Did you know that fast fashion extends beyond clothing? It also includes accessories. Eyewear, including cheap sunglasses, is a big part of the problem. With low-quality materials and poor construction, they often end up in landfills alongside discarded clothing.
Ready to have your eyes opened? I’m about to uncover the dark side of fast-fashion eyewear and its impact on people, animals, and our planet.
What is Fast Fashion?
Back in the day, people had to get their clothes made by a local tailor or make them themselves! And you were lucky to have more than a couple of new pieces a year.
Trends and luxury materials were for the rich; everyone else had to get by sewing up old holes and fixing broken accessories.
Fast forward to today, and the fashion industry is booming. Fast fashion has revolutionized the industry by making trendy clothes and accessories more affordable. Now everyone can buy more constantly.
Brands like Zara and Forever 21 were among the first retailers to introduce new trends on a weekly basis, often for as little as $5 each.
Impacts of Fast Fashion
Faster production has led to people buying more than they need or use. The extra clothes thrown away often end up in landfills, which are becoming increasingly full (because clothes don’t disintegrate as quickly as they’re made).
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, approximately 92 million tons of fabric waste are discarded annually. That trash ultimately pollutes our planet.
As for the social and ethical aspects, fast fashion remains affordable by paying workers less. Since manufacturing has moved to places abroad, such as Bangladesh, there has been a decrease in transparency.
And forget about a minimum wage. Sometimes, workers are paid just a couple of dollars a day to churn out these cheap clothes and accessories, including eyewear.
Cheap Sunglasses: Part of the Problem
Cheap sunglasses are often made quickly and aren’t designed to last. So when they break or are no longer on trend, they are thrown away.
They end up tempting many consumers due to their lower price tag, but they aren’t built to perform. When these cheap plastics end up in landfills, they release harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming.
When cheap sunglasses aren’t regulated or made in reputable factories, there’s also no guarantee that workers are paid fairly. Also, chemicals released during manufacturing can harm the soil and our oceans (including marine life).
Even Faster Fashion: Rapid Trends
Remember that I mentioned brands like Zara that pioneered the fast-fashion revolution? Well, if you’re on social media, you’ve probably heard about the HUGE e-commerce brands like Fashion Nova, Shein, and now Temu.
These names are everywhere right now, and they’ve pushed an even faster version of fast fashion. I’m talking about new styles every day.
New trends constantly show up on social media feeds, with products being manufactured around the clock to meet demand.
It’s a machine that just doesn’t stop. The era of ultra-fast fashion has persisted despite numerous social media campaigns and influencer marketing efforts aimed at preventing it.
Ever catch yourself scrolling TikTok, and then boom, there’s an ad for clothes and accessories for as little as a few dollars?
Super-Fast, Influencer-Inspired Eyewear
Eyewear, such as cheap sunglasses, is also part of this rapidly evolving, influencer-driven fashion. It’s about copying the big designers, making knock-offs of the latest Prada and Miu Miu bestsellers. What you end up with are sunglasses that cost $10 and barely last one summer!
It’s just not sustainable to buy cheap sunglasses made from the worst plastic inspired by something Kylie Jenner wore. The celebrities and fashion influencers who rock cool sunglasses can afford the real deal.
I’m here to caution you: buying copies isn’t a wise investment. They offer little to no UV protection or vision correction. It’s just not worth it.
So, What Do We Do Instead?
It’s not all doom and gloom. As a consumer, you have the power to make smart fashion investments.
Slow Fashion: A Smart Alternative
Slow fashion is essentially about buying better and buying less. Less Temu and more Tom Ford. You don’t always have to buy designer eyewear, but at least prioritize quality.
It’s a good idea to research the manufacturing location of your favorite eyewear. You’ll find many of the big brands make their glasses in places like Italy, in factories that have been around for decades (sometimes even centuries).
For instance, EssilorLuxottica, the world’s largest eyewear manufacturer, emphasizes sustainability-focused practices to help make its production more ethical.
Sure, Ray-Ban sunglasses aren’t cheap. They’re more expensive upfront than a fast-fashion Zara version. However, they are likely to last much longer, and the name holds its value for years.
Buying high-quality eyewear means that you can keep it for years to come. And you can even pass it down. So, there’s less chance of your Oakley sunglasses ending up in a landfill than your Shien sunglasses.
Big brands also come with a manufacturer’s warranty, so if something is faulty, you can have it repaired. Cheap sunglasses don’t have this perk, so when they break (and they surely will), they end up in the trash.
Better Quality Shades: Better For You and the Environment
Cheap sunglasses aren’t designed to enhance your vision or protect your eyes from UV rays.
- They are made to look stylish for a few weeks while they are on trend.
- Fast-fashion eyewear ends up in landfills, wasting your money, polluting the planet, and pushing poor working conditions.
By investing in high-quality eyewear from reputable brands, you’re doing your eyes a favor. You can get your wear out of them, making them well worth the higher price.
