Dior Scandal and the Inevitable Expansion of Profitable Fashion Resale and Fast Fashion Businesses

Last week, it came out that  prosecutors in Milan had been investigating Dior's use of third-party suppliers in recent months. Prosecutors said these companies exploited workers to pump out bags for a fraction of their retail price. 

The recent Dior scandal has put a spotlight on the world’s obsession with loud luxury and how this obsession spawned has both profitable fashion resale businesses and fast fashion companies. This incident has sparked a debate about the ethics of the fashion world and the socioeconomic disparities that fuel these phenomena. But what baffles me is that  consumers act as if these same practices don’t exist in luxury fashion as well.

Luxury fashion thrives on the allure of exclusivity and status. Brands like Dior sell not just clothing, but a dream—a taste of a lifestyle that most people can only aspire to. This desire for status has created a lucrative market for luxury resale businesses, where people are willing to pay premium prices for second-hand designer goods. These businesses capitalize on the aspirational nature of luxury, making high-end fashion more accessible to a broader audience, albeit at a cost.

Which would be fine; however, this same aspiration drives the fast fashion industry, which churns out affordable high quality imitations of designer pieces at a fraction of the cost. Fast fashion allows consumers to engage with trends and styles that would otherwise be out of reach. Yet, it comes with significant ethical and environmental costs. The exploitation of labor, poor working conditions, and the massive carbon footprint of fast fashion production are well-documented issues.

The argument against fast fashion often focuses on these ethical and environmental concerns. However, it's crucial to understand the socioeconomic context that drives the demand for fast fashion if there is hope of ever changing it. The luxury fashion industry is inherently elitist and classist, with luxury brands catering to a wealthy minority. Meanwhile, wages remain stagnant and unlivable for many, making fast fashion the only viable option for people who want to participate in fashion trends without breaking the bank.

Until we address these deep-rooted socioeconomic and financial disparities, fast fashion will continue to thrive. The industry's structure ensures that as long as there is a desire for status and a significant divide between the haves and have-nots, fast fashion will remain a necessity for many.

Interestingly, many luxury brands do not engage in the conversation about fast fashion because it ultimately benefits them. The exclusivity and division that fast fashion perpetuates are profitable. Selling the desire for status to those who may never truly acquire it but will live paycheck to paycheck for a taste of it is a winning strategy for luxury brands. If there were no difference in class and status, the entire market dynamics would shift, potentially making luxury fashion as we know it obsolete.

This is evident in cases outside of Dior. Tiffany's decision to stop authenticating some of its jewelry because even they could not distinguish between the authentic pieces and high-quality dupes. This situation highlights how the value of luxury items is often a construct of industry marketing rather than intrinsic worth.

Understanding the inner workings of the fashion industry can be mind-boggling. On one hand, the industry promotes exclusivity and elitism; on the other, it relies on the masses to sustain its profits through the illusion of attainable luxury. The Dior scandal and the resulting discussions reveal a paradox where the very systems that create inequality also profit from the desire to bridge these gaps. 

Like it or not, the conversation about fast fashion and questionable luxury brand practices cannot be separated from the broader issues of economic disparity and class division. Until we address these fundamental problems, fast fashion will remain a staple in the fashion industry. Meanwhile, the allure of luxury will continue to drive both the resale market and the demand for dupes, perpetuating a cycle that is as profitable as it is problematic.