Author(s) :

Isabella Hur.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Known for advances in styles and influence, the global fashion industry has long been praised. Despite this, for many decades, the industry has masked systems of exploitation and environmental harm. Fast fashion is the mass production of trending, inexpensive clothes to meet rapid consumer demand, bolstered by microtrends and lack of consumer knowledge. This lack of knowledge is closely related to the absence of transparency, which is the clear, accessible disclosure of information throughout a company’s supply chain, including sourcing, labor conditions, and production processes, allowing consumers to verify ethical practices. The paper evaluates the interconnected global environmental and social issues arising from the fast-fashion cycle by reviewing sources from JSTOR, credible articles, and industry case studies. Results indicate that demand for low-cost, high-speed production drives child labor, unsafe working conditions, and forced labor in countries with weak regulatory enforcement. Simultaneously, it generates extreme water use, toxic pollution, and massive volumes of textile waste. As concerns about ethics and sustainability grow, many companies have responded with greenwashing, where brands present initiatives as environmentally responsible without verifiable manufacturing changes. Existing regulations, including the FABRIC Act, represent progress but remain limited by slow enforcement and global supply chain complexity. Overall, this review argues that meaningful reform requires stronger regulations and increased transparency to reduce the social and environmental harms induced by fast fashion. This review draws on historical case studies and recent policy developments from 2013 to 2025, providing foundational context and data to report on emerging regulatory efforts.