Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

The Gen Z Perspective: Fast fashion’s true price tag

The Gen Z Perspective: Fast fashion's true price tag

A lot of the time, I catch myself scrolling through clothes while online shopping and thinking to myself: These prices are almost too good to be true.

However, that cheap price for the trendiest clothing tag hides a complex story. Specifically, a story that involves environmental damage, low wages and a global supply chain under growing pressure. As I was researching sustainable brand initiatives, I came across a lot of information about the shifting dynamics of fast fashion. With demand changing faster than ever, costs rising as tariffs come into play and environmental debt ballooning, the economics of fast fashion are becoming increasingly unsustainable.

At the same time, consumer awareness is evolving. With Gen Z being a huge target market specifically for fast fashion, more and more of us are becoming vocal about environmental justice and the ethical sourcing standards that fast fashion fails to uphold. 

A lot of us have been shifting our priorities and turning to the resale market, where platforms like Depop and Poshmark are popping off and turning “secondhand” into something vintage and stylish. Not only this, but brands are taking note of this generational shift as many launch “conscious” collections and start to chip away at overproduction (read last week’s column on circularity for more info😉).

It is hard to grasp the vast environmental impact without breaking it down with statistics. So, here it goes:

  • According to the UN Environment Programme, it’s the second-largest consumer of water and is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions. Spoiler alert: This is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
  • This race to the racks consumes vast amounts of resources: 700 gallons of water for a single cotton shirt, 2,000 gallons for a pair of jeans and enough microfibers from synthetic fabrics to account for 35% of all ocean microplastic pollution, according to Business Insider. And because these garments are designed for rapid turnover, a whopping 85% of textiles end up in landfills each year.
  • Roughly 80% of apparel workers are young women age 18 to 24, often working in unsafe conditions for poverty wages. Tragedies like the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, which killed 1,134 workers, expose the real human cost of cheap fashion. 

The future doesn’t have to look like this. The demand for low prices is pushing suppliers to cut corners, putting labor rights and environmental protections at risk. “Slow fashion” movements urge customers to buy less, choose better and keep clothes for longer. And if we’re being real, the most sustainable garment is the one you already own.

Next time you think you found the cutest $3 going out top, ask yourself: if you aren’t paying the real price, who is?

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.