A Closer Look at Mass Production in Fashion
Hi friends!
Welcome back to my blog page where I share my thoughts, experiences, and curiosities about all things fashion.
In my last post, I wrote about the industrialization of the fashion industry and how that has resulted in a culture of fast fashion, trend following, and reduced originality. This time, I want to focus on exploring resistance strategies and touch on environmental impacts. And trust that I will keep it real!
As technology advances and fashion gets “faster” I want you to feel empowered to make intentional choices about purchasing clothing that are sensible for your lifestyle, interests, and (most importantly) your budget.
Before we talk about solutions, I’d like to share some data that illustrates the environmental degradation that the fashion industry enables. As the fast fashion model depends on a quick turnover of garments, several tons of waste are being dumped into landfills, oceans, and developing countries each day. Further, the hyper-production of garments puts a strain on natural resources like water and land. Consider that it takes 2700 liters of freshwater to make a single cotton t-shirt, which is enough to hydrate one individual for over 2 years. And then there’s the fact that the fashion sector is considered the second-largest industrial polluter, contributing to 10% of global pollution.
If you’re overwhelmed or alarmed or scared–you should be!
As a long time earth lover (or tree hugger, according to my dad) learning these facts several years ago propelled me to change my consumption habits.
For the past 7 years I have reduced my purchasing of first hand clothing to about 4 garments a year. This means that the majority of my clothes are from thrift stores, which I must acknowledge takes lots of time and effort to undergo. Many of my peers tell me that they feel overwhelmed by thrift stores or that it’s impossible to find a specific item they're searching for.
If you resonate with these concerns or have less time available to sift through racks of clothes, I would highly recommend online thrift stores. Some of my favorites are DePop and ThredUp, which are pretty affordable. I also love The Real Real if shopping for more luxury and designer brands.
Shopping second-hand is part of a larger movement called Slow Fashion, which aims to shift our shopping values from quantity to quality, emphasizing low waste, and supporting ethical working conditions.
Adopting these principles in our own lives doesn’t need to be extreme or dramatic, but it’s crucial to keep in mind the power of consumer choice. By this, I mean that each time we spend our hard-earned coin on something, we are supporting an effort to create more of that. So, not to call anyone out, but when we shop on Shein and Temu(but also Zara, H&M, and many more) we are essentially funding unethical working conditions, environmental harm, and more overconsumption.
And I don’t want you to feel at blame–because the big issues are hardly ever the fault of consumers. Large corporations create, perpetuate, and benefit from us buying from their fast fashion brands—-and our other options are limited. So whether you choose to revolutionize and adopt slow fashion or just begin to dabble in second hand clothing and mindful consumption, I urge you to be intentional about what you are supporting.
To demonstrate how simple this can be, let me give you a few tips on how to get started on your own journey to slow fashion!
The next time you buy an article of clothing, be mindful and intentional about the purchase.
Ask yourself: how does it make me feel? Do I trust this brand? Is the piece adding value to my closet and life? Can I have this for a long time?
Even if you’re shopping on fast fashion sites, remember: buy less, but better. If you have 6 items in your shopping cart, see if you can narrow it down to just two pieces.
When accessible, support small, local businesses(like mine)!
As the owner of LOOKS, I see no other option than to adopt a slow fashion business model. I hope to use my creativity and bold pieces to encourage people to be intentional about the clothes they buy and wear. Making one-of-a-kind pieces is my attempt to transcend trendiness, as I believe my designs can be fashionable for an infinite amount of time. By making my items affordable (even though it’s not the most economical solution for me), I hope to mitigate barriers of access so that everyone has the opportunity to buy into slow fashion.
Now that we’ve had a heart-to-heart about the daunting effects of mass production in fashion and why our shopping habits matter, I hope you’re feeling educated and empowered. I challenge you to take those small steps toward change—like diving into thrift stores or picking quality pieces you’ll love for a while!
Thanks for stopping by, and remember: intentionality, intentionality, intentionality!
Catch ya later,
XOXO Lexi Lee