This amazing infographic by Alexandria Heinz brilliantly illustrates the shockingly high human cost of fast fashion:

FAST FASHION BUT DAMAGING [fast fash-uh n] noun cheap garments that are produced quickly to keep up with trends CLOTHING America buys 20 BILLION 2nd largest garments a year consumer sector That's AMERICANS' CLOTHING 68 ITEMS MADE IN USA per person per year 75% in 1970s 2% in 2013 Which is over 1 ITEM per person per week OUTSOURCE TO PLACES LIKE Bangladesh China tons of clothing thrown away each year tons of clothing could be reused to speed up PRODUCTION and raise PROFIT MARGINS LARGE FAST FASHION RETAILERS ZARA $11.4 billion in revenue in 2011 HM fast fashion retailers make over TWICE $15 billion in revenue in 2011 the profit of traditional competitiors and mark up goods FOREVER 21 65%-75% $2.6 billion in revenue in 2011 LABOR COSTS (OVERSEAS) < 1% OF RETAIL PRICE Pay often influenced by APPROXIMATE WAGE/HOUR PIECEWORK SYSTEM New York Bangladesh Cambodia LOW prices for $5.21 $0.25 $0.63 consumers HIGH I $8.00 $0.43 $1.11 costs for laborers $12.75 $0.63 $1.77 LARGE ORDERS WITH TIGHT DEADLINES LEAD TO overtime overcrowding unsafe conditions LIVING MIN. POVERTY 12.7 MILLION 1.60 MILLION