Reflection

The clothing tags in my piece are the focal point as they highlight the purpose of my title, "Fast Fashion." The sweatshirt itself is a commentary on modern environmental trends and the rising threat of fast fashion to the environment. It is meant to criticize consumerism in a direct and confrontational way, as the words on the front torso suggest. I began making this piece in the back room of my school’s art classroom. The idea of making a sweatshirt piled with clothing tags came to me from my own experiences with shopping, specifically online. Admittedly, I was a huge shopaholic and often ordered clothes from online retailers without taking the time to look at the environmental impact of their production, as well as their packaging and disposal. When I came across a New York Times article stating that about 85% of textiles are unable to decay, I was at a loss for words. I did more research and learned that synthetic fibers are one of the main contributors to ocean pollution, and that sweatshop production is a huge reason for high greenhouse gas concentrations, which play a big role in climate change. I am given immense hope by the new trend of shopping at thrift stores among today’s youth. While a financial necessity for many, others are beginning to shop there to reduce their carbon footprint and do their part to end large-scale ocean pollution.