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How Fast Fashion Is Destroying the Planet

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By Tatiana Schlossberg

• Sept. 3, 2019

FASHIONOPOLIS The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes By Dana Thomas

There is that old saying, usually attributed to Yves Saint Laurent: “Fashion fades, style is eternal.”

Literally speaking, that actually may no longer be true, especially when it comes to fast fashion. Fast-fashion brands may not design their clothing to last (and they don’t), but as artifacts of a particularly consumptive era, they might become an important part of the fossil record.

More than 60 percent of fabric fibers are now synthetics, derived from fossil fuels, so if and when our clothing ends up in a landfill (about 85 percent of textile waste in the United States goes to landfills or is incinerated), it will not decay.

Nor will the synthetic microfibers that end up in the sea, freshwater and elsewhere, including the deepest parts of the oceans and the highest glacier peaks. Future archaeologists may look at landfills taken over by nature and discover evidence of Zara.

And it is Zara and other brands like it that have helped plant flags on the farthest reaches of the planet. In “Fashionopolis,” Dana Thomas, a veteran style writer, convincingly connects our fast-fashion wardrobes to global economic and climate patterns and crises, rooting the current state of the fashion biosphere as a whole — production methods, labor practices and environmental impacts — in the history of the garment industry.

Her narrative is broken up into three manageable sections. The first focuses on today’s global fast-fashion and regular fashion industries and how they came to be so enormous, voracious, so seemingly uncontainable. It includes a fascinating account of how NAFTA made possible the international success of fast fashion. The second presents alternative, even opposite, approaches to making clothing that Thomas terms “slow fashion”: locally grown materials, often domestically manufactured or sourced on a relatively small scale, like the farmer and entrepreneur Sarah Bellos’s American-grown indigo. Lastly, she meets people who are trying to reform the system entirely, from the materials we use to how clothes are produced and the ways we shop.

Throughout, Thomas reminds us that the textile industry has always been one of the darkest corners of the world economy. The defining product of the Industrial Revolution, textiles were crucial to the development of our globalized capitalist system, and its abuses today are built on a long history. Slave labor in the American South supplied factories in both England, where they were notorious for child labor and other horrors, and the United States, where factory fires took the lives of recent immigrants at the turn of the 20th century. Thomas reports that there are immigrant workers in Los Angeles today who are victims of wage theft and exploitation, not to mention the Bangladeshi, Chinese, Vietnamese and other laborers who face working conditions that are at best grim and at worst inhumane. Fashion is an industry that has depended on the toil of the powerless and the voiceless, and on keeping them that way.

In one of the most powerful parts of the book, Thomas recounts the tragedy of the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, told through the harrowing experiences of two survivors. The explosion killed 1,100 people and injured another 2,500. And this was not a one-off: “Between 2006 and 2012, more than 500 Bangladeshi garment workers died in factory fires.” And, she notes, none of this news — the Rana Plaza catastrophe was widely covered — diminished Americans’ appetites for cheap clothing. In fact, Thomas writes, that same year Americans “spent $340 billion on fashion,” and “much of it was produced in Bangladesh, some of it by Rana Plaza workers in the days leading up to the collapse.”

Not all of the book is this pessimistic: There is plenty of bubbliness and glamour for fashion lovers to get excited about. Thomas displays her skills as a culture and style reporter as she visits the visionaries who are attempting to remake the industry, if not from whole cloth, then maybe from lab-grown or recycled fibers of some kind. She conjures a pastoral idyll, for instance, in her depiction of the designer Natalie Chanin and her business, Alabama Chanin, a line of cotton clothing produced almost entirely in Florence, Ala., once the “Cotton T-Shirt Capital of the World.” In Thomas’s telling, these garments are both environmentally sustainable and humane, though with a revenue of just over $3 million last year, the 30-person company is no replacement for mass production when it comes to dressing seven billion people.

Among the book’s delights are Thomas’s sketches of her individual subjects. I can’t get her description of a woman as “peaches-and-cream pretty” out of my head; I know exactly what she looks like. The author also has a gift for bringing luxury to life: She conjures Moda Operandi’s London showroom so vividly that I felt as though I’d moved in.

In the last section, Thomas marvels at the ingenuity of those trying to “disrupt” fashion. She makes a strong argument for the importance of science applied to (what are often seen as) the frivolities of fashion, especially if we want to move away from the unartful excesses of mass production.

Stella McCartney gets a disproportionate amount of attention here, and for good reason. McCartney has long been committed to sustainable practices, in her own business and others’. As the head designer at Chloé in the late 1990s, she refused to include leather or fur in her collections, which many executives then considered a death wish (some still do). She made it work, and has amplified those practices in her eponymous company, using, for instance, only “reclaimed” cashmere, refusing to use polyvinyl chloride or untraceable rayon.

However, it is in contextualizing this single industry from a broader climate perspective that the book falls short. Some statistics are exaggerated: Livestock are not responsible for “at least half of all global greenhouse gas emissions,” but rather closer to 15 percent of them; nor is fashion production alone consuming water at a rate that, if maintained, “will surpass the world’s supply by 40 percent by 2030” (not even the world’s total water demand necessarily will). And much of the discussion of new materials and production methods raises further questions. What are the differences between organic, conventional and “Better Cotton”? (Organic cotton is periodically touted as a sustainable alternative, though it currently makes up only about 0.4 percent of the cotton market, making it nearly impossible for any company to rely on now or in the near future.) Another: Does the landfilling of non-synthetic clothing matter? Thomas doesn’t say, but in fact it does, because it contributes to global emission of methane, a potent heat-trapping gas.

A lot of faith is placed here in the idea of “a circular — or closed-loop — system, in which products are continually recycled, reborn, reused. Nothing, ideally, should go in the trash.” But the practical considerations — cost, efficiency, resource limitations — are often left unaddressed. Ultimately, Thomas finds that renting clothing is the most sustainable model, and that feels like a more realistic solution than the futuristic materials she describes at length. In the end I was left wondering: If the fashion industry is this damaging, and none of these developments alone will fix the problem, shouldn’t governments be regulating production beyond enacting stricter pollution standards?

That may be a question for another book; it is not the goal of “Fashionopolis” to provide all the answers. Thomas has succeeded in calling attention to the major problems in the $2.4-trillion-a-year industry, in a way that will engage not only the fashion set but also those interested in economics, human rights and climate policy. Her portraits of the figures who are transforming a field that hasn’t changed all that much in the last century or more sound at once like messages from the future and like nostalgic reveries of life in a smaller, simpler world. If we can combine them, this book suggests, the envisioned “fashionopolis” could transform from an urban nightmare into a shining city on a hill.

Tatiana Schlossberg, a former climate reporter for The Times, is the author of “Inconspicuous Consumption.”

FASHIONOPOLIS The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes By Dana Thomas Illustrated. 306 pp. Penguin Press. $28.

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How current global trends are disrupting the fashion industry

In this episode of The McKinsey Podcast , McKinsey senior partner Achim Berg talks with executive editor Roberta Fusaro about findings from McKinsey’s The State of Fashion 2022 report. They cover the concurrent effects of the many challenges facing both suppliers and brands, including the war in Ukraine, the pandemic, and inflation.

After that: the state of anxiety tends to get a bad rap. But in our second segment, Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, author and professor of psychology and neuroscience at Hunter College, shares why anxious feelings deserve respect.

The following transcript has been edited for clarity and length.

The McKinsey Podcast is cohosted by Roberta Fusaro and Lucia Rahilly.

Return to normal? Not yet

Roberta Fusaro: Achim, the world has changed since we published The State of Fashion 2022 report. What are the changes that have had the greatest effect on fashion and the textile industry?

Achim Berg: The invasion into Ukraine is one of those topics not fully on our radar in November or December.

But that’s not the only change that has occurred since we published the report. We also didn’t know that Omicron would be the dominant variant in the first half of 2022.

We also did not expect that inflation would be a permanent challenge. We expected, like many governments, that this would be a temporary problem. We expected that the supply chain would normalize after two years of a pandemic. That also didn’t come true.

We did not expect an energy crisis.

