Fast fashion documentaries show the bad side of the fashion industry.
They help us rethink how we shop. These documentaries to watch teach us about the harm fast fashion does to people, the planet, and workers.
The True Cost
The True Cost is a film about how clothes are made around the world. It shows the bad things that happen to people and the environment because of cheap fashion. The film talks to workers who don’t get paid enough and shows pollution and waste. It makes you think about how fast fashion, consumerism, and capitalism are bad. This film helped me learn about the real problems of the fashion industry.
Available to watch on Peacock or YouTube.
RiverBlue
RiverBlue is a film about how the fashion industry hurts rivers around the world. It shows how making clothes uses a lot of water and pollutes rivers with chemicals. This is a good film to watch if you want to learn about how dyeing and treating fabrics harms the environment.
Available to watch for a fee on Vimeo.
The Machinists
The Machinists is a film about the people who make our clothes. Many of these workers are women in poor countries. They often work in unsafe places and don’t get treated fairly. The film shows us their problems and why we need to make their jobs safer.
Available to watch on YouTube.
The Ugly Truth of Fast Fashion
(Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Season 5, Episode 3)
Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Act has an episode about fast fashion. It shows how companies like Zara and H&M make cheap clothes quickly, but this has a bad side. Hasan talks about how these companies hurt the planet, don’t treat workers well, and make us buy too much. He wants us to know about the problems and choose better options.
Available to watch on Netflix or YouTube.
Alex James: Slowing Down Fast Fashion
Slowing Down Fast Fashion is a film about the bad side of cheap clothes. It takes us from fancy shops in London and New York to dirty factories and dumps in Southeast Asia. We see how these clothes hurt people and the planet. The film also talks about toxic materials used in clothes and how they harm us. It makes us think about why we want so many cheap clothes and if we need to change. The film also shows that some people want better choices and are starting to care about where their clothes come from.
Available to watch on Prime or YouTube.
IMPACT x Nightline: Unboxing Shein
Journalist Selina Wang chronicles the rise and controversial business practices of the infamous fast fashion brand Shein. The documentary features interviews with influencers, Shein ambassadors, fast fashion experts, and former Shein factory workers. It sheds light on the dark side of fast fashion and prompts viewers to consider the impact of their clothing choices.
Available to watch on Hulu.
Slay
Documentary filmmaker Rebecca Cappelli reveals the dark secrets behind fur, leather, and wool in the fashion industry. She travels the globe, exposing misleading marketing, animal abuse, and cover-ups by big brands. The film shows how the industry’s use of animal skins hurts people, the planet, and animals.
Available to watch on Tubi or WaterBear.
These documentaries offer thought-provoking narratives and inspire you to consider the impact of their fashion choices. Happy watching! 🌿👗✨
To find how you can make a difference, check out my other blog posts, especially Slow Fashion: A Consumer’s Guide.
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