My Personal Crusade Against Fast Fashion
Since its inception, I have always despised the term influencer, and its usage in media.
From the top of your soap box, what are you trying to influence me to do at the end of the day—buy deodorant or nail polish? It’s a little pathetic if you ask me.
My exception goes to those who use their platform trying to advocate for a specific cause, especially without being paid to do so. One such cause has been mass consumption and fast fashion. Between being pumped to DEATH with questionably accurate targeted ads, and the instantaneous and oversaturated nature of the internet, it has become increasingly difficult not to over consume. But because of individuals who made it their mission to make people aware of this point, I have really been trying to be more mindful of the familiar and somewhat comforting “Add to Cart” button.
I really like to vary my outfits, and constantly want to put new ones together because clothing is my passion. My Instagram account knows this too, due to the aforementioned targeted ads. It has become increasingly difficult for me not to buy new things at an accelerated rate, since trends are moving more quickly than ever and it’s easy to feel left out. The toughest part is that fast fashion items are so cheap, and you are encouraged to buy in bulk ie: Free shipping over $50, or BOGO sales. But something needs to change.
I decided to make this website for a number of reasons, the main one is to share my little findings in life with my friends and family. I am not going to change the world with an online journal, but I would like to instead encourage or dare I say influence the people in my personal life to consider things from another perspective. I want to be able to elaborate on things that an Instagram post could never dream of doing. So here are some steps I am trying to take to better myself and my impulse buying habits.
Rent the Runway
My favorite line I’ve heard recently in regard to trends is: would you buy this item 3 years ago? If the answer is no, then the item isn’t as classic as you think it is, and you shouldn’t buy it.
Since dyeing my hair vibrant colors as opposed to naturals, I learned not all clothing will work with bright hair colors, something that never really applied to me as a brunette, or a blonde for that matter. This unexpected fact is part of the reason I have an even bigger case of the “closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear” mentality. It gets worse realizing that dress very differently for work than I do in my spare time. All of this stacked on top of the fact that I live in New York, with distinctive seasons and shifts in climate. It’s EXHAUSTING trying to figure out what to wear sometimes.
One way I have been able to fight my ever present “need” to buy things is through rentals. I first learned about Rent the Runway a few years ago when I was lamenting having to buy a new dress for every wedding I went to. Fast forward after the pandemic, and I wanted to rent a dress for my friends’ wedding, and to my surprise I found so much more. Not only can you rent a formal dress for a single occasion, you can actually subscribe to them for monthly closet updates, that could even be for casual outings or even for work.
I signed up for a monthly subscription to test it out and rented 4 items for $100 (one of which I ended up wearing to the wedding). Although this sounds like a huge amount of money, remember that these are high quality items that are worth hundreds each. To be able to wear a piece infinitely in a month for around $25 a piece is pretty impressive. Think about all of the $20-$30 dresses you’ve bought once and are rotting in your closet, when they could be loved and enjoyed over and over again by others.
So far, I have only rented dresses, because that’s what suits my personal style this summer—but they also offer blouses, skirts, pants, jackets, outerwear, purses and other accessories. With a subscription, you can also buy the item at a discount if you really fall in love.
If you don’t want to subscribe but instead want to rent something for a one-off event, dinner, or even a photoshoot you can select the date range that works best for you. Because their home base is in NJ and I am in NY, the items usually come in 1-2 days after placing my order. I also like that with this option, you can opt for a second size in case you’re unsure of the fit or if you are between sizes. The only drawback here is you have to send the item back within 4 days of receiving it.
The cool part is that your order comes in reusable fabric packaging that you can zip up and mail it back in. No boxes, no tape, no bubble wrap. All you have to do is take the shipping label and flip it, before dropping it off at a FedEx site (I go to Walgreens, but any provider will do). They even repurpose the hangers and plastic sleeves which I really appreciate because I hate single use plastic packaging. Additionally, they have an entire section of their website dedicated to their cleaning procedures, which I appreciate after the 2020 shutdown.
