Research Log #7 - Solutionary Project 2020

Date: March 20, 2020

Name: Tessa Domingo
Essential Question:
How does fast fashion negatively impact our environment?
Three Points to Prove: #1: fast fashion contributes to speeding up climate change
#2: fast fashion leads to a substantial amount of landfill waste
#3: fast fashion pollutes the ocean with microfibers

Point that this Source Proves: #2: fast fashion leads to a substantial amount of landfill waste

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Kini Zamora says that it is apparent that “fast fashion brands are starting to feel the pain from everyone noticing
what they are doing”.

Kini Zamora says that “everyone loves to shop fast fashion because it one, its fast, it gets us from runway to
consumer really quickly two, its really cheap, but if you look at where things are being made its not really good for
the environment, then the situation that people are creating this clothing and supporting this brand is not fairly
treated right”.

Kini also says that his business, personally, “tries to cut down on [their fabric] waste as much as possible, and [he
has] cut it down to 10 percent”.

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

Kini Zamora is a local native Hawaiian designer who has been sewing and designing since he was 10 years
old. He went on to get an associates degree here in Honolulu. He later was on Project Runway’s season 13 in 2015 and
Project Runway All Star season 5 in 2016. He said that he was able to “[make] a career out of what he loves”. He has
his own small business in Halawa where he does all of his manufacturing and designing. Because he is also a small
business, Kini Zamora says that it is apparent that “fast fashion brands are starting to feel the pain from everyone
noticing what they are doing”. By this he means that these bigger fast fashion brands are starting to feel the pain from
people choosing to be more environmentally friendly and buying their clothing from smaller businesses and supporting
their local businesses. People understand the harmful effects that these bigger brands are having on our environment
and choosing to make a change.
Kini Zamora says that “everyone loves to shop fast fashion because it one, its fast, it gets [the brand’s
clothing] from runway to consumer really quickly and two, it is really cheap, but if you look at where [the pieces] are
being made it is not really good for the environment, then [there’s] the situation that people are creating this clothing
and supporting this brand are not fairly treated”. Kini Zamora talks about how the fast fashion negative effect is not
only limited to the effects on climate change and our environment. There is also negative effect on the people working
for these brands which is normally done over seas and in other countries. Kini says that although he may shop at these
bigger brands for basics and other pieces, he tries more to support local designers and smaller businesses.
Kini Zamora also recognizes a change and slowing down of the fast fashion industry and unsustainable
fashion. This is shown through the closing of many big retailers such as Forever 21 and their filing for bankruptcy.
Kini says that people are becoming more interested in buying pieces from smaller businesses where customers “can
see a touch of the creator in each piece”. So he, Kini, likes to show his customers how his pieces are made. He says
that bigger brands are being influenced by smaller brands and are starting to go for that “making of” type of clothing
and scaling back. He says that there is also improvement in the fast fashion industry through the act of upcycling. Kini
says that this doesn’t hurt businesses but instead help their customers by offering items that will help to “add flare” and
help to “create someone’s style”. Kini also says that his business, personally, “tries to cut down on [their fabric] waste
as much as possible, and [he has] cut it down to 10 percent”. He says that they try to use their scraps to create things
and they give other pieces of fabric that isn’t used to H&M for them to use and recycle especially since there is no
other fabric recycling place here in Hawaii. Kini Zamora also supports upcycling and fashion sustainability through
Goodwill Goes Glam fashion show.

This is a reputable and reliable article because it was a personal interview I conducted with someone in the fashion
industry.