Fast fashion is a term that is used for quickly manufactured and poor quality fashion items that are widely available. They are often made to be disposable and only intended to last one season, with replacements occurring each year to keep up with changing styles and trends. There are many effects of these items both on the fashion industry and on the community. Fast fashion allows those who do not have access to large budgets to buy wardrobes for each season to have items that are in style and can add options to their closet, but in the end, they are harder on the environment and need to be replace much faster than high quality pieces.

When asked about how fast fashion is affecting the industry, Asif Ali Gohar said that it does increase competition indirectly, but does not have direct competition with the high end goods of upper fashion. These items are not of the same quality and they will not last as long. If someone wishes to change their look often and to add a few new pieces that will be swapped out each year, than fast fashion is a great option to add. When a wardrobe is based upon strong, high quality, and timeless pieces it will not often go out of fashion, and it can be maintained for several years and even decades. In these instances a few colorful pieces, some on trend updates, and some accessories can be included at an affordable price from the fast fashion selections, but an entire wardrobe of fast fashion will quickly become expensive to replace and maintain as it wears out faster and will become out of style quickly.

Fast fashion pieces also often end up in the landfill. They may be delivered with flaws in the pieces, and this will cause them to be unusable or returned only to be destroyed.  Each time this happens more is added to the landfills and the cheaper materials that are used do not break down easily or cleanly, causing build up to occur. These pieces are not environmentally friendly and are often made in the cheapest way, using the cheapest labor. Where labor is not well paid and instead is run through sweat shops and similar factories, the pieces are adding to the problem rather than assisting workers in earning a living. These workers are also expected to produce the items quickly with a focus on quantity over quality.

Another way in which they are increasing the damage to the environment is through the shipping of items around the world. Especially as they are so frequently replaced, the emissions from shipping will increase their carbon footprint and the damage they cause to the environment around the world. The effects of fast fashion are felt not only in the fashion industry but also by stores who have higher return rates, families who are replacing items more quickly than they otherwise would, and in the environmental effects.