We also didn’t expect that COVID-19 would be a big issue in China again, because China looked like the big winner of the whole pandemic at the end of last year. That’s the challenge of writing a report that tries to somehow predict or frame the future: things often turn out slightly different. But overall, our forecasts provided reliable insight and included topics we identified to drive the industry in 2022.

Supplier challenges

Roberta Fusaro: From the panoply of issues you’ve mentioned, what challenges do suppliers face right now?

Achim Berg: There are a lot of different challenges. It depends on which country we look at. Some are quite challenged.

The supplier side has a practical problem of delivering what is expected. But they’re also facing the issue of forecasting in a proper way because we don’t know exactly how the consumption patterns will develop.

The industry is always a couple of months ahead of the consumer, so they need to make some bets. In this environment, which is much more volatile than what we have seen in the last 20 years, it’s very difficult to make the right bets.

Supplier solutions

Roberta Fusaro: Given the increased risk, how should companies respond? And what are some things that companies can do to hopefully end up on the right side of these big bets?

Achim Berg: They should look for real partnerships and closer exchanges with brands because that would give companies access to data and would therefore make things more predictable.

On the other side, it’s worthwhile to think about how to flex the system to the maximum, because demand patterns are not as stable as they used to be. Brands and retailers will be forced to react more flexibly to these challenges. And the suppliers are, by definition, at the receiving end, so they will have to increase their flexibility even more.

Cost pressure will continue, so they will likely have to work also on the cost side, and also on their tier-two and tier-three suppliers in the whole system.

Different regions, different challenges

Roberta Fusaro: What were some of the more interesting data that came out from different geographies?

Achim Berg: On a global level, we’ve seen a faster recovery than what we expected 18 months ago. We had expected that the whole fashion industry would not get back to 2019 levels until the end of 2022. And on a global level, we already achieved that at the end of 2021.

We had expected that the whole fashion industry would not get back to 2019 levels until the end of 2022. And we already achieved that at the end of 2021. Achim Berg

You could argue that the fashion industry has shown more resilience and a faster ability to deal with challenges than what we had expected. Maybe we were too conservative in the eye of the storm. That might be another explanation.

The recovery was also quite different by region. Asia, with the very strong leadership of China, was the motor of the recovery right at the beginning. They had a very short dip and then they were doing quite well.

Europe had the toughest challenge to deal with, because they were lacking international travelers. Also, given the fragmentations of the markets, the recovery wasn’t that fast or that strong.

North America was remarkable. We’ve seen a V-shape recovery, which we had seen after some of the financial crises before. But we didn’t expect to see that here in the pandemic. If we look forward, it’s difficult to make predictions, as we discussed earlier.

China is currently quite challenged with its zero-COVID-19 policy, but we don’t know how long it will take to get recovery here. Let’s hope for the best, because that’s going to be very important in particular for the luxury part of the industry. Europe is currently doing better, because we see travel coming back. North America is still going strong.

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It will heavily depend on how long the war in Ukraine continues, how long that will impact the cost of energy, and also how much stimulus the different governments will be able to provide after two years of continuous stimulus against the pandemic.

So the jury is out. We should prepare accordingly for some challenges we could face.

Think tech from beginning to end

Roberta Fusaro: During the height of the COVID-19 outbreak, we talked a lot about companies accelerating their use of technology. Has that momentum continued?

Achim Berg: Technology plays a very important role. We also just published the new State of Fashion Technology Report 2022 , which makes an important point: that we have to think about technology really end to end.

We used to focus more on the front end—everything that was more consumer focused, through e-commerce, through loyalty systems. But we are realizing now that the back end also needs to be digitized for many reasons.

Traceability from a sustainability point of view has become more important and will become even more important going forward. So digitizing the whole supply chain end to end is a big topic for many of our clients. And that’s also why technology investments for the fashion industry are expected to ramp up.

The importance of consumer demand for brands

Roberta Fusaro: Thinking about the challenges now for brands, what obstacles do these organizations face?

Achim Berg: It all comes down to consumer demand. And as I said, we had hoped that 2022 would mark the end of the pandemic, that certain freedom would return that would allow people to celebrate, to entertain. And the fashion industry was very ready to dress consumers exactly for that. And, to a certain extent, we see that that is happening. Some of the categories that were hammered throughout the pandemic, like dresses, high heels, even suits, have had a strong return in the first five or six months of this year.

We also expect that people will do a lot of traveling. Europe is clearly returning to the whole vacation industry; I think Americans will do the same, and Asia as well, with the exception of China. That will drive consumption.

In a way, despite a looming recession and inflation rates, we see that consumers have a kind of backlog and a desire to spend on fashion. The problem is that energy bills will continue to increase, and we don’t know how long the conflict between Russia and the Western world will continue.

The conflict will likely continue to have a negative impact on the cost of energy and on the cost of living. Realistically, we might see a lot of consumers returning from vacation and from a great summer, realizing that everything has become much more expensive. That could hit larger parts of the fashion industry—in particular, the discount, the value, and the midmarket segments. The jury’s still out on how luxury will play out in this environment.

We were all surprised by how quickly luxury returned from the lows of the pandemic. This return has mainly been driven by China, but also by a very strong recovery, and a fast recovery, in the United States. The demand for luxury is super strong at this point in the year. I’m more concerned with the Christmas business and, in particular, the outlook for 2023.

Innovate plans, flex systems, and manage costs

Roberta Fusaro: Thinking about that, Achim, what should brands do?

Achim Berg: Brands should prepare for a likely recession. If the recession is not happening, we’re all going to be positively surprised.

But—given the current inflation levels all around the world, driven by energy cost increases, and the fact that interest rates are increasing around the world—that will have an impact on a lot of things. It will have an impact on consumption patterns. It will have an impact on refinancing patterns and on the cost structures of companies. What we’re discussing with a lot of the clients is how to prepare for that.

On the one hand, that means having a robust plan for the demand side and for how to flex your systems, similar to the suppliers, to varying demands. The industry has been quite innovative in that respect over the last two years of the pandemic. This will somehow have to continue.

On the other hand, the industry will have to manage costs. Many of the leading players have started to tackle that by reviewing their investment budgets, reviewing their cost structures, and preparing for a challenging 2023. That is what brands will have to focus on in the coming months.

The winners and losers of 2022

Roberta Fusaro: Most companies in this industry have been challenged for several years now. How do they respond to these disruptions? And how do they find ways to invest in new technologies?

Achim Berg: 2020 was the worst year from an economic-profit point of view since we’ve collected data about this industry—probably going back to the Great Depression.

2021 was a recovery year for many. And in that respect, a more difficult 2022 and an even more difficult 2023 could have some devastating effects to the industry. Our report also shows that profitability is more and more polarized in the industry.

In 2020, less than one-third of the companies were value generating, while two-thirds were value destroying. So a longer recession and a more challenging environment will definitely lead to a shakeout in the industry. We also see there are a few companies we call the “super winners,” the top 20 performers of the industry. But you could broaden that to the top 20 percent of the industry that are quite healthy. These companies have already started to invest in technology and digitalization. They’ve invested in sustainability, they’ve invested in talent—all the things that you would want to invest in. They also have a more balanced, more global business. So they will likely get better through the months ahead.

Without any question, companies will have to do this transformation away from physical stores and toward a more digital business model. They will have to find ways to redirect budgets into those areas. That will be more difficult for some than for others, which will likely lead to even more polarization in the industry.

The importance of sustainability

Roberta Fusaro: Is sustainability one of those factors in thinking about how companies are going to transform?

Achim Berg: Sustainability is the big topic for the industry. It was the big topic before the pandemic hit and it continues to be the big topic.

I always say that we’re going through different stages. It took us a couple of years to really create awareness for the topic and for the industry to accept that sustainability is a big topic—not only on CO 2 , but also on worker rights, worker conditions, and pollution in a much broader sense. The industry has finally accepted the challenge.

A lot of companies have now made commitments, most of them until 2030. COP26 was a big event in that respect. We’re now heading into a phase where the industry has to deliver against those promises. And that coincides now with a phase where we likely have limited budgets and more stress on the demand side. So, without any doubt, it would have been much better in the end, and also for the planet, if we were having a stronger recovery after the pandemic. But that’s unfortunately not what we are facing.

