How Fast Fashion Trends During the Pandemic Amplified Textile Waste

Let’s rewind to 2020. Everyone was stuck at home, TikTok was blowing up, and suddenly people were getting really into online shopping. Quarantine boredom hit, and fast fashion basically exploded. But here’s the part nobody really talks about: all those impulse buys, matching sweat sets, and trend-of-the-week outfits led to a lot of textile waste. Like, way more than usual.

So how did the pandemic make this problem worse? Let’s dig in.

Online Shopping Went Wild

When stores shut down and we were all stuck inside, online shopping became the go-to activity. It wasn’t just about buying stuff we needed—it was something to do. Retail therapy, but from your couch.

And fast fashion sites totally took advantage of that. Brands like Shein, Fashion Nova, and others started pumping out more styles than ever. Some of them had thousands of new products every week. That’s not even an exaggeration. New loungewear trends, pastel crop tops, tie-dye everything—you name it, they were selling it.

Problem is, most of it was cheap, poorly made, and bought on a whim. And guess what happens to stuff you don’t actually love or need? Yup—it ends up in the trash.

Trend Cycles Got Even Faster

TikTok didn’t just change how people dance—it changed how we dress. Aesthetic trends like “cottagecore,” “dark academia,” “Y2K,” and even “Zoom chic” (yes, that was a thing) were popping up non-stop. And every new trend meant new clothes.

Instead of seasonal fashion (like fall, winter, etc.), it felt like there was a new “must-have” look every week. And that’s where fast fashion thrives—super quick turnarounds and super low prices so people can keep up without spending much. But again, that just leads to more clothes being worn once (if that) and thrown out.

Clothing Donations Spiked... But Not in a Good Way

You might think donating your clothes is always a good thing. But during the pandemic, donation centers were overwhelmed. People were cleaning out their closets during lockdown, and donation bins were overflowing with clothes no one really needed.

And here’s the kicker: a lot of those donated clothes still end up in landfills—especially the low-quality fast fashion stuff. Either they don’t sell in thrift stores, or they’re not good enough to be reused. So even though people thought they were doing the right thing, much of that clothing waste still harmed the environment.

Textile Waste = Hidden Pollution

So what actually happens to all that extra clothing?

Some of it ends up in landfills, where it takes years to break down. Synthetic fabrics like polyester? They can take centuries. And as they break down, they release microplastics and chemicals into the soil and water.

Other clothes get incinerated, which means burned. That creates air pollution and releases greenhouse gases.

Basically, the more we over-consume, the more pollution we create. And during the pandemic, clothing consumption shot up like crazy—even if most people were just wearing sweatpants to Zoom class.

So What Can We Learn From This?

The pandemic showed us how quickly habits can change—for better or worse. People started buying more fast fashion, but also became more aware of environmental stuff at the same time.

Now that things are (kind of) back to normal, this is our chance to slow things down again. Here’s what we can do:

• Think before you click – Don’t let boredom turn into a shopping spree. Ask yourself if you’ll actually wear something more than once.

• Support sustainable brands – Yeah, they’re a little more expensive, but they usually last way longer and do less harm to the planet.

• Repeat outfits – It’s not a crime. No one actually remembers what you wore last week, promise.

• DIY and upcycle – Cut up an old shirt and make it cool again. Get creative instead of buying new.

• Talk about it – Spread awareness. A lot of people don’t realize how big this problem is.

  
  

Final Thoughts

The pandemic made fast fashion blow up—and now we’re left dealing with the impact. But we don’t have to keep repeating the same mistakes. If each of us makes small changes, it can actually lead to something better.

So next time you're scrolling through a sale at 2 a.m., maybe close the tab and rewatch your favorite show instead. The planet will thank you.