Grace Todd, Campus Carrier copy editor
Fast fashion tends to be a buzz word. I have seen many long and short form video essays discussing it and what it means for our society, and although people normally list pros and cons for both sides of the argument concerning fast and sustainable fashion, I can confidently say that fast fashion truly holds only cons.
There are ethical and sustainable issues that come into play when making clothes for fast fashion: underpaid workers, child labor, labor abuse, deforestation, displacement of species and natural resource depletion. We must take care of our planet through helping our fellow people and taking care of our earth.
Trend cycles have increased due to our consumerist whims which has led to companies like Shein or Temu dominating the market. Other companies like H&M, American Eagle and Nike also need to be held accountable in how and where they make their products. Many boutiques also fall prey to not questioning where their merchandise comes when ordering it.
As a generation and society, I believe we need to hold each other more accountable to our purchasing habits. This is true for all realms of goods like books, drinks and decor. Thrift stores are full of many previously loved pieces that have stood the test of time because they are quality pieces. They carry all of the trends that end up cycling back around to the present day.
Another thing I like about thrift stores is that they are helpful when it comes to finding your personal style. You are able to experiment at a low price while most times being able to donate to a cause. Thrift shopping is sustainable, however there are people who treat it like fast fashion. My response to situations like these is that there will always be people who misuse sustainable options.
For example, Teslas can benefit the environment, but it can be difficult to see the benefit when celebrities buy three Teslas until another more luxurious car comes out. Everything is a moderation game and it takes practice.
My first few years of thrifting involved a lot of buying pieces I did not necessarily love because they were cheap and why not? As I have gotten older, I have realized what buying thrifted pieces is about and why it is important to do so.
When I buy an item from a thrift store, I am given the chance to give it a new life. This item has been worn by one or more people and I am the next owner who will be graced to wear it. Clothing isn’t just cloth. It is made from living things! The clothing we wear comes from trees that have sheltered animals and have allowed us to breathe.
When I wear a piece of clothing, I want to have the reassurance that it was made by trees that are being replanted and hands that are treated fairly. It is important that we have clothes that can stand the test of time for us and those beyond us. Our clothes should not be consistently clogging landfills after being worn once. Be better to your clothes. Be better to the world.