With low prices and easy access for many shoppers, fast fashion is a cheap way to keep up with the trends.
But there are growing concerns that it comes with a higher price for our health and environment down the road.
The high cost of cheap fashion, on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m. after the 98th Oscars
Dr. Ellie Jin works at North Carolina State’s College of Textiles. She says there are two huge drivers for consumers.
“Obviously cheap, cheap and trendy items,” Jin said.
Those cheap, trendy items are often made of the same material.
“This [is] looking good, but I can tell that all materials are polyester,” Jin said.
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Polyester is a type of plastic. Some items we found, including a pair of trousers, jacket and vest, are made up of at least 95% of it.
“I think a lot of people don’t realize how bad polyester is,” said Courtney Fountain, who has made a business out of reselling used, higher quality fashion items.
“I’m looking for high quality items like natural fibers or natural fibers or like animal fibers, like silk and cashmere,” she said.
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