatively new e-commerce platform that has rapidly expanded its operations globally since its launch in 2022, initial scrutiny and criticism in various markets,...

People

Former EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger to advise Shein

Former EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger will lobby for Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein. Oettinger is to advise Shein on the political climate in the European Union, as reported by Dutch media platform NOS on Wednesday. The Chinese fast-fashion giant is trying to improve its reputation against the backdrop of a planned IPO in London. Shein has...

Fashion Featured

Bangladesh unrest threatens global apparel supply chain

Bangladesh, a cornerstone of global apparel production, is grappling with domestic turmoil that threatens to disrupt the international fashion industry. Recent protests against the government's job quota system, culminating in the resignation of the country's authoritarian prime minister, have led to internet blackouts and curfews. These...

Fashion |OPINION Featured

Where is the system change in the fashion industry?

While reading the Dutch book ‘De mens is een plofkip’ ('Humans are battery chickens'), in which writer and journalist Teun van de Keuken takes a closer look at the food industry, I was repeatedly reminded of the fashion sector. Van de Keuken argues that it is almost impossible to escape the (ultra) processed food that is constantly being thrust...

Fashion

EU targets fast fashion e-commerce with new customs regime

The European Union is set to overhaul its customs regulations, targeting the burgeoning low-cost e-commerce sector in a move that could significantly impact global online retail giants and consumer shopping habits. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was re-elected for a second five-year term last week, announced the...

Fashion

Farmers warn EU policy risks boosting fast fashion over natural fibres

A global coalition of farmers has raised alarm over the European Council's endorsement of the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology to underpin the forthcoming Green Claims Directive, arguing it will unfairly favour synthetic fibres and jeopardise their livelihoods. In a letter seen by FashionUnited, the group claims the PEF system...

BusinessFeatured

Australia Institute calls for fast fashion regulation as textile waste consumption rises

The Australia Institute, a public policy think tank, has called on the country’s government to regulate the fast fashion industry as the consumption of textile waste almost surpasses that of the US. In a new discussion paper entitled ‘Textiles waste in Australia’, Nina Gbor, the institute’s director of the Circular Economy and Waste programme,...

RetailFeatured

Charity retailers deserve support amid price criticism, says Chief Executive of Traid

In recent weeks, charity retail has faced criticism for allegedly overcharging customers with inflated prices. This narrative overlooks the crucial role that charity shops play and misrepresents the sector, which has a long history of supporting vital causes. Maria Chenoweth, Chief Executive of charity retailer Traid, published a thought piece...

Fashion

Probe reveals persistent labour issues at Shein, despite promises of improvement

Despite Shein's public assurances to improve working conditions in its supplier factories following the exposure of poor labour practices over two years ago, a recent follow-up investigation reveals that 75-hour work weeks remain commonplace in southern China. Data from Swiss-based watchdog Public Eye, who interviewed employees in Guangzhou,...

Podcast

Podcast: The struggle of a garment worker in the US

Hear the true story of Lorena (not her real name), a garment worker in Los Angeles' Fashion District in this podcast. She goes to work every day and sews about 30 t-shirt collars or 50 backpack zips, depending on the day's assignment. She gets paid a few cents a piece. This is now illegal under California's 2022 Garment Workers Protection Act,...