fast fashion
/fæst ˈfæʃən/
Very CommonCheap clothing made quickly to copy current trends, designed to be worn briefly and replaced.
Has a strong negative connotation now. Calling something 'fast fashion' is a criticism of its quality, ethics, and environmental impact. Some people defend it as the only affordable option.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | that shein haul gave me fast fashion guilt after it all fell apart in three washes | Cheap clothes degraded quickly, confirming concerns about quality. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 02 | i get it, fast fashion is all some people can afford. the real problem is brands, not buyers. | Responsibility for fast fashion's harm lies with the brands, not cash-strapped consumers. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | every micro-trend feeds the fast fashion machine | Short-lived viral trends drive demand for cheap, quickly produced clothes. | instagram, 2024 |
| 04 | she built her whole wardrobe on fast fashion and now none of it fits in a suitcase because it's falling apart | Low quality clothes deteriorate fast and become unusable. | reddit, 2023 |
Use it when
- Criticizing brands that produce cheap, trend-chasing clothing at scale.
- Discussing the environmental or labor cost of cheap clothing.
- Contrasting disposable clothes with durable or sustainable options.
Do not use it when
- You mean all affordable clothing. Price alone doesn't make something fast fashion.
Fast fashion vs slow fashion
fast fashion
Fast fashion is high-volume, low-cost, trend-chasing production that generates waste.
VS
slow-fashion
Slow fashion prioritizes quality, durability, ethical production, and buying less.
Origin and context
The term gained traction in the 1990s as retailers like Zara pioneered 'fast' production cycles that could move a style from runway to store floor in weeks. Accelerated further with the rise of ultra-fast brands like Shein in the 2010s.
- First seen
- 1990s
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/fast-fashionUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0