Fast fashion, represented by stores such as H&M and M&S, churns out inexpensive clothes quickly. However, this process generates significant carbon emissions, exploits labor, and results in excessive waste. Consequently, it contributes to environmental damage and unfair treatment of workers. Worldwide, the textile industry is the second-largest polluter, emitting 10% of CO2 and producing over 92 million tonnes of waste every year.

The global North drives the fast fashion industry by constantly seeking cheap clothing. This demand pushes manufacturers to prioritize speed and cost-efficiency over ethical and sustainable practices. This fosters a phenomenon known as waste colonialism, where unwanted clothing from the global North is dumped in the global South. These countries are exploited for their cheap labor and lack of environmental regulations, which worsens pollution and increases social inequalities.

Every week, the Kantamanto market in Ghana receives more than 15 million garments. Most of these clothes are considered "waste" and comes from the global North. They're either thrown away in textile bins or are overproduction from big fashion brands. Shockingly, about 40% of these textiles become waste within just a month, ending up in overflowing landfills and harming Accra's natural environment.