Optional sustainability lesson: What is fast fashion and why is it a problem?

• Presentation: Agree or disagree?
• Presentation: Sustainability and fashion.
• Presentation: Sustainable fashion.
• Presentation: What is a clothes swap? (see Option 1 in the Main event).
• Presentation: T-shirt transformation stages.

• Whiteboards and pens (one between two).

• Three sheets of A4 scrap paper with 'Negative', 'Positive' and 'It's complicated' written on the back.

• Sticky tack.

• Option 1 - Reduce:

  • sugar paper or A3 paper (one sheet per group);

  • lined paper (one sheet per group).

• Option 2 - Reuse:

  • vest tops or T-shirts (one each);

  • fabric scissors (one pair between two).

The Knowledge organiser provides a visual summary of the key facts and vocabulary for the unit. The children can use it throughout the lesson to check keyword meanings or spellings and to help them remember important information when completing an activity. Find further ideas for using the Knowledge organiser to support adaptive teaching here.

Subject knowledge

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion refers to the rapid production of inexpensive clothing, often inspired by the latest trends. These items are mass-produced quickly and sold at low prices, encouraging frequent purchases.

Sustainability issues in fast fashion

Fast fashion has significant environmental and social consequences:

• Resource use: the production of textiles, particularly cotton and synthetic fabrics, requires vast amounts of water, energy and chemicals. For example, it takes around 2,700 litres of water to make one cotton T-shirt, enough for one person to drink for over two years. Synthetic fabrics like polyester come from fossil fuels and shed microplastics when washed.

• Waste and pollution: many fast-fashion items are designed to be worn only a few times before being discarded. 85% of all textiles end up in landfills each year. Additionally, textile dyeing is one of the world’s largest sources of water pollution, affecting rivers and oceans.

• Labour exploitation: many fast-fashion brands rely on cheap labour in countries such as Bangladesh, India and China. Some workers, including children, are paid extremely low wages and work in unsafe conditions. The 2013 Rana Plaza disaster, where a garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed, killing over 1,100 workers, highlighted these issues. Exploitation is not limited to overseas; figures obtained by the BBC have revealed more than 1,200 garment workers in Leicester were illegally underpaid between 2019 and 2024.

Why is it complicated?

While the negative impacts of fast fashion are clear, the solutions are complex:

• Affordability versus ethics: sustainable fashion is often more expensive, making it inaccessible to many people.

• Economic dependency: millions of people, particularly in low-income countries, rely on the garment industry for jobs. Simply boycotting fast fashion could harm these workers.

• Consumer habits: many people buy fast fashion because of social pressures and advertising, making it difficult to shift behaviours.

• Recycling challenges: while donating clothes sounds like a good solution, only a small percentage of second-hand clothes are reused. Many are shipped overseas, where they can disrupt local economies and still end up as waste.

Encouraging sustainable choices

Although the issues are complex, individuals can make a difference:

• Buying less and choosing well: encouraging children to think about whether they truly need new clothes.

• Second-hand and upcycling: charity shops, swapping clothes and repurposing old garments can extend clothing life.

• Supporting ethical brands: some brands prioritise fair wages and environmentally friendly materials.

• Rethinking disposal: instead of throwing clothes away, they can be repaired, reused or recycled.

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Lesson organisation

There are two activities to choose from in the Main event. One is to plan a clothes swap at school or in the local community. The second is an upcycling project to turn unwanted t-shirts into bags. Alternatively, both projects could be undertaken with the bags being sold at the clothes swap.

Health and safety

When using sharp fabric scissors in the classroom, take the following precautions:

• Always supervise use.

• Demonstrate safe handling.

• Use age-appropriate scissors.

• Set clear rules for use.

• Ensure scissors are sharp enough to cut easily.

• Store securely when not in use.