A billion is a huge number. Do you know that a billion items of clothing are produced each year? Dido you also know that 3 out of 5 fashion garments end up in a landfill within a year of purchase? When was the last time you wore that shirt that you bought for a fashion trend that you ended up stuffing back in your closet? Fast fashion can be defined as cheap, trendy clothing, that is sampled from the catwalk or celebrities, and is mass produced very quickly to meet consumer demands. Buying cute clothes is not worth the detrimental effects that fast fashion has on the environment. Not only is shopping sustainably good for the environment, but it’s also good for your wallet.
There are many ways that you can reduce your urges to buy fast fashion. First, try to lessen your trips to the mall or buying from websites like Shein. Instead, there are many alternatives! Thrift stores are a very good one to consider. Buying secondhand clothing allows you to save money and save the environment. When you buy an item that’s already been made then less resources are used. Thrifting also prevents clothes from ending up in the landfill, therefore creating less waste. Additionally, many thrift stores are non-profit and will go towards charity! If going to thrift stores and spending hours looking around isn’t your thing, then you can try secondhand websites or apps like Depop. These apps allow you to buy clothes directly from people so you can know exactly where your clothes are coming from. Another really fun thing to do is go to flea markets! My friend and I love going to these because they have really unique and vintage pieces. Flea markets are usually more expensive, but the clothing items are one of a kind and good quality. My favorite flea markets to go to are the Rose Bowl Flea Market and the Melrose Flea Market. Melrose is one of my favorite places to go because almost all of the stores are secondhand. Aside from flea markets, stores like American Vintage and 2nd street sell trendy, high quality second hand streetwear and vintage clothes for cheaper than when you would buy them in retail.
If you still decide to go to the mall, there are some things that you should remember. Before you buy a shirt or a pair of pants, you should try and think of three outfits that you can wear the item with. If you can’t think of at least three, then you should rethink your purchase. You should always aim for quality over quantity. Sure it seems like a good deal to buy 10 shirts for 20 dollars on a cheap website, but is it really worth all that waste if your shirt falls apart after two washes? Try to avoid buying items just because it’s trending. Trends come and go, and you’ll probably end up wearing it a couple times before discarding it once the trend dies down. This advice comes from personal experience. I have bought so many items solely because it was trending, and ended up wearing them once before shoving it in the back of my closet. Instead, you should invest in staple pieces for your wardrobe that you know will last you years. Another thing you can do is trade clothes with your friends. Whenever my friends and I get sick of wearing our outfits, we would either borrow or trade them. Your friend might be sick of wearing a shirt, but it can seem brand new to you. An alternative to trading clothes is to alter your own clothes. Whether it’s redying your white jeans or cutting up a shirt, it’s fun to get creative with your wardrobe!
Joyce Lee,Grade 11
Crescenta Valley Highschool
