The Real Price of Cheap Fashion

Posted by Design Studio

Written by Dr Shelley Kotze, Postdoctoral Research Fellow @ University of Plymouth

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate a slowdown in inflation in the UK, with women’s clothing prices playing a significant role in this decline. At first glance, this may seem like a positive development—lower prices on the high street mean consumers have more disposable income, and lower inflation is often welcomed by policymakers and households alike. However, behind these figures lies a more troubling reality: the true cost of cheap clothing extends far beyond the UK’s economic landscape, raising serious environmental, social, and economic concerns on a global scale.

The Environmental Toll of Fast Fashion

One of the most pressing issues associated with low-cost clothing is its environmental impact. This so called “fast fashion” industry is a major contributor to pollution, carbon emissions, and resource depletion. The production of synthetic fibres like polyester relies heavily on fossil fuels, while cotton farming is notoriously water-intensive and frequently linked to deforestation and pesticide use. Textile dyeing and treatment processes further exacerbate water pollution, often contaminating rivers and lakes in countries where regulations are lax.

The geography of clothing production is key to understanding this issue. While consumers in the UK benefit from falling prices, the environmental burden is largely felt thousands of miles away in garment-producing nations like Bangladesh, India, and China. These regions bear the brunt of pollution and resource exploitation, reinforcing a cycle of environmental degradation that benefits wealthier economies while impoverishing and endangering the communities that sustain clothing production.

The Social Cost: Exploitation in the Supply Chain

The human cost of cheap clothing is equally alarming. To keep prices low, many fast fashion brands rely on exploitative labour practices in developing countries. Garment workers often endure unsafe working conditions, long hours, and poverty wages. The 2013 Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,100 workers when a factory collapsed, was a stark reminder of the human toll of this industry.

Women, who make up the majority of garment workers in these countries, are disproportionately affected. While low prices for women’s fashion in the UK may be celebrated, the reality is that these prices are made possible through the underpayment and mistreatment of women elsewhere. The irony is inescapable: affordable clothing for women in the UK comes at the expense of the exploitation of women abroad.

An Economic Model Built on Unsustainability

The business model of fast fashion is fundamentally unsustainable—not just environmentally and socially, but economically as well. The constant churn of cheaply made garments, designed to be worn only a handful of times before being discarded, encourages overconsumption and waste. The UK alone discards an estimated 23 million garments (approximately £140m worth) each year, much of which ends up in landfills or is incinerated, contributing further to environmental harm.

For garment-producing nations, the economic benefits of clothing manufacturing are often overstated. While the industry provides employment, wages are kept so low that workers struggle to escape poverty. Moreover, dependency on fast fashion makes these economies vulnerable to sudden shifts in consumer demand, automation, and trade policy changes. When Western brands decide to move production elsewhere for even cheaper labour, entire communities are left without livelihoods.

Reframing the Narrative: True Costs Over Bargains

Rather than celebrating the falling cost of women’s clothing as a victory for consumers, it is crucial to question the broader consequences of such trends. The UK may benefit from lower inflation figures, but the price of cheap fashion is paid in polluted rivers, exploited workers, and an unsustainable economic system that prioritises short-term gain over long-term viability.

Consumers, policymakers, and businesses must rethink the way fashion operates. Brands should be held accountable for their supply chains, governments should push for stronger regulations on sustainability and fair labour practices, and consumers must reconsider the allure of throwaway fashion. Clothing prices should reflect their true environmental and social cost, rather than being artificially deflated at the expense of those who produce them.

A cheap dress today might be a sign of short-term economic relief in the UK—but it is also a sign of deep-rooted global inequities that cannot be ignored.

Photo by Krisztina Anna Berecz on Unsplash

Shelley Kotze