The Global Clothing Oversupply: An Emerging Environmental Crisis

Abstract

Fashion is a potent visual indicator of our times, almost a language that speaks for us and something popular or in style, a zeitgeist. Fashion, specifically fast fashion, has gained prominence in discussions about fashion, sustainability, and environmental awareness. The speed of the hedonic treadmills continues to increase exponentially, and the so-called fast fashion has won legions of young fans who can snap up relatively cheap clothes online, but the trend masks darker environmental problems. Concerns about the fashion industry’s environmental impact have increased in recent years. This realization was prompted by accumulated evidence of a rise in clothing consumption due to greater availability and affordability. This shift has fostered not only heedless and hasty clothing consumption but also heedless and hasty clothing disposal. This article attempts to elucidate the relationship between humans and the environment. It also tries to incorporate the concepts of sustaincentrism and traceability to pave the way for sustainable development. This study employs an experimental survey method to ascertain consumers’ perceptions of sustainable fashion and to assess the implications of their current purchasing behavior. The SPSS software is used to analyze the data’s reliability, and regression analysis was employed to determine the fashion industry’s environmental impact. The survey results indicate optimism for a rise in ethical business strategies and the adoption of sustainable approaches within the fashion industry, thereby establishing a green economy.