The Problem With Fast Fashion

Let’s face it, fast fashion has been taking a bit of a pummelling of late and while no one in their right mind would agree with manufacturing methods that are exploitative there is another side to fast fashion that paints an entirely different picture.

A quick search on fast fashion and Wikipedia throws up:

[Fast fashion is a contemporary term used by fashion retailers to express that designs move from the catwalk quickly to capture current fashion trends. Fast fashion clothing collections are based on the most recent fashion trends presented at Fashion Week in both the spring and the autumn of every year.Emphasis is on optimizing certain aspects of the supply chain for these trends to be designed and manufactured quickly and inexpensively to allow the mainstream consumer to buy current clothing styles at a lower price.]

At FashionCapital’s sister company Fashion Enter and its Factory so called fast fashion makes up a large proportion of the companies production orders. Based in North London, the 7,500 m2 SMETA approved Factory manufactures up to 8,000 units a week and is totally compliant, paying staff a fair wage, providing good working conditions and ensuring the best of practices. Does that sound so bad?

CEO Jenny Holloway comments:“When I think of how we make silk garments for M&S with the same machinists that make for ASOS.com – GOD – Going Out Dresses, I could pop my clogs when people talk fast fashion down.  Fast fashion means just that.  We can make a garment from idea to delivery in just two weeks – that’s how nimble we are!  We do not compromise quality at any stage of cutting, stitching, finishing, pressing…we just work to high standards.  Anyone is welcome to see how a fully compliant, ethical and sustainable factory works here in North London. Seeing is believing!”

(Image right: Jenny and some of the production team at The Factory)

It seems fast fashion is not all about sweat shop labour and poorly constructed garments, due to efficiency skill and great organization manufacturers are able to turn-around orders quickly, and the fact that they are on home soil and open to inspection at any given time ensures transparency is greater than ever.

Related articles:

The Factory Gets a Green Thumbs-Up As a Supplier to ASOS.com

A Call for More Transparency in the Fashion Supply Chain

Fashion Sector Needs to Reform