On the other hand, the planet cannot afford an industry that’s not making progress. So, in that sense, companies will have to do all of that. They will have to deliver against the ambitions of digitalization, and also against the demands of sustainability.

Consumers have become more demanding in that respect. A lot of people have been at home throughout the pandemic. They have had more time to think about their consumption patterns. We’ve seen a big change—in particular, in Western Europe and North America—in how consumers think about sustainability and what they demand from brands. Therefore, brands will have to do it all. It’s not going to get any easier for brands in the whole industry in the next 18 to 24 months.

Roberta Fusaro: In the report, you talked about the use of digital “product passports,” which contain data about how products came into being and their impact on the environment. Do you think digital product passports are a good tool to help brands reach their sustainability commitments?

Achim Berg: Product passports and traceability are the two big topics when it comes to sustainability. Digitalization will be a key lever here: on the one hand, to provide the required transparency along the whole value chain, and on the other, to provide that information to an ever-more-demanding consumer who wants to have that transparency. Let’s not forget that there is a regulator out there that will request that transparency. And the supply chains are very complex.

There are different stages. It’s happening in emerging markets. It’s transported in most cases at least around half of the world. So all of that requires the use of technology to provide the transparency and the reliability that you need to drive the business.

Learning from the top 20 performers in fashion

Roberta Fusaro: What are the lessons that companies can take from some of the top companies in our research?

Achim Berg: Super winners have been outperforming the industry now for many, many years. That has led to the level of polarization that we have at the moment. We also expect that the top players will get stronger due to the next crisis we are facing, given the resources they have built and the brands and business systems they have built.

They are a constant inspiration for the rest of the industry. Not all of what they do can be replicated; many low-performing players have challenges in funding some of the things that the top performers are doing.

You need to be active in different geographic regions to balance risk. It also helps to operate across different product categories—a higher share of digital and a more consistent use of data are clearly beneficial to the performance.

And then, last, it’s the fashion industry. If you put your chips on the right trend, and if you have the brand heat that you wish for, of course you’re going to do better. And you can be like a phoenix rising from the ashes over the next couple of seasons. That’s the beauty of the industry.

We also see some strong brands now that were not that strong before the crisis. So, unfortunately, it’s a sliding scale for many. But there’s always some renewal and innovation and hope. We’re going to see some surprises over the next 24 months, without any question.

Roberta Fusaro: Thanks so much, Achim, for joining us today.

Achim Berg: Thank you, Roberta, for having me.

Lucia Rahilly: And now, let’s hear from Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary from our Author Talks series about her new book, Future Tense: Why Anxiety Is Good for You (Even Though It Feels Bad) .

Tracy Dennis-Tiwary: The core message of the book is that we mental-health professionals have unintentionally given people some damaging information when it comes to anxiety. And we’ve essentially spread a couple of fallacies about anxiety.

First, it’s that anxiety is always a debilitating experience, it’s dangerous, and it’s even something we should think of as a disease.

That means that the solution would be to prevent it and eradicate it and destroy it at all costs, like we do with any disease. The problem with that, when it comes to anxiety, is that it is literally a recipe for making anxiety worse.

There’s a paradox of anxiety: the more we avoid it, the more it tends to spiral out of control. So we not only have more intense anxiety because we’re avoiding it, but we lose the opportunity to look at anxiety and its potentially helpful parts.

There’s a paradox of anxiety: the more we avoid it, the more it tends to spiral out of control. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary

Anxiety is an emotion that we’ve evolved to anchor us into the future tense. This ability to think into the future not only protects us but also makes us more persistent, more innovative, more creative, and more socially connected.

So this story that we have all come to believe about anxiety is actually really starting to get in the way, especially during a time like the pandemic when we can’t escape anxiety.

And that’s the second false idea that we’ve unintentionally spread—we mental-health professionals—that any experience of anxiety is a malfunction and a failure.

So what do we do? We start to try to fix it all the time. And we lose those opportunities to see how it can actually be a strength and a source of resilience. Anxiety can be very intense, very extreme, even, but that doesn’t mean that it’s an anxiety disorder.

A healthy mindset about anxiety is one in which we look at it very differently than we’re used to looking at it. We’re looking at anxiety as a problem to solve, but anxiety is a feature of being human. And when you look at the difference between anxiety and fear, it starts to help us understand that.

Fear is the present certainty. We’re absolutely certain that right now we’re in danger. But anxiety is not that. Anxiety is apprehension about the uncertain future. That is, we know that there’s something coming around the bend. It could be bad, but it could also be good. What anxiety helps us do is prepare to make those good things happen.

A second healthy mindset about anxiety involves this perspective about anxiety, that it’s information telling us there’s something happening in the future and we really care enough to make it happen.

When we start to think of anxiety not as this dangerous thing but as a helpful thing, that changes everything about how we then face anxious moments, whether they’re controllable or uncontrollable—it helps us cope with that at our best.

And a third aspect about having a healthy mindset about anxiety is that we think of it not as something that overwhelms us when we face the uncertain world around us but rather something that helps us navigate uncertainty. Because anxiety is an emotion that evolved to help us translate and navigate the uncertain world.

How does anxiety help you?

What it helps you see is that because you’re in the future tense and you care about making the good things happen in the future, it helps you see possibilities. It can make us more persistent. It can make us be more fluent to think outside the box to be innovative when we need to, because we see that there’s a possibility for something good to happen.

When we’re anxious, we also are more reward focused. We have higher levels of dopamine in our brain when we’re anxious. We typically associate dopamine as a reward neurotransmitter that we feel when we’re experiencing something pleasurable. Well, anxiety triggers dopamine. Why? Because dopamine helps us move toward positive outcomes.

It also triggers our social-bonding hormone oxytocin, which increases when we’re with someone we love. It’s one of the ways that we biologically bond to each other. And when we’re anxious, that hormone shoots up. Why? Because social connection, social bonding, is one of the best ways that we manage our anxiety.

In the book, I also talk about a three-part framework for doing something with anxiety, for working with it. One is that we remember that anxiety is information, and we need to listen to it.

Two is that sometimes anxiety is not useful information. We can learn to tell the difference, and when we do know that it’s not useful anxiety, we can use those great tools out there to let go and immerse ourselves in the present moment, get help through therapy, do those things that help us scale back from the future tense. The third guideline is to really hitch that anxiety, that information we’re getting about what we want in the future, to what we care about, to what gives your life a sense of meaning.

Achim Berg is a senior partner in McKinsey’s Frankfurt office. Roberta Fusaro is an executive editor in the Waltham, Massachusetts, office. Lucia Rahilly is the global editorial director and deputy publisher of McKinsey Global Publishing and is based in the New York office.

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• 5.5 band Television has a great influence on people. What do you think? Television in general is one of the most important tool of our daily life now. From children to adults, every age group enjoys watching the television programmes of their interest. TV in its early days was mainly used for news broadcasting and other important awareness for the public. But now it hea ...
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Fashionhance

Is Fashion Really Harmful to Society? The Answer Will Surprise You

Fashion is one of the ways to express yourself and exhibit to the world more about who you are. We all agree that the fashion industry has become very popular and influential, but how does it affect our society? This Fashionhance write-up will talk more about the impact of fashion on society.

So Much For Fashion! Victorian women would cover themselves in wet muslin cloth, so that their dress would fit them perfectly. Due to this practice, many women would often fall sick, and some used to die. We are constantly surrounded by fashion, it has become an everyday kind of thing you need to deal with. Fashion is a term that applies to clothing, accessories, hairstyle, footwear, body piercings, and furniture. The concept of fashion is not new to mankind, it is just that the definition of fashion has changed and more evolved. During the Egyptian era, both men and women used to line their eyes with Kohl for various reasons. But it was a trend back then and followed by everybody.

Fashion is like a wind and is changing rapidly. From school-going kids to working professionals, everybody wants to look their best. Fashion is promoted mostly by TV advertisements and celebrities. Many people define their fashion statement as comfort. They wear whatever they feel comfortable in. Of course you need to consider the occasion too. You can’t wear a jogging suit and go for a wedding, similarly you won’t wear a skirt to go for jogging. If we are living in a society, then it is not a bad thing to follow fashion trends, but it should be done in a limit.

