ของมันต้องมี? เมื่อแฟชั่นทำลายโลก | ร้อยเรื่องรอบโลก EP144

Summary

The transcript highlights the rise of fast fashion since the 1990s, its exploitation of cheap labor, and its detrimental effects on both workers and the environment. Focusing on Cambodia, it details the harsh conditions of garment workers, like Yon, who earn low wages despite producing clothes for global brands. The industry’s unsustainable practices, from excessive water usage in cotton farming to textile waste, are also explored. In contrast, small businesses like Tonle are making strides by upcycling fabric waste to create unique, sustainable fashion, offering an alternative to the harmful fast fashion cycle.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fast fashion emerged as a significant industry in the 1990s, focused on producing affordable, mass-produced clothing to meet fast-changing trends.
• 😀 Fast fashion's production methods are designed for rapid turnover, resulting in high volumes of clothing that often go underused and are discarded quickly.
• 😀 The rise of fast fashion coincided with the growth of the middle class in Asia, where people had more disposable income to spend on trendy, inexpensive clothing.
• 😀 Cambodia has become a key production hub for fast fashion brands, with many factories located around Phnom Penh, employing a large number of migrant workers.
• 😀 Cambodian garment workers often live in cramped, poorly maintained accommodations, sharing space to save on rent, and work for low wages despite the industry's contribution to the national economy.
• 😀 Workers in Cambodia's garment industry, such as those making as little as $250 per month, face financial hardship and send a significant portion of their earnings back home to their families.
• 😀 The garment sector is a major contributor to Cambodia's economy, accounting for 40% of its GDP, with over 800,000 workers in the industry.
• 😀 Fast fashion has raised concerns about sustainability, with its high resource consumption, especially in cotton farming, which requires large amounts of water and contributes to environmental degradation.
• 😀 The use of polyester in fast fashion, derived from petroleum, further exacerbates environmental issues, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
• 😀 A growing movement against fast fashion is emerging, with innovative solutions like clothing rental services and brands like Tonle, which repurpose waste fabrics to create unique, sustainable fashion items.

Q & A

What is fast fashion and when did it become prominent?

Fast fashion is the industry of producing ready-to-wear clothing in response to current trends, at affordable prices, and in large quantities. It became prominent in the 1990s, coinciding with the rise of the middle class, particularly in Asia, and their increased purchasing power.

What are some of the negative environmental impacts of fast fashion?

Fast fashion leads to extensive resource consumption, particularly in cotton production, which requires enormous amounts of water. Additionally, synthetic materials like polyester, derived from petroleum, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change. The industry also produces massive amounts of waste, as garments are discarded after brief use.

How does fast fashion impact labor in countries like Cambodia?

In Cambodia, fast fashion factories employ many migrant workers who live in poor conditions. These workers are often paid low wages, which are barely sufficient to cover their living expenses. Despite working in factories producing famous global brands, they can't afford the products they help create.

How much cotton is required to produce a single garment, and what are its environmental consequences?

It takes approximately 2,700 liters of water to produce enough cotton for a single garment, which is equivalent to the amount of water a person would drink in three years. The excessive use of water for cotton cultivation has led to significant environmental damage, such as the drying up of lakes like the Aral Sea.

What are 'deadstock' fabrics, and how do they relate to the fast fashion industry?

Deadstock refers to leftover fabric that is no longer used in production because it no longer fits within a brand's current season or collection. These fabrics are often discarded, but some are repurposed by smaller businesses or sold in secondhand markets, despite being in good condition.

What role does Cambodia play in the global fast fashion supply chain?

Cambodia is a significant player in the global fast fashion supply chain, with the textile and garment industry contributing around 40% to the country's GDP. Many factories in and around Phnom Penh produce garments for major global brands, benefiting from low wages and favorable tax incentives.

What are some of the social challenges faced by workers in Cambodia's fast fashion industry?

Workers in Cambodia's fast fashion industry often face poor living conditions and low wages. Many start working at a young age, with some children as young as 14 entering the workforce. Despite working in the garment sector, many workers cannot afford to buy the clothes they help create.

How has the demand for fast fashion led to changes in fashion production cycles?

Before the rise of fast fashion, clothing was produced based on seasonal collections, typically two times a year. However, fast fashion has shortened these cycles, with new collections being introduced constantly to keep consumers feeling the need to buy new items and stay on trend.

What is the significance of the Tonle factory in Cambodia?

The Tonle factory is a small garment manufacturer that stands out by using leftover fabric from large fast fashion factories to create unique, limited-edition clothing. The factory also focuses on sustainable practices, such as using natural dyes and turning small fabric scraps into components for other products.

How does consumer behavior impact the fast fashion cycle?

Consumer behavior, driven by marketing strategies and social media, encourages quick purchasing decisions, leading to the constant buying of new clothes. This creates a cycle of buying, wearing briefly, and discarding, which results in significant waste and environmental harm.