The rise of global online retailers is making trendy, ultra-affordable clothing more accessible than ever to Africa’s growing middle class. However, this convenience comes with a significant environmental and economic price tag for the continent. The aptly-named fast fashion model, reliant on synthetic materials and rapid production cycles, generates immense textile waste that often ends up in countries like Ghana, overwhelming local systems. In Accra, markets are inundated with low-quality second-hand items, much of which becomes pollution, clogging waterways and harming communities. Simultaneously, this influx of cheap garments stifles local African designers and manufacturers who cannot compete on price. The situation sparks a crucial call for a shift towards slow fashion, greater corporate accountability, and investment in local circular economies that can transform this waste into opportunity.
Forbes
