Increased Demand in Developing World Making Fast Fashion Even More Ruinous

New research from global consulting firm, McKinsey & Co., warns that increased fast fashion consumption by the developing world is going to amplify the industry’s already devastating environmental effects.

Demand for disposable clothing has gone global, causing worldwide production of fast fashion to double between 2000 and 2014. And while Americans are still the biggest consumers per capita, apparel sales in the five major developing countries — Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and Russia — are increasing at eight times the rate of sales in developed nations.

Given the volume of natural resources required, and the carbon emissions caused by manufacturing, maintaining, and disposing of cheap clothing, this exponential increase in production and consumption is causing an equally exponential increase in the myriad ways fast fashion causes harm to the environment.

You can read more about the developing world’s consumption of fast fashion at QZ.

[image via]