Talk of the town：How ''fast'' is fast fashion?(组图)

发布 : 2025-11-26  来源 : 明报新闻网


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To reduce garment waste, some organizations collect unwanted clothes and give or resell them to those in need, giving the clothes new life.



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【明报专讯】In June 2025, the French government introduced a tax to regulate the ultra-fast fashion industry. According to the bill, companies receiving the lowest scores face an ''eco-tax'' of up to 5 euros (approximately HKD 45) per product, with a cap of 50 percent of the product's original price.

Apart from the eco-tax, other penalties will be imposed, such as disallowing companies to advertise and punishing influencers who promote and advertise the products of those companies.

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion refers to the rapid production of inexpensive clothing that is inspired by the latest fashion trends seen on catwalks or celebrities. It can be incredibly fast, with the process of design to a store shelf taking as little as a few days to a few weeks.

This speedy process often results in frequent releases of new collections, sometimes on a weekly basis, encouraging consumers to purchase more frequently to keep up with the latest styles.

Negative impacts of fast fashion

Fast fashion has a detrimental impact on both our wallets and the environment. Firstly, the constant pressure to stay trendy and buy the latest inexpensive clothing items can lead to the problem of overconsumption (过度消费). Since the clothes are relatively cheap and frequently changes, people may unconsciously purchase too much fast fashion.

Besides, the rapid turnover of clothing collections results in excessive waste generation, as trends quickly come and go, leading to vast amounts of discarded clothes ending up in landfills. Additionally, the manufacturing processes involved in fast fashion contribute to pollution, further exacerbating the already significant environmental challenges we face today.

■Game

Do you know the vocabulary for different types of clothing?

(See the picture)

(Answers on next text)

■Grammar booster

Roll up your sleeves (idiom)

To prepare for hard work.

E.g. It's time to get to work, so roll up your sleeves and let's make some progress.

■Gear up

Fill in the blanks with the glossary below.

1. The company decided to ___ their new product on social media.

2. The _____ growth of technology has benefited different sectors in the economy.

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

advertise (v) 宣传

rapid (adj) 急速的

detrimental (adj) 有害的

exacerbate (v) 加剧

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[Smarties' Power English 第454期]