The term fast fashion refers to the model of trend-based marketing which is based on churning out a constant stream of new fashions.
Some people believe that fast fashion is destroying our environment and hurting the global economy in more ways than one.
When you think of fast fashion, your mind might drift to H&M or Zara.
Those brands are two major players in the fast-fashion world. But there are other names in the game as well, including Pacsun.
PacSun is a popular name for shopping for clothing for young men and women alike, largely focusing on a casual-but-stylish aesthetic.
But Is PacSun fast fashion?
What is PacSun?
PacSun is a leading retailer that offers a wide range of apparel and accessories, including active wear, swimwear, sportswear, and accessories for teenage girls and boys.
PacSun was founded as a surf/skate shop in California back in the 1980s, the retailer has expanded to clothing for all occasions.
The Company has a nationwide chain of retail stores, mainly mall-based. PacSun is headquartered in California and has international locations in Mexico in addition to factory outlets throughout the United States including Alaska.
Where does PacSun source its clothing?
It’s hard to find a retailer that actually manufactures or produces their clothing in America.
I’m talking about domestically manufactured goods, like something you’d find from an American brand like Carhartt or Lands’ End.
PacSun manufactures domestically in the US as well as overseas in China, Germany, Turkey, Nigeria, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Thailand, and Indonesia.
The company has partnered with factories across the globe to provide its customers with quality products at an affordable price.
In addition to manufacturing its clothing overseas, PacSun also uses domestic suppliers to produce some of its products.
Is PacSun socially responsible?
According to PacSun’s official statement:
“PacSun is committed to sourcing products from suppliers that operate in a fair and responsible manner.
The company also conducts their business in a fair and responsible manner by using sustainable practices, such as recycling and reusing materials, onsite energy efficiency efforts, and water conservation programs.”
PacSun believes in protecting human rights, preserving the environment, and supporting communities.
PacSun has partnered with organizations like American Forests and Trees for the Future to plant trees that help to offset the carbon emissions caused by manufacturing its clothing.
However, the company has been criticized by several organizations for its social and environmental impact.
According to Serconline: “PacSun uses cheap quality materials is indicative of a fast fashion business model that relies on consumers buying more clothes than they need.”
Good On You reports that: “There is no evidence that PacSun has established a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
The organization also said it found no evidence that the company had taken meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals from its supply chain.
Good On You gave PacSun an ‘environment’ ‘labor’ and ‘animal’ rating of ‘very poor.
What material does PacSun use?
PacSun uses a variety of materials, including:
Wool: Wool is a natural fiber that comes from sheep. It’s soft, warm, and breathable, which makes it a popular choice for sweaters and other outerwear.
Cotton: Cotton is one of the most common fabrics used in clothing production. It’s comfortable and easy to care for, but it doesn’t provide much insulation — so it’s not very good in cold weather.
Is Pacsun clothing good quality?
PacSun has always been known for its cheap, trendy clothing. It’s not uncommon for a PacSun piece to only last for a few months before it starts to fall apart.
The company uses cheap materials and bad manufacturing processes to save money in the manufacturing stages.
They also don’t put much thought into how well their products will hold up over time because they expect you to buy new clothes every season.
Many of their items are made in China or other Asian countries, where labor is much cheaper than in the U.S. You’ll often find yourself paying more than you should for an item that doesn’t last very long at all.
If quality matters to you when shopping for clothing, then PacSun isn’t going to be your first choice.
Conclusion:
The demand for quickly-durable clothing has left a mark on the retail industry.
Labels such as H&M, Zara, and Pacsun are centered around this way to make money; it is important for them to move products and keep their stock up.
To do so, these brands have numerous strategies for cutting costs, keeping prices down, and getting consumers back into their stores faster than the new styles can sell out online.
The bottom line is that fast fashion stores rely upon pushing merchandise to make money.
In order to do so they cut costs by outsourcing manufacturing to countries where labor is cheap and may outsource design work to other companies in order to add their brand logo.
Fast fashion retailers are not reliable options for quality clothing while overseas textile factories are putting an end to the idea of “sweatshops”.
