Is There a Way Forward? A Call for Change

The collapse of fast fashion brands and the environmental crisis they’ve helped fuel begs an urgent question: can the fashion industry change its ways? The good news is that it’s already starting to. In response to growing public awareness, climate change, and ethical concerns, a slow but significant shift is underway. From grassroots resale movements to corporate sustainability pledges, the industry is rethinking how it produces, markets, and disposes of clothing. But change will only be meaningful if it’s deep and systemic—not just surface-level greenwashing. This isn’t about swapping one trend for another; it’s about transforming the values that drive fashion from endless consumption to intentional living.

A quiet revolution is happening at the consumer level. More and more people—especially younger generations—are turning to thrift stores, vintage shops, and resale platforms like Depop, Poshmark, and ThredUp. The stigma once attached to buying secondhand is vanishing, replaced with a sense of pride in making sustainable and stylish choices. According to ThredUp’s 2023 Resale Report, the secondhand market is expected to grow 3 times faster than the global apparel market overall. Meanwhile, clothing rental services like Rent the Runway and Nuuly offer an alternative to buying entirely—especially for one-time occasions like weddings or work events. These trends mark a cultural pivot away from the “wear it once and toss it” mindset that fast fashion has long promoted.

At the institutional level, some companies and governments are beginning to act. Patagonia and Eileen Fisher have long championed sustainable production and repairable garments. Levi’s now offers “Buy Better, Wear Longer” campaigns and recycles worn jeans. Meanwhile, European governments are proposing legislation that would require brands to take responsibility for their garments’ entire life cycle—including end-of-use recycling and safe disposal. France has banned the destruction of unsold clothing and is developing “eco-score” labeling for textiles, similar to nutrition facts for food. Even the European Union is drafting legislation to regulate textile waste and enforce fair labor standards. While these steps are promising, implementation and enforcement will be key. The fashion industry is global, and real progress requires collaboration across borders.

While it’s tempting to believe that only governments or brands have the power to fix the problem, individual choices do matter. Every time we decide to buy less, repair more, or support ethical brands, we’re shifting the demand side of the equation. Practices like building a capsule wardrobe, investing in quality over quantity, and learning basic sewing skills are not only environmentally friendly but empowering. Many influencers and fashion enthusiasts now use their platforms to highlight sustainable practices and small, ethical designers instead of promoting overconsumption. The cultural shift toward mindful consumerism is gaining momentum, proving that fashion can still be expressive and fun without being wasteful.

Fast fashion was built on speed, excess, and disposability. But fashion doesn’t have to be that way. It can be an industry that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and care. As we move forward, the challenge isn’t just to create more sustainable clothes but to create a more sustainable culture around clothing. That means reimagining what we consider “new,” “desirable,” and “stylish.” It means listening to garment workers, valuing environmental limits, and designing with longevity in mind. The fall of many fast fashion giants has created space for better ideas to rise. This isn’t the end of fashion—it’s an opportunity to rediscover its purpose and potential. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the urgency. What remains is the will to wear our values as clearly as our clothes.