conv.

All stories
CultureQuiet 3d · day 4

RMIT study: Shein and Temu shoppers aware of harms but price trumps ethics

New research finds environmental concerns don't stop ultra-fast fashion purchases when affordability and convenience are the priority.

newest coverage 2d agosummary written 2d ago4 pieces NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Environmental awareness does not translate into changed purchasing behavior among ultra-fast fashion shoppers; affordability and convenience are the dominant drivers.
  • Shoppers use "strategic spontaneity"—saving items and monitoring sales before making spur-of-the-moment purchases—making discount notifications highly effective.
  • Australians purchase 56 items of clothing per year on average, with 200,000 tonnes ending up in landfills annually, yet ultra-fast fashion consumption continues despite known harms.
  • Shoppers rationalize purchases by attributing responsibility to retailers rather than themselves, citing that if brands sell items, they cannot be solely culpable.

The dispute Whether responsibility for ultra-fast fashion's environmental harm lies primarily with individual shoppers facing economic pressures or with corporations and economic systems that make sustainable alternatives unaffordable. · positions read across 2 posts and comments

many voices

Economic desperation drives ultra-fast fashion; individual shoppers cannot be blamed when sustainable alternatives are unaffordable.

  • “Much of it boils down to "damn, good prices."”

    bloodravenlib@mas.to · Mastodon ↗
some voices

Retailers bear primary responsibility; individual buyers cannot be held accountable if corporations are permitted to sell the products.

  • “If the big brands are allowed to sell it, then it can't be all my fault for buying it.”

    Study participant · ABC Australia ↗

“They are trying to not compete with the Sheins of the world and they are trying to go a bit more upmarket. So they sell better-quality stuff and they have like $400 jackets.”

Carol Tan, RMIT University associate professor · ABC Australia ↗

Carol Tan Associate professor, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT UniversityShein Ultra-fast fashion e-commerce platformTemu Ultra-fast fashion e-commerce platform

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in one hour at Sep 20, 3 PM; 4 pieces over 4 days (2 articles · 2 posts) Sep 20, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quiet 12
Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 5:46 AM ET
  1. 2

    Social media commentary highlights structural barriers and personal responsibility debate

    Mastodon users engaging with the study highlight economic factors driving purchases and debate whether individual shoppers or corporate retailers bear responsibility for ultra-fast fashion's environmental impact.

    “If the big brands are allowed to sell it, then it can't be all my fault for buying it.”
    — Study participant quoted in ABC coverage
    • bloodravenlib@mas.to

      Meanwhile, in the # BadEconomy . Much of it boils down to "damn, good prices." > Shein, Temu shoppers keep adding to cart despite environmental concerns https://www. abc.net.au/news/2026-09-21/ult ra-fast-fashion-shopping-behaviour-study-environment-ethics/107171048 Sample study participant quote: "If the big brands are allowed to sell it, then it…

      bloodravenlib@mas.toMastodon2d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 1

    Research confirms environmental awareness alone insufficient to stop ultra-fast fashion purchases

    Phys.org reports that the RMIT research suggests environmental awareness may not stop people from buying ultra-fast fashion, with price and convenience trumping sustainability concerns.

    “When I see a 70 per cent off notification, it's almost impossible not to look. It feels like I'm losing money if I don't buy it.”
    — Study participant, Ultra-fast fashion shopper · source
    1. 1 outlet Shoppers know fast fashion harms the environment but keep buying

      first by Phys.org, 2d ago

    • dyckron@cosocial.ca

      Ultra-fast fashion buyers feel a lack of personal responsibility despite environmental concerns https://www. abc.net.au/news/2026-09-21/ult ra-fast-fashion-shopping-behaviour-study-environment-ethics/107171048

      dyckron@cosocial.caMastodon3d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  3. background

    RMIT study finds ultra-fast fashion buyers prioritize price over environmental concerns — A new study published in the Journal of Global Fashion Marketing surveyed 20 Australian millennials and found that despite expressing concern about ethical and sustainability issues, they continue shopping on ultra-fast fashion sites because affordability, convenience, promotions, social media trends, novelty, and social validation are bigger drivers than long-term ethical concerns.

What people are saying 0 voices from 0 sites · best of 2 · verbatim