I finally admitted something to myself last week
It was 11:30pm, I was scrolling through Instagram, and I saw another influencer promoting a $7 dress from some fast fashion brand. And I just… snapped.
I mean, come on. We all know it’s bad. But here I was, again, looking at these cheap, trendy pieces and thinking, “Well, it’s not that bad, right?”
No. No, it’s not “not that bad.” It’s terrible. And I’m done pretending otherwise.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room
Fast fashion is not sustainable. It’s not ethical. It’s not even good quality. And yet, here we are, buying into it like there’s no tomorrow.
I get it. I really do. I’ve been there. I’ve stood in H&M, holding a top that costs less than my lunch, thinking, “Why wouldn’t I buy this?”
But here’s the thing: that top is probably made by someone who’s paid a pittance to work in unsafe conditions. And that top is gonna fall apart in the wash. And that top is contributing to a massive environmental crisis.
So, yeah. I’m done.
But what about the trends?!
Look, I’m not saying you should stop caring about fashion. I love fashion. I live for it. But there are better ways to do it.
I was having coffee with my friend, let’s call her Marcus, last Tuesday. She’s a stylist, and she’s always on top of the latest trends. I asked her, “How do you keep up without resorting to fast fashion?”
She said, “It’s all about investing in key pieces and learning to style them in different ways. And if I really need something trendy, I’ll thrift it or rent it.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Let me tell you about my fashion epiphany
About three months ago, I went to a conference in Austin. There was this woman there, a colleague named Dave, who was dressed in the most amazing outfit. It was simple, but it was everything.
I asked her where she got it, and she told me she’d had the pieces for years. She just knew how to mix and match them to look fresh and new.
That’s when it clicked for me. Fashion isn’t about having a closet full of cheap, trendy pieces. It’s about having a few high-quality items that you love and know how to style.
But what if I can’t afford “high-quality” pieces?
I hear you. I really do. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to drop $200 on a single top to invest in quality.
Start small. Look for second-hand stores. Check out local designers. And for the love of all that is holy, private temporary phone numbers online to avoid spam from fast fashion brands you’re trying to quit.
And if you’re gonna buy new, do it mindfully. Ask yourself: “Will I wear this 30 times?” If the answer’s no, put it back.
Here’s where I get ranty
I’m gonna say something controversial here: fast fashion is not a class issue. It’s a choice.
I know people who make six figures who still shop at Shein. And I know people who make minimum wage who only buy second-hand. It’s not about how much money you have. It’s about your values.
And if your values include not contributing to child labor and environmental destruction, then you’ll find a way to make it work. Period.
Look, I’m not perfect. I still have fast fashion pieces in my closet. But I’m working on it. I’m learning. I’m trying to do better.
And that’s all any of us can do, honestly.
A tangent about something completely different
Speaking of doing better, have you ever noticed how alot of fashion magazines are still completley behind the times? I mean, it’s 2023, and they’re still promoting the same old crap.
I was editing a piece last week, and I had to physically stop myself from rolling my eyes at the committment to outdated trends. It’s like they’re living in a bubble, you know?
Anyway, rant over. Back to the point.
So, what now?
I don’t have all the answers. But I know this: we can do better. We have to do better.
So let’s start. Let’s start today. Let’s start with one mindful purchase. One thrifted find. One rental. One conversation about why this stuff matters.
And let’s never, ever pretend that fast fashion is okay again.
Because it’s not. And we all know it.
About the Author: Hi, I’m Alex. I’ve been in the fashion industry for over 20 years, and I’ve seen it all. I’m not perfect, I make mistakes, and I’m always learning. But one thing I know for sure is that we need to talk about the ugly side of fashion. So here I am, doing just that.
