When discussing fast fashion and the working conditions of garment workers, 2 questions often come up: - Isn’t this job better than no job? - If we all stop shopping fast fashion, won’t garment workers lose their job? This post digs into these questions. Here’s the deal— when we continue to shop fast fashion (despite knowing its harm) in the name of “protecting the workers’ jobs,” we miss the point entirely. Honestly, this argument is more often a convenient excuse not to challenge yourself to change. Fast fashion benefits from exploitation. Until they see that it makes business sense or is required by regulation to change, they likely won’t. Big fashion brands have corporate structures and investors to answer to— ones that prioritize the bottom line and maximizing profit. So, we need to disrupt their bottom line. We need to show them we are serious about protecting garment workers— serious enough to put our money and support elsewhere. When brands realize they are losing money and customers to this issue, they will be more motivated to address it. That’s the power of consumer demand. And, of course, our voices are important in creating public pressure and demanding accountability and advocating for legislation to protect workers. This post is derived from an article I wrote for @sustainablykindliving that addresses the tough and complex questions related to giving up fast fashion. Check it out! (And of course, some people truly may not have options other than fast fashion right now. There are legitimate barriers to sustainability. That’s what the whole article this post references is about. So give it a read!)