From city subways to Southern cookouts to Midwestern music festivals, mini portable fans have rapidly become summer mainstays to mitigate the sweltering heat.

While the gadget (and the weather) may be hot, experts say the reasons for the popularity are not: climate change and fast fashion .

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Long popular in humid climates like Asian countries, the mini blasters have proliferated in the West thanks to TikTok and platforms like Amazon, Shein and Temu.

As fast fashion has grown, so too have fast accessories, experts say.

Typically under $10 — the price of a faux leather belt, plastic sunglasses or synthetic jewelry — the battery- or USB-powered personal fan comes in a variety of styles: Users can wear it around th

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