fast fashion

noun

: an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers

For many shoppers, Primark has an irresistible offer: trendy clothes at astonishingly low prices. The result is a new and even faster kind of fast fashion, which encourages consumers to buy heaps of items, discard them after a few wears and then come back for another batch of new outfits.

—The Economist

Competition is fierce at every end of the fashion spectrum from luxury to fast fashion.

—Nedra Rhone

In 1985, we bought roughly 31 clothing items per year; now [in 2012] we snap up twice that many thanks to "fast fashion."

—Azeen Ghorayshi

—usually hyphenated when used before another noun

fast-fashion chains/retailers

Examples of fast fashion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among the many aspects that appeal to shoppers besides stylish design (akin to fast fashion) and affordability is that its furniture is packed in flat boxes and needs to be assembled. —Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

Meaghan Tobin, who covers business and technology in Asia, discusses whether this might be the end for fast fashion. —Katrin Bennhold, New York Times, 15 May 2025

For me, thoughtful design and long-lasting value win over fast fashion any day. —Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 9 May 2025

The supplier also said that Shein and Temu took a bite out of fast fashion, probably killed Forever 21 (which is liquidating) and has impacted the apparel business at Kohl’s and other retailers. —David Moin, Footwear News, 9 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fast fashion

• compassion
• ashen
• passion
• ration
• aurignacian
• internation