Participating in Fast Fashion: How to Make Amends
A few years ago, during the 2020 lockdown, it was just me in my room with a debit card on my bedside table. I found myself in a deep hole of advertisements and promotions on social media with only one thing to do: buy.
The cycle only continued. Seeing things I liked on my phone, purchasing from an unsustainable site, and feeling temporary exhilaration when receiving the item – the cycle only continued. After a few months, I started to see articles and videos talking about an unfamiliar subject to me: fast fashion.
I had heard of this term, but I didn’t know the severity of it or even really what it was. Guilt filled my stomach watching disenfranchised garment workers and the climate’s health decrease; was the growing pile of clothes in my room really hurting the climate? Over time, I educated myself on the destructive issue of fast fashion and the things I could do to help. I knew I couldn’t dwell on the past, but I could focus on my future choices.
One of the ways I made changes to my shopping habits was by educating myself on fast fashion’s impacts on our society. Overconsumption, climate issues, harmful working conditions, dropshipping, stolen designs —the list goes on. Just educating myself on the issues alone helped me understand the dangerous impacts fast fashion has. It made me cut frequent fast fashion shopping out of my life and learn to be more mindful when shopping. You don’t have to spend the majority of your free time researching these effects, but simply acknowledging the issue can change your perspective. With the knowledge in the back of your mind, it can lessen urges to buy the products advertised on one’s phone through social media and influencers.
A major factor in my experience of participating in overconsumption and fast fashion was being influenced by the people on my phone, primarily TikTokers. Still, I had to understand that, nevertheless, I was in control of my actions. I could choose if I wanted to purchase a product or not.
Learning to control your urges can be hard but, over time, you can learn not to overconsume. Ask yourself questions such as “Will I wear this multiple times?” or “Do I like this or is it just trendy?” Avoiding purchases for the sole reason of them being inexpensive and/ or trendy will not only decrease the amount of fast fashion sales, but also benefit your bank account. Make sure you are wearing everything in your closet and that it reflects your personal style, not imitating Instagram influencers’!
Ever since I started only buying second-hand clothes, I feel my style has improved immensely. Spending time in a thrift store, picking out pieces I liked instead of copying what someone else liked, gave me a more open and creative mindset towards fashion. Although thrifting can be an exciting experience at times, it can also be hard to find pieces that you enjoy at your local thrift shops.
Luckily, there are apps and websites where you can search for specific clothing items, or even just the aesthetic. Personally, I found Depop and Poshmark very helpful when looking for clothes. If I see something I truly like on social media, I can find that exact item second-hand for a more affordable price and shop sustainably. When I just want to browse, I search for keywords, oftentimes a certain decade I enjoy the style of, such as the 90s or 60s. Not only are you shopping sustainably and more affordably, but you’re also supporting small businesses.
Although making the switch from a fast fashion shopper to a sustainable one seems difficult and unobtainable, trying it out won’t hurt. While educating yourself may make you feel guilty for your past choices, it’s important to remember that you are making a change now. The next time you are buying a garment, check a second-hand clothing website first. You can’t do anything about the past, so focus on what you can do now. It may not seem like you are making a difference, but a little goes a long way. Your future choices can impact the decisions of many and create a positive chain reaction in the fashion industry.
Written by Kara Haas
Kara is a high school student who is an aspiring writer. She is hoping to study journalism in college to write about the fashion industry in the future. As well as having a passion for writing, Kara also loves to study fashion and try new, different looks out of her comfort zone. In her free time she loves baking, trying new makeup looks, and watching cartoons.