Kathmandu, Sept. 5 -- Fast fashion has been quietly reshaping how Nepalis shop and dress. From TikTok-driven trends to the flood of cheap imports from China, India, and Thailand.

Just as this culture of 'wear and throw' spreads faster than ever, a new wave of industrial interest is brewing, threatening to deepen the crisis. With the United States imposing steep tariffs on garments from India and Bangladesh, international brands are now eyeing Nepal as the next low-cost garment hub. Indian companies, too, see Nepal as an opportunity. But what seems like economic potential carries heavy risks. For a country already struggling with waste and weak regulation, this combination of fast fashion consumption and industrial garment production coul...