fast fashion

noun

: an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers
For many shoppers, Primark has an irresistible offer: trendy clothes at astonishingly low prices. The result is a new and even faster kind of fast fashion, which encourages consumers to buy heaps of items, discard them after a few wears and then come back for another batch of new outfits.The Economist
Competition is fierce at every end of the fashion spectrum from luxury to fast fashion.Nedra Rhone
In 1985, we bought roughly 31 clothing items per year; now [in 2012] we snap up twice that many thanks to "fast fashion."Azeen Ghorayshi
The allure of fast fashion makes sense in times of economic hardship. People still want to dress up, feel good and express their creativity.Shama Nasinde
usually hyphenated when used before another noun
fast-fashion chains/retailers

Examples of fast fashion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Similar to fast fashion, fast tech refers to cheap, low-quality electronics designed for short lifespans. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026 Chintz fabric became so common in England in the 19th century that the material came to be associated with cheap fast fashion. Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026 Whereas fast fashion baits consumers with poorly made clothing available for a limited time, Jendue takes a more elevated approach with high quality denim from Turkey. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 30 Mar. 2026 Starring Keke Palmer, LaKeith Stanfield and Demi Moore, the film takes Riley’s stylistic blend of surreal comedy and political critique into the world of fast fashion. Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fast fashion

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fast fashion was in 1975

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Cite this Entry

“Fast fashion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast%20fashion. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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