Trends of fashion in this world just arrive and leave; meanwhile, the values of a society are generally being established and also have characteristics of evolving to their culture, ethics, and beliefs. Fashion is merely not just an image which is projected ambitiously of a re-translated perfect old value for the fulfillment of some agenda or function alike but in fact an evocative as well as refreshing concept or idea which is quite worthy, enough of being portrayed for the appreciation of any society which makes or designs us more instinctive and dynamic.
An individual initiates to seek a long-term and durable solution to minimize his discrepancy or shortcomings or he has an aspiration to become a better individual. As the expression of his or her fondness and affection of today’s young generation who put in efforts to translate and foresee fashion trends. While adopting the style of clothing which best suits their traits and values. It goes like trickle across various theories where the enticement of experience of aesthetics, which has certainly provided rise to a fashion of every day and the cognition of engagement.
Apart from the customary social agenda related to fashion trends, it is just the attitude of the current generation Z that has designed the trend related to a style that is anonymous together with self-expression. Having overstepped from a social structure that is pre-capitalist and feudal as well to a social structure that is postmodern; the behavior of today is indicated by self-expression and self-image paving the path of social conformation and uniqueness. This is pervasive among the youth of today.
Industrialization has permitted clothing has to go inexpensive or cheaper over the years. Technology has increased and accelerated the production and manufacturing of clothing manufacturers in the US in the field of textiles. Operations or working have been finely streamlined while relative costs have been decreasing or falling significantly. As an outcome, customers are more turning or inclined towards shopping with increased frequency, and retailers are left with no option but to manufacture more and more to meet the market’s increasing demand. The apparel (or private label clothing) industry is facing a boom, thanks to the speed up in the processes.
Fast or quick fashion refers to accelerated manufacturing (or clothing manufacturers in the US) cycle related to fashion and relative consumption. The objective of clothes was, in a start, purely based on function. They had a purpose to keep the consumers dry and warm. But, that objective was during early or prior civilization. Clothes subsequently went through the process of evolution from being the only practical asset to becoming a social status indicator. While conventionally, fashion had kept for merely two seasons to adjust seasonal changes for weather, now quick fashion now swirls up to 52 seasons (micro-seasons) per year.
Different fashion brand have been pressurized to produce textile apparel as cheaply and in a small time frame as possible for the objective to meet customer demand. Necessarily, the main result of quick fashion is the manufacturing of minimized cost, rapidly manufactured apparel collections that imitate high-cost and luxurious fashion trends. This creates a vicious cycle as the customer or consumer culture is being reshaped by the cycle of very high speed. Shoppers are ignited to shop or purchase with more frequency just to keep up and remain themselves up to date with the latest fashion trends. The old fashion trends become outdated or obsolete very quickly and customers usually do not think more than twice to just dispose of unfashionable clothes kept in their wardrobes.
Such consumer behavior is an outcome in the exposure of a culture called “throwaway” related to fashion consumption. In contrast to keeping and re-wearing of clothing, consumers are pushed to cancel out clothes which in their opinion are in the category of out of fashion. While they are encouraged to purchase or buy newly released designs of clothes.
In many countries which are categorized as well-developed, shopping has now become a past-time activity which is enjoyable at the same time. Sales of apparel have jumped up dramatically over the last few years and depict no indicators of stopping any time soon. They purchase as much as they can, in the desire of keeping themselves or remain up to date with new and latest fashion trends. As a result, a number of textile products have even crossed over 100 billion way back in 2014.
The waste produced amount has become equal to this trend. The United States of America alone has manufactured and marketed nearly ten and a half million tons of waste as a result of textile products that closed up in landfills. Who expected that how much textile waste all those countries which come under the category of “developed”, would be accumulated in this whole world?
Fast and quick fashion has resulted in Singapore as well, the tiny home of an island. Shopping looks like has become a national pastime is far and wide of Singapore, which does not portend good enough for the benefit of landfills there. Many shopping doers do not really see a linkage between habits of their shopping and waste of their clothing (or private label clothing), resuming to do shopping without any proper thinking or going mindlessly. As an outcome, big amounts of apparel are purchased and wasted through disposal or by way of donations.
This style of purchasing is specifically glaring during the season of New Year (Chinese) as Chinese of Singapore get to engage in their traditional act of spring of cleaning to stay away from unwanted and unused belongings. Singapore just cannot manage with the complete amount of consumed clothes. Well-meaning and Eco-friendly Singapore residents may desire and hope to again objectivize their used clothes by donating these clothes to those people who are needy. Unfortunately, even the centers of donations such as the Salvation Army close-up gets overwhelmed with the huge amounts obtained as donations and are merely capable of putting up a tiny portion of clothes for the purpose of sale. Singaporeans are just simply consuming the clothes and throwing these clothes away way too much.
