Being abroad in Italy has been an eye-opening experience for me, especially as a student striving to become a part of the apparel industry. It is impossible to walk down a street in Rome or a hallway in an art gallery without being instantly inspired by the details in the tiled floors or the historical significance of a given object.

This program has allowed me to see my passion and major (Apparel Merchandising, Design, & Production) on an international scale. One of my biggest observations has been that while Italians are more environmentally conscious in their daily lives, the apparel industry is controlled by the demand for “fast fashion”.

The term “fast fashion” refers to the speed at which retailers produce clothing above the standard cycles per season (varying by retailer). An example of this would be walking into Zara or H&M and seeing a new collection of clothing each week, as opposed to seeing new collections only when the seasons change.

In my Human Sciences classes at Auburn University, I have learned the apparel industry is the second largest polluter in the world through its use of dyes, factories, etc. and how important it is to be conscious of my own “fast fashion” consumption.

There are multiple American companies that have shifted their attitudes of consumption and encourage their consumers to be conscious of the environment when selecting a piece of clothing from their label. When I am shopping in stores in Italy, I have not found that the same message is being sent. My main take away is while countries in Europe are in generally more environmentally conscious in their recycling initiatives and use of public transportation, there is still a long way to go in recognizing the long-term negative impact that the “fast fashion” apparel industry will have for future generations.

Caroline Kruza