Fast Fashion

Sustainability Fundamentals

This challenge explores the world of fast fashion: what it is, the environmental impact it creates, and what we can do to contribute to a more sustainable future.

Challenge Introduction

Fashion is more than just clothing—it’s a global industry that shapes culture, influences identity, and drives major economic activity. But behind the latest trends lies a growing environmental and social crisis. Through this challenge, you’ll explore the inner workings of the fashion industry, with a spotlight on fast fashion: how it operates, why it’s so popular, and the hidden costs it carries for people and the planet.

In this lesson, you'll learn about sustainable solutions — from ethical production and circular design to consumer habits that make a difference. Discover how individuals, brands, and policymakers are working to transform fashion into a force for good.

By completing this challenge, you’ll gain the tools to think critically about what you wear and why it matters. Dive in and explore how small changes in your wardrobe can be part of a global movement toward a more sustainable future.

Learning Goals

  • Understand what fast fashion is
  • Explain how fashion plays a role in the environmental crisis the world is facing
  • Analyze the various components of fashion that can harm the environment
  • Explain the life cycle of a garment
  • Assess the sustainability of your wardrobe
  • Make better purchasing decisions moving forward to be more eco-conscious

Why Should You Shop Sustainably?

In this section, we will explore the lifecycle of a fast fashion garment—from its sourcing to its disposal—and examine the far-reaching impacts this process has on both people and the planet.
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What Is Fast Fashion?

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Impact of the Fashion Industry

Now we will examine the environmental and social consequences of fast fashion, including its contribution to pollution, carbon emissions, and textile waste. We will also dive into the rapid growth of the industry and what consumer behaviors have driven overconsumption. By acknowledging these approaches with an open-mind you will be able to assess your personal fashion footprint and adopt more sustainable shopping habits to help mitigate the industry’s impact.
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Mitigation Strategies and Tools

You’ve learned what fast fashion is and how it can cause problems for the environment. Now, you’ll explore how the fashion industry can address these challenges—and how you, as an individual, can take part in mitigating its negative impact.
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What's in Your Closet?

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Earn your rewards

Show what you have learned:

  • Understand what fast fashion is
  • Explain the life cycle of a garment
  • Explain how fashion plays a role in the environmental crisis the world is facing
  • Assess the sustainability of your wardrobe