Positive Impact of Fashion ► Fashion has become one common language for people all over the world. Our world is enormous, an integration of various cultures. Fashion helps to connect people internationally, because it travels from one city to another.

► Designers are able to produce and set new trends for people who are enthusiastic and ready to experiment with their look. This gives designers a satisfaction when they see their designs in the market, starting a trend among the people.

► The fashion industry is very competitive and there are many designers who offer the same thing like the others. It is always refreshing to see a new designer exhibit new and unique designs. It gives young and aspiring fashion designers a platform to exhibit their talent.

► Sometimes, fashion can be an inspiration for many to discover their hidden potential, it persuades individuals to attend fashion schools and make something out of their career, if they have an inclination towards this field. Fashion inspires you to expand your knowledge and creativity to turn your hobby into a career.

► One of the first things which people notice is your appearance. The way you dress up speaks a lot about you, fashion is one of the means through which you express yourself. Fashion gives you the liberty to mix and match clothes according to your mood, liking, and attitude.

► We all are attracted to people who dress up smartly and have a knowledge about the current trends. People dress up to attract the opposite sex and get noticed by someone they adore. Additionally, people also get acknowledged and stand out amongst the crowd largely due to what they wear and how they look. Those shabbily dressed or the ones lacking a sense of fashion are not very well taken, as compared to those who groom themselves well.

► Fashion is never ending, trends come and go. In fact, trends are inspired by designers, ideas of creating something new and different can come from anywhere. Take the example of the Little Black Dress, this trend never goes out. Almost every woman has a little black dress in her wardrobe purchased for that perfect evening.

► When you think about fashion, it’s not always about dressing up. Fashion opens numerous opportunities for you. You can choose to stay behind the camera and work on styling and if you prefer to be in front of the camera, you can venture fields like modeling and acting. Possibilities are endless, so one good thing about fashion is that it offers employment opportunities to those who dream about being a part of this industry.

► Additionally, following your own fashion statement makes you a more independent thinker. If you think you have the ability to carry the attire, then it fills you up with a great deal of confidence.

► It is like a magical fix for numerous issues like handling bullies and making new friends. Research claims that people who are always dressed up smartly are hardly harassed by bullies, because they feel that anybody with a high fashion sense may retaliate and can be a great threat for them.

► Fashion also helps you to make new friends easily. If you share the same interest like other people, then connecting with them won’t be difficult. You will have a common thing to base your discussions on.

► Teens get to create their own identity by following a certain trend which they like, thus they are not associated and tagged just like others. Having an impeccable and great fashion sense will easily get them a job in fashion land.

Negative Impact of Fashion ► One of the biggest drawbacks fashion has on our society is constant change. We all are aware that it changes constantly. With new year come new trends which if we don’t adopt, we are sure to be scrutinized by the fashion police in our neighborhood or school. For many fast-paced changes in fashion, it encourages people to buy clothes or other things unnecessarily. Which means splurging on things which won’t stay for long.

► Every new fashion trend is promoted in such a way that it becomes difficult for any teen or student to simply ignore it. Many fashion companies endorse celebrities to advertise for their clothing line, which results in many people buying that product. Why? Because their favorite celebrity has promoted it. They don’t care if it is right or wrong to buy it.

► The term ‘fashionsta’ sounds classy and glamorous but refers to somebody who follows fashion blindly. They want to wear it because that is the trend, they don’t care about whether it suits them or not, or if they are comfortable in it or not.

► A lot of money is wasted in buying new clothes, it indirectly promotes capitalism in society. People end up buying new clothes, when they already have old ones which they might not have worn even once. They discard old clothes to make space for new fashion trends in their wardrobe.

► “If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shabby furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shabby philosophies… It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it.” A very famous quote by Albert Einstein, he was always seen in old and worn out clothes. Clothes have the power to project us in a negative or a positive way, sometimes people judge others wrong because of the clothes worn by them.

► There is a difference between fad and style. Fad fashion trends are short-lived, they come and go within months. These are known as fads of fashion, true fashion means style. People who are ignorant about this fact follow fads of fashion rather than focusing on creating their own style.

► Stealing, robbing, and blackmailing are common ways for the youth to become fashionable. They are so attracted and addicted to fashion that they are ready to go to any length to get the look they desire. Teens have become so rebellious that they even wear things which look hideous on them.

► Apart from clothes, there are certain trends detrimental to our health. These include tattoos, body piercings, plastic surgeries, etc. Teens have become extremists, one of the negative impacts of fashion is teenagers piercing various body parts. People are ready to pierce their belly button, tongue, forehead, lips all in the name of fashion.

► The environment and upbringing also has a lot to do with how an individual gets influenced by fashion around him/her. Teens staying in the rural areas will throw on an attire completely different from a teen staying in a city.

► Many times, teens or students opt for clothes due to peer pressure, they want to blend in the crowd. This fear of being left out in the crowd has a negative impact on their mind, thus they go for such clothes.

► Nowadays, students focus more and more on fashion rather than focusing on their career. They want to know everything about fashion, but little about their school or college activities. This is one of the major negative impacts of fashion on students.

► Some girls try to look like models, so they compromise on their diet to become skinny. Also, people experimenting with their hair or skin often forget about the allergies or acne breakouts they need to face due to using such products. Being fashion-conscious can even make you anxious and depressed if you don’t feel you are dressed up to the mark.

► One of the major and worst impacts of fashion on our environment is the procedure and products used to manufacture these fashionable products. Often, animal fur is used in jackets and fur coats. Many birds are killed, and experiments are done on animals to check if the products would be allergic to humans.

On a concluding note, fashion won’t be harmful to our society if we learn to create a balance between our studies and interests. Everybody wants to look good, there is no harm in it, unless you become completely obsessed with it. Parents also need to keep an eye on their children’s activity, if they are studying or wasting their time grooming themselves. There is no harm in being fashionable, but don’t let it interfere with your lifestyle and career.

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Please check my essay: Does fashion industry has a bad effect on people´s lives?

Hello! I am here again trying to pass a new Toefl exam. Please check my essay I will wait for your comments.

Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives. Do you agree?

Fashion industry is said to have a bad effect on people´s lives. The increased importance gave to people’s appearance, the price of clothes and the use of animal’s skin could be a few reasons to believe it.

To start with, the success of this industry nowadays is the result of the increased importance gave to people’s appearance. It has become a big issue to be “well dressed” at any time in any situation. In my personal opinion this leads to a new way of discrimination.

In addition, brands make huge profit from the need to be well dressed. Designer clothes can reach prices that exceeds the real cost of materials and man labor. Most of the prices are set in base to “emotional branding” which consists in exaggerate prices to make consumers feel that they are buying something unique. For someone who follows every new collection this means spending a lot of money.

Finally, this industry is famous for using the skin of exotic animals to make various products. In times when people need to think more about the conservation of life and nature this point is certainly reproachable.

For all these reasons I believe that, in fact fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s life.

TOEFL listening discussions: A conversation between two university students (1)

Hi Karlangasfp, your writing is very good. It sounds natural and you only have a few small grammatical errors. But you just don’t have enough content to get a high score. You need to develop your body paragraphs more and provide more detailed and specific examples. Here are my other suggestions:

Hello, I write my essay again, what do you think about it?

Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people´s lives. Do you agree?

Fashion industry is a very profitable business in our society. Its importance is undeniable. People are more and more interested in being well dressed at any time in any situation. But, issues like the importance given to people´s appearance, the prices of clothes and the use of animal’s skin should be studied in order to stablish if its effects on people’s lives are positive or negative.

First of all, as the influence of fashion industry increases it is more common to find people that are segregated because of the brand of their clothes or their appearance. This new kind of segregation increases social inequity and becomes an important source of social resentment.

Moreover, brands make huge profit from clothes. It is a fact that prices excess the costs of material and labor. As a result, people who are fashion addicts can spend a large amount of money that could be used to pay medical insurance or mortgage.

Finally, fashion industry is known to use skins of exotic animals in a variety of products and some of these animals are prone to extinction because of this business.

Because of the unnecessary importance given to people´s appearance, the unethical way of setting prices of clothes and the use of skins of exotic animals, I believe that the effects of fashion industry in people´s lives are negative.

Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people s lives Do you agree

Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives.

Do you agree?

In this day and age the importance of our appearance is undeniable . While others have always argued about the negative impact that fashion put on human ‘s lives , in this essay , I will discuss clearly about the pivotal role of fashion that I totally agree that it has had an significant changes in the way people live. First and foremost , I suppose fashion betters the way people thinking about us . Doubtlessly wearing or putting on courteous outfits would probably makes us being in other’s good books . People now tend to count on to cooperate with someone that they believe to have a good attitude and enthusiasm to the job , and this mainly based on their appearance that partly reflects their personality to influence others. Nevertheless , the price of clothes is also highly sought after by all the whole society . With an enough earning to meet ends need , there is no concern about whether the costs would be prohibitively expensive . In the modern world which provides us an abundance of selection , it is not difficult to find the outfits that suit our tastes that is fashionable but not cost an arm and a leg . In conclusion , the field of fashion immensely play a hard chord in human ‘s lives on the grounds of its wonders . Having said that , I suppose this industry would probably an up-and-coming issue both now and in the future

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Essay evaluations by e-grader

Grammar and spelling errors: Line 1, column 67, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Don't put a space before the full stop Suggestion: . ...portance of our appearance is undeniable . While others have always argued about t... ^^ Line 1, column 162, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Put a space after the comma, but not before the comma Suggestion: , ...mpact that fashion put on human ‘s lives , in this essay , I will discuss clearly ... ^^ Line 1, column 178, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Put a space after the comma, but not before the comma Suggestion: , ...on put on human ‘s lives , in this essay , I will discuss clearly about the pivota... ^^ Line 1, column 275, Rule ID: EN_A_VS_AN Message: Use 'a' instead of 'an' if the following word doesn't start with a vowel sound, e.g. 'a sentence', 'a university' Suggestion: a ...on that I totally agree that it has had an significant changes in the way people l... ^^ Line 1, column 290, Rule ID: A_PLURAL[2] Message: Don't use indefinite articles with plural words. Did you mean 'change'? Suggestion: change ...ly agree that it has had an significant changes in the way people live. First and fore... ^^^^^^^ Line 2, column 19, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Put a space after the comma, but not before the comma Suggestion: , ...the way people live. First and foremost , I suppose fashion betters the way peopl... ^^ Line 2, column 80, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Don't put a space before the full stop Suggestion: . ...betters the way people thinking about us . Doubtlessly wearing or putting on court... ^^ Line 2, column 149, Rule ID: DID_BASEFORM[1] Message: The verb 'would' requires the base form of the verb: 'make' Suggestion: make ...ing on courteous outfits would probably makes us being in other’s good books . People... ^^^^^ Line 2, column 185, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Don't put a space before the full stop Suggestion: . ...bly makes us being in other’s good books . People now tend to count on to cooperat... ^^ Line 2, column 309, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Put a space after the comma, but not before the comma Suggestion: , ... good attitude and enthusiasm to the job , and this mainly based on their appearan... ^^ Line 3, column 13, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Put a space after the comma, but not before the comma Suggestion: , ...ality to influence others. Nevertheless , the price of clothes is also highly so... ^^ Line 3, column 15, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace Suggestion: ...ity to influence others. Nevertheless , the price of clothes is also highly soug... ^^ Line 3, column 90, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Don't put a space before the full stop Suggestion: . ...ly sought after by all the whole society . With an enough earning to meet ends nee... ^^ Line 3, column 132, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Put a space after the comma, but not before the comma Suggestion: , ...With an enough earning to meet ends need , there is no concern about whether the c... ^^ Line 3, column 211, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Don't put a space before the full stop Suggestion: . ...e costs would be prohibitively expensive . In the modern world which provides us a... ^^ Line 3, column 277, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Put a space after the comma, but not before the comma Suggestion: , ...ch provides us an abundance of selection , it is not difficult to find the outfits... ^^ Line 3, column 390, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Don't put a space before the full stop Suggestion: . ...ashionable but not cost an arm and a leg . In conclusion , the field of fashion... ^^ Line 3, column 393, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace Suggestion: ...ionable but not cost an arm and a leg . In conclusion , the field of fashion imm... ^^^ Line 4, column 14, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Put a space after the comma, but not before the comma Suggestion: , ...cost an arm and a leg . In conclusion , the field of fashion immensely play a h... ^^ Line 4, column 113, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Don't put a space before the full stop Suggestion: . ...n ‘s lives on the grounds of its wonders . Having said that , I suppose this indus... ^^ Line 4, column 132, Rule ID: COMMA_PARENTHESIS_WHITESPACE Message: Put a space after the comma, but not before the comma Suggestion: , ...rounds of its wonders . Having said that , I suppose this industry would probably ... ^^ Line 4, column 223, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace Suggestion: ...-coming issue both now and in the future ^^^

Transition Words or Phrases used: also, but, first, if, nevertheless, so, thus, while, i suppose, in conclusion

Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments

Performance on Part of Speech: To be verbs : 7.0 13.1623246493 53% => More to be verbs wanted. Auxiliary verbs: 5.0 7.85571142285 64% => OK Conjunction : 9.0 10.4138276553 86% => OK Relative clauses : 9.0 7.30460921844 123% => OK Pronoun: 27.0 24.0651302605 112% => OK Preposition: 35.0 41.998997996 83% => OK Nominalization: 6.0 8.3376753507 72% => OK

Performance on vocabulary words: No of characters: 1116.0 1615.20841683 69% => OK No of words: 232.0 315.596192385 74% => More content wanted. Chars per words: 4.81034482759 5.12529762239 94% => OK Fourth root words length: 3.90276135726 4.20363070211 93% => OK Word Length SD: 2.62566576464 2.80592935109 94% => OK Unique words: 143.0 176.041082164 81% => More unique words wanted. Unique words percentage: 0.616379310345 0.561755894193 110% => OK syllable_count: 341.1 506.74238477 67% => OK avg_syllables_per_word: 1.5 1.60771543086 93% => OK

A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by: Pronoun: 4.0 5.43587174349 74% => OK Article: 2.0 2.52805611222 79% => OK Subordination: 1.0 2.10420841683 48% => OK Conjunction: 1.0 0.809619238477 124% => OK Preposition: 5.0 4.76152304609 105% => OK

Performance on sentences: How many sentences: 10.0 16.0721442886 62% => Need more sentences. Double check the format of sentences, make sure there is a space between two sentences, or have enough periods. And also check the lengths of sentences, maybe they are too long. Sentence length: 23.0 20.2975951904 113% => OK Sentence length SD: 59.4458577194 49.4020404114 120% => OK Chars per sentence: 111.6 106.682146367 105% => OK Words per sentence: 23.2 20.7667163134 112% => OK Discourse Markers: 7.7 7.06120827912 109% => OK Paragraphs: 4.0 4.38176352705 91% => OK Language errors: 22.0 5.01903807615 438% => Less language errors wanted. Sentences with positive sentiment : 6.0 8.67935871743 69% => OK Sentences with negative sentiment : 1.0 3.9879759519 25% => More negative sentences wanted. Sentences with neutral sentiment: 3.0 3.4128256513 88% => OK What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?

Coherence and Cohesion: Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.159137460492 0.244688304435 65% => OK Sentence topic coherence: 0.0553984751805 0.084324248473 66% => OK Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.065228627342 0.0667982634062 98% => OK Paragraph topic coherence: 0.0949996726242 0.151304729494 63% => OK Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.0545092881231 0.056905535591 96% => OK

Essay readability: automated_readability_index: 12.8 13.0946893788 98% => OK flesch_reading_ease: 56.59 50.2224549098 113% => OK smog_index: 3.1 7.44779559118 42% => Smog_index is low. flesch_kincaid_grade: 11.1 11.3001002004 98% => OK coleman_liau_index: 10.91 12.4159519038 88% => OK dale_chall_readability_score: 8.79 8.58950901804 102% => OK difficult_words: 59.0 78.4519038076 75% => More difficult words wanted. linsear_write_formula: 10.5 9.78957915832 107% => OK gunning_fog: 11.2 10.1190380762 111% => OK text_standard: 11.0 10.7795591182 102% => OK What are above readability scores?

