CRT100 – Argument Essay Outline & Draft OV

Topic: Fast Fashion

Intro (hook, intro to topic, thesis statement): 

The damaging impacts of fast fashion, such as greenwashing, excessive consumerism, and pollution, require the need for a more conscious and responsible fashion industry. Large corporations must be held accountable for their sustainable lies, exploitation of workers, and destruction of the planet. Despite overwhelming evidence of climate change, fast fashion corporations continue to persevere by selling false narratives and exploiting their workers. 

Premise 1: Greenwashing  – 

In fashion, greenwashing is when brands make themselves look eco-friendly to the public eye, but are causing detrimental damage to the planet behind closed doors. Many of these companies are misleading consumers, using packaging that is green or promotes recycled materials, when really, it is either the same if not worse. “Green labeling today … is unexplored territory, so marketers may be stretching the truth unintentionally. We think that the sudden interest in green just caught a lot of people off guard, and marketers were busy slapping buzzwords on packaging”.  

Supporting Evidence: https://cqpress-sagepub-com.bmcc.ezproxy.cuny.edu/cqresearcher/report/buying-green-cqresrre20080229 

https://go-gale-com.bmcc.ezproxy.cuny.edu/ps/i.do?p=OVIC&u=cuny_mancc&id=GALE|A705468230&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-OVIC&asid=5ab1a59b

Premise 2: Exploitation / Working Conditions –

Garment workers are in conditions that can be compared to modern-day slavery. The interviewee in my supporting evidence notes that high-end fashion houses work on a 4-season schedule per year, whereas, fast fashion works on a 52-week schedule. Producing mass amounts of trendy clothing to keep up with consumers is impossible to do in a truly sustainable manner. She also mentions that the institution of fast fashion is inherently violent and dangerous. 

Supporting Evidence: Opposing viewpoints – https://go-gale-com.bmcc.ezproxy.cuny.edu/ps/i.do?p=OVIC&u=cuny_mancc&id=GALE|A705468230&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-OVIC&asid=5ab1a59b 

Premise 3: Sustainability – 

Fast fashion is a major contributor to climate change “It contributes more greenhouse gasses than all of maritime shipping and air travel combined”. 

https://go-gale-com.bmcc.ezproxy.cuny.edu/ps/retrieve.do?resultListType=RELATED_DOCUMENT&searchType=ts&userGroupName=cuny_mancc&inPS=true&contentSegment=&prodId=OVIC&docId=GALE|EBHFOF191829387&it=r

Premise 4 / Opposing Viewpoint: Price range and accessibility – 

Many people benefitting from fast fashion are in low-income households and neighborhoods. This is due to the price appeal. When clothing is easily accessible online, but also extremely cheap, it makes it that much easier to clothe yourself and your family. Garments that are made responsibly automatically cost more due to the effort that is put into sourcing materials, while still producing them in large quantities. It is important to note that many people are unable to have new clothing that is up to date with the latest trends solely based on the fact that shopping consciously is expensive and almost coveted. 

Supporting Evidence: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/20/fashion/fast-fashion-sustainable-clothing.html?register=email&auth=register-email 

Conclusion: (paraphrase your thesis, and explain why this topic matters)

Fast fashion has become a staple in the modern world, offering consumers trendy and affordable clothing at an astonishing rate. However, beneath the appeal of low cost and endless options lies a multitude of harmful effects that extend far beyond our wardrobes. As we unravel the layers of this issue, it becomes evident that fast fashion is not merely a matter of personal style; it is a global phenomenon that requires serious consideration and action. Large corporations must be held accountable for their impact on the environment, and the welfare of their employees. Despite the overwhelming evidence against these companies, fast fashion houses continue to persevere by selling false narratives, harming the planet, and exploiting their labor force. 

In our busy lives, we are easily swayed by the allure of marketing and packaging when we shop for products. A significant element of this is known as greenwashing, where companies promote eco-friendly branding on tags and bottles to convince the customer that something is “100% clean” or “Organic”. Their goal is to entice the customer to believe that the product is made sustainably and, therefore, is better than what they’ve produced in the past. In Fast fashion, many brands are showcasing their form of greenwashing on tags and in advertising campaigns. In the CQ Researcher article Buying Green by Jennifer Weeks, Terra Choice Vice President Scot Case notes that “This [Greenlabling] is unexplored territory …  So marketers may be stretching the truth unintentionally. We think that the sudden interest in green just caught a lot of people off guard, and marketers were busy slapping buzzwords on packaging”.  Case’s observation highlights greenwashing, which at times blurs the lines between genuine sustainability efforts and misleading tactics. Greenwashing complicates the task of making well-informed decisions when purchasing clothing. 

An additional aspect of fast fashion’s harmful effects can be seen in the labor industry. Garment workers are subjected to poor working conditions, unfair pay, and mistreatment. In the article Taking On Fast Fashion By Taking It Down, Chris Colin interviews fashion activist and critic Hoda Katebi. Katebi compares working conditions at these corporations to a form of modern-day slavery. High-end fashion designers produce a 4-season schedule per year, whereas, fast fashion giants work on a 52-week schedule. At this alarmingly fast rate, companies depend on low-wage workers to produce garments on a mass scale, while ensuring they are making maximum profit. This results in employees being overworked and underpaid. Katebi also notes that “The system requires violence in order to function”.