Fashion must evolve from being a disposable commodity to a creative practice rooted in responsibility

By Ananya Arora, Avantika Tyagi, Dr Deepa Palathingal

The global fashion industry, valued at over USD 3 trillion in 2021, and employing over 300 million people across its value chain, thrives on a model of rapid production and disposable consumption known as fast fashion. The Cambridge Dictionary defines fast fashion as “clothes that are made and sold cheaply, so that people can buy new clothes often.” While this system delivers affordability and instant gratification to consumers, its environmental and social costs are staggering.

Environmental Toll

Textile waste has increased significantly. Globally, more than 92 million tonnes of textiles are discarded annually (EPA, 2025; Quantis,

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