--------------------- More content wanted. Minimum 250 words wanted. Rates: 56.1797752809 out of 100 Scores by essay e-grader: 5.0 Out of 9 --------------------- Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.

How to write an essay? | B2 First (FCE)

The essay is a compulsory task to be completed in Part 1 of the writing section in the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) that is written to convince someone of something or to simply inform the reader about a particular topic.

There is no single, method of successful writing essay. However, this article will outline how to write an excellent essay   in the B2 First (FCE) exam by putting into practice some simple, but invaluable, tips.

You will learn how to write an essay, an example of essay structure , guidance , sample topics , model answers , useful tips , frequently asked questions and useful phrases and expressions.

B2 First (FCE) Essay: Structure example

An essay can be organised in different ways, but it is useful to write one idea in one paragraph and add a short introduction and conclusion .

writing a professional essay

FCE, CAE, CPE

Practice, write & improve, b2 first (fce) essay: how to write an essay (guide).

It is always an essay written for your teacher, and the start of the question wording is always the same:

In your English class you have been talking about [topic]. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay. Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

We will use the example question below in our writing essay  advice:

In your English class, you have been talking about society. Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

University should be free for everyone. Do you agree or disagree?

Write about: 1. Taxes 2. Opportunity 3. …………………… (your own idea)

Step 1: Briefly analyse your task…

Before you start writing your essay at B2 First exam you need to ask three questions:

What is the topic of the essay?

If you look at our example task you will notice that we are going to write about society .

In your English class, you have been talking about society . Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Knowing this, you can quickly prepare in your head all the words that you associate with this topic or even write them down.

What exactly do I have to include in my essay?

As you can see there are three points included in the task there are two that are already given in our example

Write about: 1. Taxes 2. Opportunity 3. …………………… ( your own idea) <= you have to come up with this one yourself 

The first point is taxes , the second is opportunity , and the third one is something you must come up with yourself!

We decided that the third point we would comment on would be economics

Who is going to read my essay?

In the FCE essay, it’s always your English teacher.  It means that you need to write with respect because she is a person with authority, therefore essay has to be written in a formal style.

What is formal style?

Formal language is professional and serious rather than relaxed and friendly and is used especially in official situations. It is usually reserved for essays and academic settings, while informal writing is used for more casual settings, like friendly text messages and creative writing.

Below are listed the biggest differences between formal and informal writing styles:

Contractions

It is advised to avoid contractions (shortened versions of words) in formal language, but they’re acceptable in informal language.

Unfortunately, the team could not replicate the results. (Formal)

Unfortunately, the team couldn’t replicate the results. (Informal)

Colloquial Phrases/Slang

Formal language is also marked by an absence of colloquial phrases and slang (words or phrases that are common only in everyday speech), but are typically used in informal language.

Everyone was disappointed . (Formal)

Everyone was bummed . (Informal)

First-Person Pronouns

Generally, first-person pronouns (like I and we ) are avoided when writing with formal language . However, it’s accepted (and expected) in informal language.

The students were asked to fill out the questionnaire. (Formal) We asked the students to fill out the questionnaire. (Informal)

Phrasal Verbs

When using formal language in your B2 writing, it is also recommended to replace phrasal verbs (proper verbs that are followed by one or more prepositions and act as a single verb).

It was something the protestors could endure . (Formal) It was something the protestors could put up with . (Informal)

Vocabulary Choice

Formal language tends to use longer, more complex vocabulary. Sometimes it is not recommended to use this type of vocabulary with informal language (depending on what you’re writing) because it can confuse or distract your audience.

They needed assistance while recovering from the outcomes of the hurricane. (Formal) They needed help while recovering from the effects of the hurricane. (Informal)

Step 2: Write an introduction

The purpose of the introduction is simply to tell the reader what the essay is about.

You can start your essay by referring to the question that was asked “ University should be free for everyone. Do you agree or disagree? ” and writing it in your own words . It is also worth mentioning the three points you are going to describe.

Introduction : There are many factors to consider when deciding if the university should be free or not. Among these are taxes, equality of opportunity, and the economy. 

You can use phrases such as:

This essay will discuss … This essay will focus on … In order to discuss …, I will analyse …

Step 3: Main body paragraphs… 

Main body paragraphs are the most important part of your essay so they should be the longest and one paragraph should comment on one point. See below:

Write about: 1. Taxes – the first paragraph should comment on “ taxes”  2. Opportunity – the second paragraph should comment on “ opportunity “ 3. …………………… (your own idea) – the third paragraph should comment on “economy”

In addition, every paragraph should start with a topic sentence, which is like an introduction to the paragraph and it tells the reader what exactly the paragraph is going to discuss.

Also, a good idea is to include different linking words/expressions to make sure that your ideas are well connected and in a logical order.

What is a topic sentence?

A topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph (which is also the most important )

A topic sentence essentially tells readers about the rest of the paragraph . If the topic sentence says “ Cats are very good pets for several reasons” , then every sentence after that needs to describe that subject.

For example:

Cats are very good pets for several reasons . (<=topic sentence / every sentence after it describes that subject =>) They are naturally good caregivers because they take care of their kittens, so they want to take care of their owners as well. Cats are quite clean, and if you train them to use a litter box, they require almost no cleanup in their areas.

What are the linking words/expressions?

These are words and expressions that help the text flow logically . These words act as signposts, helping the reader easily move from one idea to the next and see connections between sentences or paragraphs.

Linking words is especially useful when you want to indicate that you are going to explain something, provide an example use a time sequence, or present a contrasting point of view.

Between paragraphs:

To begin with, I would like to put forward […] The first possible action is, to improve physical education …[…] A second option would be. …  competitive attitudes that […]

Within a paragraph:

[…] which activity is better than the others. Another reason for not financing sports […]

You can see a model answer below:

First paragraph comment on  “Taxes” Paragraph 1: Firstly , a majority of people believe that a significant part of taxes should go to education. Opponents might say if someone can afford university, then he/she should pay for it. However , people with higher education have better wages and therefore pay higher income tax after graduation .

Second paragraph comment on “Opportunity ” Paragraph 2: Secondly, making university free for all, creates more opportunities for those from low-income backgrounds . Although they may still have difficulty meeting other costs such as accommodation , it makes the playing field more level.

Third paragraph comment on “….…… (your own idea)” : economy Paragraph 3: In addition , having an educated workforce is proven to help the economy grow. Namely , the more highly educated people there are, the higher the standard of living for everyone. Consequently , more people will be able to pay taxes to fund the education of future generations.

                  – topic sentence

                    – linking words/expressions

                    – interesting/topical vocabulary

Remember, you don’t have to tell the truth! The examiners won’t know, so if you don’t have experience or an opinion you can make something up!

Step 4: Conclusion 

The conclusion comes at the end of your essay, it summarizes the main idea of the essay.  You need to write a clear, justified conclusion. You can’t just say, ‘I agree’, or ‘I disagree.’ Think of it like this: you need to convince the examiner that your conclusion is correct.

In conclusion, a university should be free for everyone. It makes economic sense and ultimately benefits all members of society.

                  – linking words/expressions

Make sure your paragraphs are connected to your conclusion!

See Full Essay

There are many factors to consider when deciding if the university should be free or not. Among these are taxes, equality of opportunity, and the economy.

Firstly, a majority of people believe that a significant part of taxes should go to education. Opponents might say if someone can afford university, then he/she should pay for it. However, people with higher education have better wages and therefore pay higher income tax after graduation.

Secondly, making university free for all, creates more opportunities for those from low-income backgrounds. Although they may still have difficulty meeting other costs such as accommodation, it makes the playing field more level.

In addition, having an educated workforce is proven to help the economy grow. Namely, the more highly educated people there are, the higher the standard of living for everyone. Consequently, more people will be able to pay taxes to fund the education of future generations.

Get Your (FCE) Essay Checked!

B2 first (fce)  essay: example essays, fce essay sample 1.

In your English class you have been talking about the environment. Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.

Every country in the world has problems with pollution and damage to the environment. Do you think these problems can be solved?

