Fast fashion, the rapid production of inexpensive clothing by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends, notoriously contributes to excessive resource consumption in multiple ways.

Firstly, the raw materials required to produce fast fashion contribute significantly to resource consumption. These garments are often made from non-renewable sources, such as petroleum-based fibers like polyester, and resource-intensive crops like cotton, which requires large quantities of water and pesticides for cultivation. 

In terms of water consumption, the numbers are staggering. On average, it takes about 2,700 liters of water to produce just one cotton t-shirt - the equivalent to what one person drinks over a period of 2.5 years. Moreover, wet processes like dyeing and finishing typically consume enormous volumes of water and produce a lot of wastewater.

Secondly, fast fashion encourages a ‘throwaway’ culture, owing to the poor quality of these clothes designed to be worn only a few times before they wear out or go out of style. This rapid turnover of trends results in a constant cycle of production and disposal, consuming considerable resources at every stage, from fabric manufacturing to garment assembly.

Furthermore, the energy consumed in the production and transportation of these low-cost, high-volume products is substantial. Most fast fashion production occurs in developing countries where coal, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, powers many factories. These clothes are then transported globally, adding to the products' carbon footprint.

In addition to these factors, the numerous shipments, excessive packaging, high return rates for online shopping, and the consequent waste management involved with discarded garments contribute to the additional resource consumption spurred by fast fashion.

In essence, fast fashion’s speed, disposability and volume lead to a significant strain on natural resources, posing a critical environmental challenge that needs addressing.