The Hidden Cost of Fast Fashion

Fast fashion has made new styles affordable to a much wider population. Supporters argue that inexpensive clothing allows people to express themselves without spending a large share of their income. Yet the price on a label rarely reflects the full cost of producing a garment. Water consumption, chemical pollution, transport emissions, and low wages may all remain invisible to the buyer.

快时尚让更多人能够负担得起新款服装。支持者认为，价格低廉的衣物让人们无需花费很大一部分收入也能表达自我。然而，标签上的价格很少反映生产一件衣服的全部成本。用水量、化学污染、运输排放以及低工资，对消费者而言都可能是看不见的。

Responsibility cannot be placed on consumers alone. People may want to buy more durable clothes but lack reliable information about how products were made. Governments can require clearer supply-chain reporting, while companies can design garments that are easier to repair or recycle. Consumers still have influence: buying less, wearing items longer, and choosing second-hand clothing can reduce demand for rapid production.

责任不能只由消费者承担。人们可能希望购买更耐用的衣服，却缺少关于产品生产方式的可靠信息。政府可以要求企业更透明地披露供应链信息，企业也可以设计更容易修补或回收的服装。消费者仍然具有影响力：减少购买、延长穿着时间以及选择二手服装，都能降低对快速生产的需求。