Fast Fashion Brand and Second-hand Clothing Market in Ghana: The Legitimacy of Fast Fashion
Journal: Modern Economics & Management Forum DOI: 10.32629/memf.v6i6.4640
Abstract
The dynamics of the global fast fashion industry have led to a substantial influx of second-hand garments into Ghana, with approximately forty percent being directly landfilled due to substandard quality, resulting in significant environmental degradation. Whilst this trade has resulted in greater employment opportunities for residents, it has substantially undermined the domestic textile sector. A series of labor rights issues have arisen due to inadequate regulatory protection. Utilizing an economic analytical framework, and drawing upon utilitarianism and Nozick's entitlement theory, this paper critically examines the moral legitimacy of the fast fashion industry. The analysis posits that, while the industry may yield short-term economic benefits, its long-term deleterious effects particularly environmental degradation and market inequities are persistent, thereby undermining its ethical legitimacy. The paper concludes with the proposal of relevant policy interventions and highlights the study's limitations.
Keywords
fast fashion industry, second-hand clothing trade, moral legitimacy, utilitarianism, noxious markets, entitlement theory
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