Assessing Impacts and Responsibilities: Environmental and Socio-Economic Dimensions of Sustainable Fashion
Keywords:
Sustainable fashion, fast fashion, environmental impact, socio-economic impact, circular economy, labor ethics, textile waste, resource consumption.Abstract
The fashion industry, particularly in its “fast fashion” model, significantly impacts the
environment and society through resource-intensive production, pollution, waste generation, and
labor exploitation. Environmentally, the industry contributes to water depletion, chemical
contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, microplastic pollution, and large volumes of textile
waste. Socio-economically, low-cost production often relies on exploitative labor in developing
countries. Sustainable fashion aims to mitigate these effects through circular economy principles,
ethical labor practices, and reduced resource consumption. However, challenges such as scaling
sustainable practices, cost accessibility, and systemic supply chain complexities limit its
widespread adoption. This review synthesizes current literature on environmental and socio-
economic impacts, emerging sustainable practices, and the responsibilities of stakeholders in
achieving a more sustainable fashion industry.
