Source article:
Macgilp, Ruth. “‘I’ve Just Got out of a Toxic Relationship… with Fast Fashion.’” Cosmopolitan, Cosmopolitan, 12 Feb. 2021, https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/style/a30243970/fast-fashion-toxic-relationship/.
Cosmopolitan Magazine is synonymous with fashion. Representing the latest fashion from New York to Hong Kong, Cosmopolitan is a respected source in fashion. Often publishing articles with the latest runway trends, creating urgency for young girls everywhere to try and duplicate what they see on the pages of Cosmo. To say the least, magazines such as theirs, often represent the cause of fast fashion and don’t accept any of the responsibilities of the consequences of fast fashion. So you can only imagine my surprise to see an article published in Cosmo identifying the toxicity of fast fashion.
The author, Ruth Macglip, paints an analogy between fast fashion and a rush of one night stands. At first read, it’s comical, but unfortunately reveals some hard truths. She shares her journey from fashion student to shopping addict. Sharing personal details of shopping binges tempted by the email promo codes that seemed too good to pass up. Until one day, she realized that the free delivery and low costs were to distract her from a more serious darker cost. She read in the paper about the 2013 Dhaka garment factory collapse in Bangladesh, killing over 1100 workers. It brought awareness to her and the cost fast fashion had not only on the environment but on the workers. She has committed to helping others break their shopping additions and learn about the toxic effects of shopping.
The article being placed in Cosmopolitan shows us that we are changing our identity to fashion and are making a stance on a larger scale. When international fashion magazines begin to share the effects of fast fashion on identity and the environment, it is the beginning of a new narrative. The story we have been telling ourselves about fashion is changing rapidly. It doesn’t matter which outlet you seek information from, the story of sustainable fashion and authentic identity is one that is being written and there is no stopping it.
Word Count: 323
Source:
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/style/a30243970/fast-fashion-toxic-relationship/
