The Price of Fast Fashion
Fast fashion is an issue that is unfortunately overlooked. Every day, we wake up, throw some clothes on, wonder if x pants go with z shirt, and then close the closet doors. Rarely do we ask what is the production journey of our clothes.
To define it roughly, fast fashion is the constant, mass production of clothes that are sold at cheap prices. The consumers seem to “win” because they get good deals. However, the real “winners” are the big corporate companies. There is constant competition between leading retail companies to lower product prices; however, companies slash down on the pay for garment workers, which will allow them to lower the price of their goods. Thus, the company’s profit remains the same, sometimes even widen, the worker’s wage decreases, and the price of that standard t-shirt decreases so that consumers flock to that store.
It is time for the consumer to realize the little hands that work long hours to produce those clothes that lay balled up, piled, or stuffed in the closet. The reality is that garment workers work gruesome hours in even more frightening conditions. In 2013, a garment building called Rana Plaza collapsed in Bangladesh. Over 1,000 people died, and double experienced severe casualties. This accident is recorded as the worst garment disaster in history. Previously, garment workers spoke out about the building's poor infrastructure. The cracks in the wall were evident. However, the owners ignored the demands, which ultimately resulted in this brutally fatal collapse.
Fast fashion also has a considerable impact on the environment. As the demand for clothing rises, so does the demand for cotton. As a result, most fields become overworked and completely barren. Further, there is heavy use of pesticides that over long exposure periods, can prove to be fatal to the workers. Pesticides and other toxins can trickle down into the surrounding water source, which, in effect, contaminate drinking water. The same goes for clothing dyes. Similarly, the water that is used while using the dyes will find its way back into nearby streams, thus making the water unsafe to drink or bathe in. Further, unwanted clothes make their journey to third world countries where they sit in tall piles. As these fabrics decompose, toxic chemicals can be released into the air consequently decreasing the air quality.
To put it short, fast fashion connects to the economy, environment, society, and health. It is a never-ending web of issues that continues to string together.
Process of the stop motion video
The first step is to decide what story you want to tell in your stop motion video. Once you have an idea for your video, you'll need to plan out the shots you want to include. This involves creating a storyboard or shot list, which outlines each shot you'll need to capture. You'll need to gather all the materials you need to create your stop motion animation. This could include a camera, a tripod, a stop motion app or software, and any props or characters you want to use. Once you have your materials, you'll need to set up your scene. This might involve creating a miniature set or building a character out of clay or other materials.
With your scene set up, you can begin capturing your shots. This involves taking a series of still photos, with each photo showing a slight change in the scene or characters. After capturing your shots, you'll need to compile them into a video using stop motion software. You can adjust the timing of each frame and add any sound effects or music.
Finally, you can share your stop motion video with others. This might involve uploading it to a video sharing platform like YouTube or Vimeo or simply sharing it with friends and family.
Enjoy the final youtube video below.
Behind the Scene
With the support of two friends who helped in holding up and shifting the scenes, we brought this work to life.