Transformation Toward Slow Fashion: A Literature Synthesis on the Ecological and Social Impacts of Fast Fashion

This study aims to synthesize recent literature on the ecological and social impacts of fast fashion and to explore slow fashion as a sustainable alternative. Using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) based on the PRISMA protocol, the analysis covers peer-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2024 from Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The findings reveal that fast fashion contributes up to 10% of global carbon emissions, generates significant amounts of textile and microplastic waste, and consumes large volumes of water. Socially, it is linked to labor exploitation, wage inequality, poor working conditions, and violations of workers’ rights, particularly among women in developing countries. As a response, slow fashion promotes ethical production, conscious consumption, and product durability, shaped by consumer moral awareness and self-identity. The study emphasizes the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration—including consumers, industries, governments, and NGOs—in accelerating this transition. Policy reform, public education, and industrial innovation are identified as critical enablers. Furthermore, gaps remain in understanding consumer behavior and supply chain governance, which present opportunities for future research. This synthesis contributes to the academic discourse on sustainable fashion and offers strategic insights for stakeholders aiming to reduce the environmental and social harms of the fashion industry.