Fast fashion in India brings affordability, but at a high price - polluting ecosystems, exploiting labor, and fueling waste. The industry churns out clothing at breakneck speed, contributing to overconsumption and throwing away quality. Globally, fast fashion accounts for 8% of carbon emissions and 20% of wastewater, using a staggering 93 billion cubic meters of water annually - much of which ends up contaminated.

In India, the environmental toll is particularly severe. Rivers like the Noyyal in Tamil Nadu and Bandi in Rajasthan are contaminated from untreated textile dye runoff, while factory hubs such as Tiruppur and Ludhiana are recognized as hotspots for high emissions and pollution. Synthetic textiles—polyester, nylon—add insult to injury, releasing microplastics during washes that enter waterways and marine food chains.

Behind the scenes, garment workers—mostly women—face poor wages, hazardous conditions, and rampant rights violations. Many factories ignore basic labor laws, with cases of child labor and occupational hazard emerging.

However, India's circular fashion movement offers hope. Brands like Iro Iro and Doodlage are promoting upcycling and zero-waste production, while government schemes like the MITRA textiles parks back sustainable practices.