Real Article: The True Cost of Cheap Clothes
You walk into a shop. Shirts for $5. Jeans for $10. You buy them without thinking — everyone does.
But behind fast fashion’s low prices lies a hidden cost. The industry produces over 100 billion garments a year — most of which end up in landfills. Many clothes are made using synthetic fibres that release microplastics into the ocean. Factories run on coal. Water is wasted. And workers in developing countries are paid below minimum wage.
The fast fashion model relies on overconsumption. Buy cheap, wear once, throw away. Trends change weekly. Social media accelerates it. But the planet — and the people making the clothes — pay the price.
Some brands are trying to go green, but critics say it’s often greenwashing — a marketing trick, not real change. As consumers, we must ask: Do I need this? Who made it? What happens after I throw it away?
Because a $5 T-shirt might cost the Earth a lot more than that.
Vocabulary Deep Dive
| Word | Synonym | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Overconsumption | Excessive use | “Overconsumption” = systemic habit of buying too much, often wastefully |
| Synthetic fibres | Artificial fabrics | More formal/scientific term than “man-made materials” |
| Greenwashing | False eco-branding | “Greenwashing” = pretending to be environmentally responsible for marketing |
| Landfill | Garbage site | “Landfill” is used in environmental discussions about waste impact |
There — now you can confidently explain why overconsumption leads to environmental degradation.
Article 2: Can Fashion Ever Be Sustainable?
The fashion industry is one of the most polluting on Earth. But can it change?
Some brands are investing in recycled materials and transparent supply chains. Others allow customers to return old clothes for repair or resale. These are positive steps, but experts warn they’re not enough. If the fast fashion business model — based on speed and volume — doesn’t slow down, sustainability may remain a dream.
A bigger challenge is consumer behaviour. People must stop seeing clothes as disposable. Without reducing overconsumption, even the best fabrics and factories won’t make fashion truly sustainable.
Real change doesn’t begin with brands. It begins with buyers.
IELTS Reading Test
- What are two environmental problems caused by fast fashion?
→ Water waste and plastic pollution from synthetic fibres - Complete the sentence:
“Greenwashing refers to brands that pretend to be ______.”
→ environmentally responsible - True / False / Not Given:
All fashion brands are now using sustainable materials.
→ False - Multiple Choice:
What is the main criticism of fast fashion?
A. Clothes are too cheap
B. It creates too many choices
C. It promotes overconsumption and waste
D. It’s unfair to large brands
→ C. It promotes overconsumption and waste - Matching Headings:
- A. A Growing Crisis
- B. Shifting Responsibility
- C. Superficial Solutions
- D. A Cycle of Waste
- E. A Change in Thinking
Suggested Answers: A, D, C, B, E
IELTS Speaking Challenge
Focus Vocabulary: overconsumption | synthetic fibres | greenwashing | landfill
Warm-Up:
- Do people in your country often buy cheap clothes?
- Should fashion companies be more environmentally responsible?
- Have you ever thought about where your clothes come from?
Band 6 Sample:
“People buy clothes too much now. It’s cheap but bad for Earth. I think we need to stop.”
Band 7 Sample:
“Fast fashion promotes overconsumption by encouraging people to buy large volumes of clothing made from synthetic fibres. Unfortunately, many brands rely on greenwashing instead of making real change, leading to more landfill waste.”
Speaking Frame:
“In my opinion, ______ is one of the biggest issues in the fashion industry. Unless brands stop ______ and people reduce ______, the environment will continue to suffer.”
There — now you can speak confidently about sustainability and global consumer behaviour.
IELTS Writing Challenge
Prompt:
Some people think fast fashion is harmful to the environment and should be discouraged. Others believe it provides affordable clothing and boosts the economy.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Band 7 Sample:
“While fast fashion creates jobs and makes clothing more accessible, its environmental impact cannot be ignored. Overconsumption, synthetic fibres, and landfill waste pose serious threats. In my opinion, stricter regulations and more ethical practices are necessary to reduce long-term harm.”
Structure Guide:
- Introduce the fast fashion debate
- View 1: Economic + affordability benefits
- View 2: Environmental + ethical concerns
- Your view: Support responsible change while ensuring access
Use These Words: greenwashing, overconsumption, synthetic fibres, landfill
There — now your writing is as structured as it is meaningful.
Grammar Focus: Cause–Effect Clauses with “Due to” and “As a result”
Used to link action and consequence in formal tone
Examples:
- “Due to overconsumption, most clothes are worn only a few times.”
- “Fast fashion creates waste. As a result, landfills are overflowing.”
- “Because of synthetic fibres, microplastics are entering the ocean.”
Practice:
- Rewrite: Cheap fashion = more trash
→ Due to cheap fashion, more clothing ends up in landfill. - Write your own using:
- due to
- because of
- as a result
- consequently
That’s Band 7+ grammar that flows like natural academic thought.
Rewrite Challenge
Question:
Should fast fashion be regulated by the government?
Sentence Guide:
- Fast fashion causes serious environmental harm due to overproduction and synthetic fibres.
- Many brands greenwash instead of creating real solutions.
- Governments must introduce laws that limit waste and encourage sustainable production.
- In my opinion, regulation is the only way to reduce landfill and protect the planet.
Keywords: overconsumption, landfill, greenwashing, synthetic fibres
There — now you can construct a full high-band IELTS Task 2 paragraph with ease and depth.
Final Reflection
✔️ You’ve just:
- Mastered 4 key academic vocabulary terms on sustainability
- Read two real-world articles with IELTS-relevant arguments
- Completed a full IELTS reading section
- Spoken and written with Band 7–8 style and structure
- Learned to show cause-effect with high-level grammar
- Rebuilt an argument using precise IELTS keywords
To learn how to use skills like critical comparison — essential for IELTS writing, research essays, and strategic thinking — join the full course.