Fast Fashion Clothing Retailers To Avoid
In modern day, it is considered a shocker when we come across someone who does not have any form of social media because many of us have multiple platforms that we use on a daily basis. As a majority of us on either Facebook or Instagram we are hit with models and celebrities creating trends that are then put on shelves of your local mall within days. And the clothes are so cheap to buy and come in many different colors we often tend to buy it all.
But just as fast as the clothing is created and placed on shelves to be purchased, the consequences are extreme. Many of the fast fashion retailers that are in your local mall and E-commerce retailers have been known to be controversial upon dangerous labor conditions and unrealistic employment benefits.
1. Shein
This online retailer has grown massively this year with a little help from social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. As many have the chance to upload the large hauls of clothing they receive from this popular E-commerce it calls the attention of many making it an easy way to promote the brand and get many on the site and have them with a cartful of items within minutes. Not only does TikTok give free publicity to the brand but with the influencers on instagram that are sponsored by the company to promote the brand usually comes with a price. A post by some influencers could range more than your yearly salary to post a picture with the brand to get more attraction. But while all this is occurring Shein is getting to work taking ideas from higher end brands to recreate them as cheaply as possible and have no shame. Shein has also spent some time in the courthouse fighting copyright infringement as well as reproducing images of influencers and celebrities without permission.
2. Fashion Nova
The fashion brand that was most searched in 2018 on Google also has some reasons to drift away from. Being established in the heart of Los Angeles with 5 retail locations in Southern California and gaining the majority of its revenue from social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram they have been mixed up in some controversial topics that many are not here for. Fashion Nova has been known to extend their collection by working with Celebrities such as Cardi B, the Bronx Rapper, to get more in their site and purchase more of their clothing but as they say you get what you pay for. Many have been upset with the way Fashion Nova creates their products meaning it’s very cheap. Instead of ordering from a site that sells low quality clothing take your money elsewhere and do not give into brands like these.
3. Pretty Little Thing
With Khloe Kardashian and many other celebrities such as Winnie Harlow endorsing Pretty Little Thing does not mean you should not be skeptic about this wanna be brand. Several months have passed since the scandal but they were put on the spotlight for causing a huge catastrophe. Back in 2019 the UK based brand who has several offices in Los Angeles was accused of removing labels from cheaper competitors and reselling the clothing as their own and for double the price. It was brought to the attention of millions when a customer ordered a pair of jogging bottoms and they arrived with the Pretty Little Thing label stitched on the side but then came across the remains of clothing brand, Fruit of the Loom, tags on the other side. But that was just the beginning of the downfall of the brand as many recognized that the company liked to “recycle” celebrity endorsed lines to resell and try to make a profit once more. Ex-Love Islander Molly Hague, introduced her line with the UK brand but many argued it had been out for some time already.
4. Forever 21
We all have been inside a Forever 21 before and seen something we liked and then turned it around and saw a Hot-Cheeto chip as the design and thought who would ever do this? Well Forever 21 would and thanks to the pandemic they are officially closing down many locations because sales are just not the same. But they are not just shutting down because of their outrageous creations but also because of the history they have created. Back in 2019, makeup mogul Jeffree star put them on blast on his youtube channel that brought in more than 13 million views explaining how the company decided to play a small indie brand and left them in the dust. As this upset many, they went under fire for purchasing clothing from vendors that use children to produce the clothing and not paying fair amounts to the workers.
5. Victoria’s Secret
The largest retailer in the United States that focuses on creating lingerie, has had some trouble lately to the point that the infamous Victoria’s Secret show is no longer a yearly tradition. Some of the hottest names in the model world trained and hoped to one day strut the runway to earn their wings but not anymore. American Singer Halsey, who actually performed at the Victoria Secret show back in 2018 had a lot to say after the creator of the show made several statements leading people to believe he is transphobic which did not fly by Ms. Halsey who is a part of the LGBT+ community. Not only were there allegations regarding transphobia but as well as sexual assault amgonst the models that they had hired to promote the clothing. But the clothing they sell was not made by adults but rather children who do not get paid nearly enough to get by as well as put through very unsafe work conditions.
Many of these stores have been around for a very long time but in today’s society we have realized to take a stand for what we consider is right. Stores that benefit off of child labor and choose to steal from other brands have no room to grow with us. Make sure to share and comment what you think!
