Fast Fashion
Gainesville, FL
2020, Senior, Art
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.