Write about: 1. transport 2. rivers and seas 3. ………………………… (your own idea)

Student’s FCE Essay Answer:

DEVELOPMENT VS ENVIRONMENT

If we surf the web looking for pollution and environmental catastrophes, we will find out that every country in the world suffers them. This is a natural consequence of the struggle between development and environment.

If a country decided to live isolated from the rest of the world, living on what it can naturally grow and produce, it surely wouldn’t be highly polluted. But we all want exotic food and technological items from all over the world, so we have to pay the price.

Investing on electrical transport would benefit the environment a lot. Even more if this electricity came from a natural source of energy like wind, rivers and solar boards. It’s difficult to achieve this because petrol companies will fight against these actions.

We also have to take care of our rivers and seas. We all have heard about factories throwing highly toxic substances to rivers, without minimizing their poisoning effects. A really strict law should be applied to fine these factories and make them change their policy.

But what about ourselves? We also can do a lot! If, when possible, we bought larger packs of food, we would be producing less rubbish. And this is only an example!

FCE Essay Sample 2

In your English class you have been talking about the fashion industry. Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives. Do you agree?

Write about: 1. whether people’s appearance is important 2. the price of clothes 3. …………………… (your own idea)

The society we live today is characterised by technology in constant development, fast speed processes, information travelling and getting to people at a blink of an eye and a complex web of social networking. In this context, the fashion industry is becoming increasingly important and having a more and more paramount role in our lives.

On one hand, the fashion industry is undeniably a source of profit and income. It hires millions of people all over the world and generates millions of dollars every year. Furthermore, such profitable business is also believed to be able to spread and make known the culture of a people, encouraging and enhancing a better understanding of each other.

Nevertheless, for those who are neither impressed nor motivated by numbers and figures, the fashion industry is seen as one which segregates people, isolating those who not fit their laws and commands. It is stated that people place too much importance on appearance and the material, world, sadly true, and the fashion industry just spurs on such situation. Moreover, not only are the costs of fashion item unrealistically high, it is thought to be a money better spent on more pressing issues, such as poverty and hunger.

I do believe that the fashion industry, as it is today, has a harmful effect, because it values a minority of people in detriment to the majority. However, it has such a wide reach that, it put into a good use, it can save lives.

B2 First (FCE) Essay: Example topics

Fce example topic 1.

Your teacher has asked you to write your response to the following statement taken from a recent newspaper article:

Is it true that we help the environment when we plant a tree?

Write about:

• clear the air
•  ………….( your own idea)

FCE Example topic 2

Nowadays children are suffering from obesity, that was once considered to be meant for adults only. What are its causes and what solutions can be offered?

• busy lifestyle
• ………………(your own idea)

FCE Example topic 3

Is it better to be the oldest or the youngest in a family?

• role of older sibling

More than Practice Tests

B2 first (fce)  essay: tips.

• Make sure you know how to comment on all the points that are asked
• Invent information if you don’t have any ideas
• Divide the essay into paragraphs – put one answer in one paragraph
• Use advanced vocabulary when you can and formal language
• The final paragraph is the best place to express your opinion clearly.
• Revise your essay to correct mistakes.

B2 First (FCE) Essay: FAQ

How long should a b2 essay be.

You need to answer the question with between 140-190 words. 

If an answer is too long, you may get a lower score.   If you write 200 words, it’s not a problem. However, if you write 300 words, it’s a problem.

Should you do a plan?

Yes! You must make a plan to organise your essay writing . On the day of the exam, you will be stressed and feel pressure. A plan is your way of organising you text and your thoughts.

What happens if I write more than 190 words?

Nothing… Well, almost nothing. In the past for every 5 words extra, they took away a point, however, now they do not. It is not good to go over 190 words because of time, but you can. I wouldn´t write more than 200 words because they will probably lower the mark they give you for content. They will determine some of it to be unnecessary.

What counts as a complex language in the exam?

You MUST use complex language at B2 level . You must use attention-grabbing vocabulary and a variety of grammar structures. The passive voice, relative clauses, modal verbs, conditionals, reported speech and inversions all count as COMPLEX grammar forms and you must use them. Otherwise, you can address academic experts and pay someone to write your paper if you need help to write an essay for you.

B2 First (FCE) Essay: Useful Phrases & Expressions

Introduction.

The trend nowadays is towards …. Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of …. Recent research indicates that …. Hardly a week goes by without another report of ……….. appearing in the media. This raises the issue of whether …… Although most people would generally agree that ………… few would deny that ….

Stating your opinion

As I see it, It seems to me that ………… I would also say that …. I am convinced that …………… I am inclined to believe that ……………… There is no doubt in my mind that ……………… One of the drawbacks of ……. is ………. However, one of the benefits is that ………… Changing topic As regards the causes for this, ………….. Concerning the causes for this, ……… As for the causes, ………..

Presenting arguments

One justification is often given for ……….. is that…………….. Advocates/Proponents would claim that ……………… Those who object to …………….. often argue that ………………. Another objection is that …… However, it should not be forgotten that ………….. ……….. are opposed to ……………. on the grounds that …………….. From the point of view of …………….. According to ………………..

Describing causes

One factor which has led to ………… is ………….. One of the factors which has brought this about is ……… The problem often stems from ……………….. The situation has been exacerbated by ……………. ………….. has only made the situation worse. One consequence of ……………. is …………….

Proposing steps and measures

As regards the most appropriate response to this situation, one suggestion would be to ……… The first step to be taken would be to …….. To alleviate the situation people should ……….. In addition they ought to …………… To begin to tackle this situation society/individuals/the government need/s to This can only be dealt with if ………… To overcome this problem, ………….. Were the government to ……………, the situation would doubtless improve. Individuals can do a great deal to ………… The burden of responsiblity lies in the hands of …….. It is vitally important that ……… Legislation should be introduced to control …………….. It would be a grave error if we ……………..

All in all it seems to me that ……….. The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that ………………….. All things considered, …………. On balance, I tend to believe that ………… The world would surely be a better place to live in if ………….. If people stopped ….ing, we would have/ we could look forward to a …………… The prospects for the future will be bleak/grim unless ……………….

What is your level of English?

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Can Fashion Have a Positive Impact on the Planet?

By Emily Chan

We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.

In recent years, fashion has woken up to its need to reduce its environmental impact , from cutting down greenhouse gas emissions (an urgent task, considering the industry is responsible for between four to 10 percent of all emissions globally) to tackling issues such as deforestation and microplastics pollution.

Recently, though, focus has also turned to whether fashion can actually have a positive impact on the planet, with the likes of Burberry, Gucci-owner Kering and LVMH all launching major biodiversity initiatives to restore nature in the past year. And just this week, the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Fashion Taskforce, set up by Prince Charles, announced its Regenerative Fashion Manifesto , which outlines the need to move towards an industry that is both “climate and nature positive.”

To begin with, the taskforce—which includes major brands such as Burberry, Chloé and Stella McCartney—is launching a €1 million investment program in the Himalayas to restore biodiversity in the region, which is known for its cashmere, cotton and silk, as well as reviving traditional craft. “It’s the first in a long series of projects,” Federico Marchetti, former Yoox Net-a-Porter CEO and chair of the Fashion Taskforce , tells Vogue . “We’re committed to progress towards regenerative fashion—I do believe fashion can have a positive impact.”

“Regenerative” has become something of a buzzword in fashion of late. In short, it’s about replenishing our ecosystems in a way that allows them to continue to bounce back—moving away from the linear, extractive way in which the industry currently operates and towards a more circular, nature-based system. “It’s investing back in nature, in biodiversity,” Marc Palahi, chair of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance , which is partnering with the Fashion Taskforce on the Regenerative Fashion Manifesto, explains.

Given that so many of our clothes come directly from nature (be it cotton, wool or leather), a huge part of that is shifting towards regenerative agricultural practices, such as no-tilling , growing a range of different crops, and integrating livestock. “Regenerative agriculture is really the future,” Beth Jensen, director of climate+ strategy at the Textile Exchange , says. “It’s about working in harmony with nature, increasing biodiversity, addressing water concerns [and] everything that’s related to soil health. It’s our ability to source materials moving forward in a way that potentially gives more than it’s taking from the environment.”

