Final answer:
Environmental scanning accelerates fashion changes by pushing the industry to innovate and react to consumer demands for ethical and sustainable practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Environmental scanning in the context of the fashion industry refers to the process of analyzing and considering various external factors such as social, economic, and environmental issues that can impact fashion trends and consumer buying habits. Given the statement, it is evident that environmental scanning plays a significant role in fashion by influencing designers and retailers to adapt to consumer demands for more ethical and sustainable practices. Therefore, environmental scanning accelerates the pace of fashion changes as it compels the industry to innovate and evolve in response to consumer concerns about the environment and ethical issues.