Mariyam Ismailova | 11.04.2025
How fast fashion shapes developing economies?
Fast fashion surrounds us. It's how we can buy a trendy top for the price of a cup of coffee and get it delivered in days. But behind that convenience is a global industry with close ties to emerging economies, whose effects are more complex than they seem.
Fast fashion is a central figure in emerging markets, with very real benefits, but also highly challenging problems. It's created jobs and industries for millions, but it also raises tough questions about justice, ethics, and sustainability. If the fashion world and we, as consumers can transition to more sustainable practices, the long-term effect for the developing world could be much more positive.
Advantages
For most of the developing world, fast fashion has provided opportunities. Bangladesh and Vietnam, for example, have become the central production bases for clothes. This has generated millions of jobs, especially for women, and huge export earnings. Basic skills training is also provided in factories, which can be transferred to other jobs in the future. In a few cases, these are an escape from poverty. Fast fashion also brings investment. Global brands often build infrastructure, invest in factories, and integrate local economies into the global market. For many nations, it’s a stepping stone toward industrial growth and economic development.Disadvantages
But it's not entirely positive news. The downside to affordable, speedy fashion is often bad pay and risky working practices. Long working hours, poor safety standards, and poor wages remain the reality in parts of the trade. Perhaps the worst example was the collapse of Rana Plaza's factory in 2013 and killing over 1,100 workers, to international headlines regarding these issues. Yet another huge problem is environmental damage. Clothing factories in developing nations often release toxic chemicals into rivers, and used clothing finds its way into trash dumps or gets dumped into the same nations that helped create it. And because fashions change so fast, clothing is built to be thrown away, not maintained.Losing Local Culture
There is a cultural cost, too. When Western fashions dominate the market, traditional clothing industries and local styles take a backseat. Cheap imports and second-hand clothes flood local markets, further making it tough for local designers and tailors to survive.Fast fashion is a central figure in emerging markets, with very real benefits, but also highly challenging problems. It's created jobs and industries for millions, but it also raises tough questions about justice, ethics, and sustainability. If the fashion world and we, as consumers can transition to more sustainable practices, the long-term effect for the developing world could be much more positive.
