The Politics of Clothing : Consumerism & The Profit Motive

The textile industry, fueled by the “fast fashion” phenomenon, contributes significantly to environmental, social, and economic degradation through the rapid turnover of styles, leading to substantial waste as consumers frequently discard garments. This cycle of consumption and production is linked to the social demand added to purchase income, demonstrating the urgent need for sustainable interventions

The increase in clothing consumption per capita in the last decades presents substantial environmental and societal challenges. Young adults, heavily influenced by advertisements and new trends via social media, emerge as substantial contributors to the escalating issue of clothing overconsumption

The proliferation of global value chains is portrayed in academic and policy circles as representing new development opportunities for firms and regions in the global south. This article tests these claims by examining original material from non-governmental organizations’ reports and secondary sources on the garment and electronics chains in Cambodia and China, respectively. This empirical evidence suggests that these global value chains generate new forms of worker poverty.

2015