Fast Fashion vs. Caribbean Craft: Should T&T Pull a France and Ban the Bland?

Fast Fashion vs. Caribbean Craft: Should T&T Pull a France and Ban the Bland?
By Cherisse Singh | Fashion & Beauty Editor – CS FAB Forum

Darling, let’s not mince words—fast fashion has stormed through the Caribbean like a glitter hurricane, leaving local designers gasping for air and our landfills bursting at the seams. Sure, we all love a cute $60 brunch dress that arrives in two days flat, but is it worth sacrificing the soul of Caribbean style for a few Insta likes?

Now, here's the tea: France just said “Non, merci” to fast fashion. Oui, the land of Chanel and couture dreams dropped a bombshell—a ban on fast fashion advertising, plus penalties for environmentally shady brands. Why? To preserve their sacred fashion legacy, protect artisans, and stop their streets from turning into runway landfill zones.

So we have to ask: Should Trinidad and Tobago follow France’s lead and start protecting our own?

The Fast Fashion Frenzy—And How It’s Messing With Us

You know the names—Shein, Fashion Nova, H&M. They've become household words across T&T faster than you can say "Express Shipping." But while your wardrobe is filling up, our local fashion economy is thinning out. Here's the damage report:

• Local Designers? Ghosted.
  Our talented designers—who blend heritage, culture, and raw creativity—are being out priced and outpaced by clothes that cost less than a doubles. Their one-of-a-kind pieces can’t compete with mass-produced knock-offs.

• Our Environment? Suffocating.
  Textile waste is piling up, baby. Landfills are stuffed with low-quality, throwaway outfits. And don’t get us started on secondhand imports—those bales are not blessings, they’re burdens.

• Our Culture? Watered Down.
  Where’s the Carnival flair? The African-Indian fusion? The madras magic? It’s all being diluted by TikTok trends and Western copy-paste aesthetics. Caribbean fashion is being muted in favour of global sameness.

France Said No—Can T&T Say Yes to Ourselves?

France's fashion flex was all about reclaiming identity, elegance, and sustainability. They're protecting Haute Couture, promoting artisan craft, and giving a hard pass to throwaway culture. So imagine this, island style:

• Import controls on cheap, mass-market fashion,

• Incentives for sustainable, local designers,

• Public campaigns celebrating Caribbean fashion heritage

• A big, bold national push for “Made in Trinidad and Tobago”.

Sounds like a win to us.

What Could This Do for Our Industry?

• Fuel the Local Fashion Economy
  Slowing the fast fashion wave gives our designers the space to shine. Jobs in tailoring, textile production, styling—yes please!

• Protect Cultural Identity
  Fashion is our story, stitched in fabric. From jab jab couture to hand-dyed batik, this is how we pass on our soul.

• Drive Sustainability and Innovation
  T&T creatives would be pushed to lead in slow fashion, natural materials, and circular design. Think upcycled carnival gems meets eco-glam.

• Position T&T as a Fashion Leader in the Region
  With bold policy and fierce pride, we could lead the way in Caribbean sustainable fashion, showing the world how tropical does ethical.

But Let’s Be Real—It’s Not Just a Snap of the Fingers

We’d need:

• Government + private sector buy-in

• Retailers on board

• Fashion schools empowered

• Shoppers educated (yes, even your aunty who loves a haul)

It’s a team effort. But the vision? So worth it.

Our Voice. Our Vibe. Our Style.

Fast fashion may be fast, but Caribbean fashion is forever. It's time to protect what’s ours, uplift our talent, and dress for a future we actually want to live in.

So... France drew the line in the sand. Shouldn't we?