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

The allure of fast fashion makes sense in times of economic hardship. People still want to dress up, feel good and express their creativity.

—Shama Nasinde

—usually hyphenated when used before another noun

fast-fashion chains/retailers

Examples of fast fashion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The fast fashion giant also understands its impact in helping drive down the cost of sustainable fibers. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 30 Oct. 2025

In June, the French Senate passed a bill that would ban ads for ultra-fast fashion brands, fine influencers who promote them and add an environmental tax of up to 10 euros per garment by 2030. —NPR, 28 Oct. 2025

However, China — home to ultra-fast fashion players such as Shein and Temu — has been lagging significantly behind on social responsibility. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025

Designed to outlast the churn of fast fashion, this travel tote starts minimal, but the genius lies in its add-ons. —Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fast fashion

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