Will Fast Fashion Be More Sustainable in 2025?

Fast fashion scratches a shopping itch for consumers worldwide and, in doing so, has a significant impact on the environment. Arguments have been made to quit the fast fashion trend and opt for slow fashion retailers instead. Based on what we know, what does 2025 hold for sustainable fashion? 

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Fast fashion is a business model in the fashion industry that operates based on fast and cheap production of low quality garments, allowing stores like H&M, Shein, and Zara to quickly churn out clothing to shoppers at a low cost. The concept dates back to the Industrial Revolution, introducing the middle class to affordable clothing from emerging technology. Today, the trend is attractive to young shoppers, targeted consumers ages 18 to 24. 

According to a 2018 study by Fashion United, while there are 100 billion items of clothing produced each year, people only wear about 50% of their wardrobe. The demand for fashion fashion has grown tremendously, allowing popular brands to deliver clothing to customers in a matter of weeks from design to purchase.

Environmental Impact

The impact of fast fashion on the environment is vast and complex. Unfortunately, though the concept makes clothing more affordable and available to more of the population, it also contributes to environmental issues with the amount of carbon emissions, pollution, and waste that results from the production and distribution of clothes at this rate. 

Carbon emissions 

In 2018, the apparel and footwear industries contributed up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than energy emissions from the airline and maritime industries combined. This is due to accelerated supply chains and the sharp increase in energy usage, exacerbated by the fast fashion movement. The production of clothing is so fast and energy-intensive that it requires an increased amount of petroleum and acids like hydrogen chloride to keep up with manufacturing. The pressure to cut corners and speed up production results in forgoing environmental measures that pollute the planet. 

Textile waste 

From 2000 to 2015, there was a sharp incline in clothing sales and a decline in the number of times consumers wore an item, implying a significant amount of waste snowballing over the course of the 2000s. According to CALPIRG, 85% of our clothes will end up in landfills or burned. Americans alone throw out 81 pounds of clothing every year, and each article of clothing can take up to 200 years to decompose. It is also evident that the fashion industry overproduces products by about 30-40%, contributing to the wave of textile waste and its byproducts: microplastic pollution and global carbon emissions. 

Water

In addition, the fashion industry consumes significant amounts of water every year between washing and producing garments. Remarkably, it takes about 10,000 liters of water to create a single pair of jeans. Cotton is also a major culprit – and a popular textile – when it comes to water consumption in the fast fashion world; cotton requires a tremendous amount of water to grow. As reported by The Guardian, “85% of the daily needs in water of the entire population of India would be covered by the water used to grow cotton in the country.” Additionally, the industry uses up to 93 billion cubic metres of water annually and contributes to global water-waste by dumping toxic chemicals from dyeing textiles.

What You Can Do in 2025

Slow Fashion

A newer fad has started to emerge called slow fashion, a movement that dials in on the design, production, and consumption of goods. Slow fashion is about slowing down the process of purchase to delivery and is, therefore, a sustainable alternative that encourages consumers to be more conscious about their consumption (and their spending).

Shop Sustainable

There are an abundance of sustainable, eco-friendly brands that are modeling a slow fashion approach. One of the best ways to shop sustainably is to know where your clothes are coming from. A good starting point is to search for brands that use environmentally friendly, recycled materials and fabrics. Another green flag for sustainable brands are the ones that have certifications from third-party organizations. Many companies are already following these practices, such as Everlane, Mother of Pearl, Sheep Inc., Navygrey, and Veja. 

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Clothing 

Another tangible method for being eco-friendly about clothing is giving away clothes that no longer serve you. Second-hand shops such as Goodwill accept gently-used or well-used clothing and give everyone the opportunity to purge your closet without throwing good garments away. 

Educate Yourself and Others

In addition, educating those around you can go a long way. One of the easiest ways to do this is sharing information about sustainable fabrics and textiles. Some of the “eco-friendly” fibers that are kinder to the environment include recycled, plant-based, animal-based, and semi-synthetic. Knowing the basics about materials and where they come from can aid in making more sustainable decisions when it comes to shopping. 

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Predictions for Fashion Sustainability in 2025

According to McKinsey & Company, sustainability has fallen to the wayside as a top concern for fashion brands and are more focused on improving sales growth. This comes from being in a post-pandemic era and shifts in economic profit going from luxury to non-luxury products. Unfortunately, only 18% of fashion leaders publicly stated that sustainability is a top area of growth in 2025. McKinsey also notes that 75% of clothing brands do not collaborate with suppliers on sustainability, and if they did, the fashion industry could lessen the impact of anticipated increase in carbon emissions to keep up with demand. 
Companies have an opportunity to partner strategically with their suppliers, source sustainable fabrics and textiles, educate leadership, hire people who can make sustainability a primary concern (chief sustainability officers), and make corporate commitments to reduce waste. Fortunately, in 2025, secondhand and pre-owned clothes are expected to encompass 10% of global sales. This could help transform the fashion industry and orchestrate the move from fast fashion to slow and sustainable fashion.