Maggie Marilyn is one of a growing number of brands, including the likes of Patagonia , Eileen Fisher and Christy Dawn, focusing on regenerative agriculture. The New Zealand-based label currently works with Good Earth Cotton , the world’s first climate positive cotton farm, and Lake Hawea Station , a climate positive merino wool farm, as well as recently releasing a Regenerative Agriculture report outlining its strategy for the next 18 months.

“We have to keep constantly pushing forward and figuring out how we can do better,” founder Maggie Hewitt explains of the brand’s approach. “Our mission at Maggie Marilyn is to use fashion to create a better world—it’s really why we exist as a business. [It’s not enough to] just keep using organic cotton or Responsible Wool Standard wool.”

For Hewitt, having a close relationship with suppliers is crucial when it comes to transitioning towards a more regenerative-based system. “We can’t really hope to talk about regenerative agriculture until fashion brands actually understand where their fibers are grown,” she says, adding that collaboration is key. “All of our relationships are partnerships; it’s not about brands dictating how they should be farming or growing their fiber.”

Given the breadth of practices that regenerative farming covers, finding a definition that all parties can agree on remains a challenge. “That was something that we really struggled with, [as well as] agreeing on the mechanism for measuring how you’re regenerative—there isn’t an agreed-upon certification,” Hewitt says.

The question of how you measure the impacts of regenerative agriculture is particularly important when it comes to carbon sequestration, or absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere—one of the much lauded benefits of improved soil health. Critics have described the difficulties of actually keeping carbon in the soil, as well as pointing to “faulty” carbon accounting . “When you try to look at the very specific amounts of carbon that are sequestered and for how long, there’s really still an evolving scientific consensus on this,” Jensen explains. Still, the overall benefits of regenerative agriculture are clear. “At a broader level, we absolutely have enough data and evidence to show that this is the right direction to go in,” the expert adds.

Beyond regenerative farming practices, material innovators are also working towards creating a positive impact on the planet. Newlight Technologies’s AirCarbon material—a new alternative to leather—involves marine organisms that convert methane and carbon dioxide into a molecule that can then be melted down. “With AirCarbon, we show that products can be made with captured carbon,” Mark Herrema, CEO of Newlight Technologies, says. “And if you can imagine a fashion industry [where] everything was made with carbon that would otherwise be in the air—that’s a really compelling objective.”

By Leah Faye Cooper

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By Hannah Jackson

While it’s incredible that AirCarbon is already carbon negative, scaling up remains difficult—although a new partnership with Nike is a start. “People are still hearing about and learning about AirCarbon for the first time,” Herrema continues. “I think as that gets more and more momentum, hopefully that builds more and more demand.”

While it’s crucial that the fashion industry looks at how it can have a positive impact, investing in biodiversity projects, regenerative agriculture and bio-based materials will all take time to make a real difference. In the meantime, fashion’s need to urgently cut its greenhouse gas emissions and tackle its overconsumption problem isn’t going to go away. “I don’t think that there’s a silver bullet,” Hewitt says. “It’s [got to be] a combination of things: how we grow our natural fibers, how we sell and distribute clothing, operating within a circular economy.”

Can fashion truly have a positive impact on the planet moving forward? “We have a long way to go, [but] the day that we think that fashion can’t have a positive impact—well, what’s the point?” Hewitt concludes. “I wouldn’t keep pushing for this if I didn’t believe we can.”

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So y such, ¿sabes cuál es su diferencia?

¿Qué es el Advanced (CAE) y en qué consiste?

Opinion essay sobre the fashion industry

• Archivado en DESTACADOS , Opinion essay

Esto es un opinion essay sobre la industria de la moda. Lo ha escrito una seguidora de La Web del Inglés, Carolina S., a la cual agradezco su voluntad de compartir sus conocimientos y aprendizaje con tod@s nosotr@s! MUCHAS GRACIAS!!

En  rojo  vamos a poner los  errores y en  azul  las  cosas buenas , tanto de vocabulario (porque sea adecuado para el nivel) como de gramática, que le dan nivel y calidad al writing.

Nivel del writing: FIRST CERTIFICATE (CAMBRIDGE)

Ésta es la tarea:

In your English class you have been talking about the fashion industry. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives.

Do you agree?

Write about:

• whether people’s appearance is important
• the price of clothes
• …………………… (your own idea)

Y éste es el writing de Carolina:

Nowadays , our lives are determined by what others think about of us. The main reason for this , it is the increasing importance of fashion industries during the last years.

Firstly , the way we show ourselves in public makes people imagine the personality we have. That’s why we choose clothes depending on the latest fashion patterns. Secondly , the price of clothes has been increased in order to enrich big companies. Consequently , there are a lot of items in the market that the middle class can’t afford . Besides , this has led to the well-known sales period when people spend a lot of money in on clothes, even if they don’t need them.

Another idea is referring Another important point is to the influence of our surroundings social circle . That is, we have the necessity to be part of a group, so we behave according t o our friends. If you wore any piece of clothing different from what is usual, you would feel everybody looking at you in the street.

To sum up , in my view , the fashion industry has the power to control people’s lives. Whatever they set as a trend , that would people wear to be pleased with the society ??? = Designers would wear whatever they set as a trend so that society get interested in those trends

ASPECTOS POSITIVOS

• Tienes bastantes cosas positivas, todas las que están en azul. La estructura del writing, separado en párrafos y usando los conectores.
• 2nd Conditional
• According to
• In order to
• Different from
• Present perfect
• Depending on
• Good vocabulary = can’t afford, has led to, well-known, set as a trend, enrich.
• Los errores que tienes no son muy graves. Estúdiatelos para no volveros a cometer y mejorar en futuros writings y de cara al examen.

ASPECTOS A MEJORAR

• Vamos a analizar la siguiente oración: The main reason for this, it is the increasing importance… = aquí tienes el sujeto (the main reason for this) y otro sujeto (it) + verbo (is). Recuerda que la estructura de la oración en inglés es: S + V + C = no debemos repetir el sujeto, que en este caso es “the main reason”, por tanto, eliminamos “it”. Y otra cosa, entre sujeto y verbo, nunca se pone coma.
• En los últimos años = during the last years o in the last years = necesitamos el artículo the.
• No entiendo el conector que has utilizado, that’s why, que significa por eso.
• Spend money + on sth (no in), igual que waste money + on sth, pero invest money + in.
• La manera de introducir una nueva idea de “Another idea is referring” no la veo apropiada. Puedes usar: Another important point is the influence of…, por ejemplo.
• Surroundings = es más alrededdores de un lugar físico. Aquí te refieres al ámbito social y cultural en el que te mueves, por eso te pongo “social circle”, que expresa esa idea, a los amigos y conocidos que tienes.
• No entiendo la última frase del writing. A pesar de que te señalo el principio como positivo, porque me gusta el whatever, y el vocabulary “set as a tren”, no entiendo la la relación de la primera parte con la segunda. Te he dado una opción para cambiar la oración.
• Las instrucciones de la tarea te hacen una pregunta: “ Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives”. Do you agree? = Yo respondería esta pregunta al principio, diciendo que sí estás de acuerdo (eso es lo que manifiestas con tus argumentos y en el último párrafo del writing), pero debes expresarlo en el primer párrafos y así queda claro, porque yo según voy leyendo asumo que estás de acuerdo, pero no lo has expresado así.

Bien, pues esto es todo. De nuevo dar las gracias a esta seguidora por su aportación con la Web del Inglés. Recordad siempre esta cita de Winston Churchill: If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it. Por tanto, si te ha gustado esta explicación, no olvidés hacer click en algunos de los iconos de abajo  g  + share ,  M e gusta  o en  Tweet  para que todos tus amigos puedan verlo también.

Si tú también quieres que te corrijamos tu writing, ponte en contacto con nosotros en [email protected]. Aquí puedes ver la información al respecto: http://lawebdelingles.com/te-corrijo-tu-writing

• First Certificate , opinion essay , writing

1 comentario

• Donna Rowan el 21 octubre, 2017 a las 23:24

What score would this essay receive? I know how to make corrections etc but what is a reasonable score for this and can you please explain how many points should be deducted for errors such as no paragraphing. Thank you so much, Donna Rowan [email protected]

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