Have you ever bought a piece of clothing just because it was on sale, only for it to sit in your closet after wearing it two or three times? If so, you are not alone. Behind the budget-friendly price tags, there is a cost we rarely calculate, and that cost is paid by the Earth. This phenomenon is known as fast fashion.
What Is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion is a clothing business model that produces garments quickly and in large quantities, following ever-changing trends, and selling them at low prices. The UNEP, the UN's environmental body, describes this business model as one of rapid turnover, high volume, and low prices (UNEP, n.d.). As a result, clothing is easy to buy, but also easy to discard.
Environmental Impact
The fashion industry is among the most polluting sectors in the world and is responsible for up to 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (Mishra, 2025). Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, trap the sun's heat in the atmosphere, preventing it from escaping back into space. The more of these gases released into the air, the hotter the Earth's temperature becomes, which is what triggers climate change. This means that every time we buy clothes excessively, we contribute to the burden of the climate crisis.
What About Indonesia?
This problem is also real domestically. Data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in 2021 recorded that Indonesia produced approximately 2.3 million tons of clothing waste, equivalent to 12 percent of household waste. Of that amount, only about 0.3 million tons were successfully recycled (Fortune Indonesia, 2024).
The challenge is compounded by the fact that about 60 percent of clothing produced by Indonesia's textile sector is made of synthetic materials, which are harder to recycle (Directorate General of Treasury, n.d.). In other words, many of the clothes we wear today will be difficult to return to the production cycle once they are no longer used.
What Can We Do?
The good news is that change can start with small habits. On a personal level, we can start with simple steps:
- Buy only what you need. Ask yourself, "Will I wear this many times?" before paying.
- Care for and repair. Clothes that are washed and mended properly can last much longer.
- Give a new life. Clothing that is no longer worn can be donated or repurposed into other items.
Conclusion
Fast fashion does offer convenience and low prices, but the cost is paid by the environment in the form of waste and emissions. We do not have to stop dressing well. We just need to be wiser in choosing and wearing our clothes. Starting from our own closets, we can help reduce the pile of textile waste.
Bibliography
Directorate General of Treasury. (n.d.). Fast fashion: Trendy fashion at an ecological price.
Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia. https://djpb.kemenkeu.go.id/portal/id/berita/lainnya/opini/4445-fast-fashion-tren-modisdengan-harga-ekologis.htmlhttps://djpb.kemenkeu.go.id/portal/id/berita/lainnya/opini/4445-fast-fashion-tren-modisdengan-harga-ekologis.html
Fortune Indonesia. (2024). Partnering with Setali, Klamby turns production waste into valuable goods. https://www.fortuneidn.com/business/gandeng-setali-klamby-ubah-limbahproduksi-jadi-barang-bernilai-00-4pj81-cv0mpz
Mishra, V. (2025, March). Fast fashion fuelling global waste crisis, UN chief warns. UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/03/1161636
United Nations Environment Programme. (n.d.). The environmental costs of fast fashion. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/environmental-costs-fast-fashion
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