My Cons: with the subscription you are only able to purchase items that are currently in circulation, so if your size is sold out when you need it you are SOL. Some items are highly sought after, so if you want one of those items it might be easier to rent separately. You can redeem your swap at any point in the month, so if you don’t have a shoot or specific date planned where you need tue item, it’s not a big deal. But please keep this in mind!
The only other thing I’d watch out for is if you are unsure about your size, do as much research as possible! The website encourages all renters to leave detailed reviews on their rentals, so take advantage of this feature. Each review includes the renter’s height, measurements and body shape. Some even include photos which I find the most helpful. I have ordered a few items that have not matched the colors of the listing perfectly, so trust the reviews and look at every picture of you can. Learn from my mistakes!!
Buying Secondhand
Before you come for me, I don’t of course just mean thrifting!
…But ok it’s a start! I should make a list of my favorite thrift stores in and out of NYC one of these days. But yes, visit your local Goodwill, or even better, a consignment store for some retail therapy that’s a little less guilt inducing.
Another way to second hand shop is to utilize Poshmark, Depop and Mercari. I know Facebook is archaic to some, but there are plenty of Facebook groups dedicated to selling items that fall into specific aesthetics and fashions. I also like to use these platforms as a seller, not for monetary gain, but instead to know my piece is going to a good home.
An even better way to do this is through swaps with your friends! If you have something you don’t think you’ll use anymore, and have a friend who could fit in it, see if they’d like it. I always try to pick out specific items that remind me of people and offer them up before trying to declutter the item another way. A few of my favorite pieces have actually come second hand from friends over the years.
Sewing and Altering Clothes
As a former cosplayer, I am no stranger to the sewing machine. This is a skill that I’m still working on and improving, but we’ve come a long way.
Sewing may seem daunting, but there are a few easy ways to use the skill without building a piece from scratch:
Alterations are a great way to expand the lifespan of an existing garment ! If you are a person who buys online and is never sure of their size— this is for you. ALWAYS go with the bigger size. You can easily tweak the side seams on a shirt or dress to fit you. It can even be done by hand and taken out if your weight fluctuates.
Another thing you can do is turn a simple dress into a two piece set by cutting and hemming it and adding elastic to the skirt.
It’s also amazing what a simple trim or the addition of buttons can do to add your own personal flair to an otherwise basic clothing piece.
If you do take up sewing, remember that there is a learning curve. You aren’t going to be amazing over night— some person online may even tell you your clothes look like something out of the “bargain bin.” But don’t stop trying! Start with easy projects, and try to repurpose your fabric from old projects or even clothes you were planning on donating, to incorporate to new ones. I am still a work in progress but I’ve come a long way since my humble start.
Just make sure not to hoard fabric! It’s definitely counterproductive, and I’m a little guilty of this… (but getting better 😖)
Final Thoughts
I want to make a clear point that this is just my hot take on this subject matter. I am in no way trying to bash people who can’t afford anything but fast fashion. Sites like Shein and Amazon make fashion accessible to communities that used to be excluded from trends. Everyone is allowed to feel good about themselves and self expression through clothing is a great way to accomplish this,
I am attempting to direct this at people with disposable income who choose to buy fast fashion in bulk and then mass purge their closets after one or two wears. Thrift stores are overwhelmed by the amount of donations coming in daily, and your donations could be going to a landfill. So there’s a good chance your quality pieces (with a long life span) you’re donating could be in a landfill while a Forever 21 shirt sits on a hanger only to fall apart after 2 more wears. I am trying my best to be just as thoughtful about my donations and where things are going after I use them.
I notice a lot of clothing I used to donate were things that extended family members and other people who didn’t know me would get. And I get it, I love clothes— but I don’t need them. I now I try to encourage people to avoid getting me clothes and opt for experiences (or nothing !). For the most part, people really appreciate this because if they love you, they want you to love the gift and use it. Communication is always key. If you don’t feel comfortable, maybe it’s your s/o’s parents— communicate through your partner. These small changes really do add up.
Anyway! I hope this helped but I’m always here for an open conversation. I’m not trying to tell you what to do, instead offering my perspective. Maybe you’re already doing all of these things, or maybe I didn’t mention something that you do. I really want to learn, so tell me :)