Fast fashion may provide convenience, providing quick, affordable, and fashionable apparel, but the cost paid far outstretches all the benefits derived. Somebody said that fast fashion could not be free—there is a huge cost involved, and if you are not paying for it, somebody else is.

Why do I say this? Fast fashion involves promoting a throwaway culture, where you buy clothing as it is, the in-thing at any given time. And as quickly just as it came, it soon goes out of fashion. So, what happens then is that the item is thrown out to clear the closet for new, trending clothes.

This goes on and on, and the effect is devastating. High demand will lead to higher extraction of materials needed to make these fashion items, usually non-renewable toxic materials.

This eventually leads to the destruction of our environment. Later, when we start hearing about adverse weather conditions, disease outbreaks in areas that have never experienced such calamities, we shake our heads in wonderment.

We can avoid this and help save the planet by adopting sustainable fashion and changing our attitudes and behavior towards fast fashion. Buying slow fashion or apparel that remains in fashion for an extended time will reduce demand for resources used in manufacturing fashion items and contribute to saving the environment.

Asking people to consume less isn’t always realistic — and I understand that. Instead of buying new, we are engaging in a more circular model of consumption by shopping secondhand.

 

“It is good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven’t lost the things money can’t buy.”– George Lorimer (1867 – 1937), American Editor and Writer.

 

Sustainable or slow fashion does not mean that we will not be trendy. It is a responsible move that ensures a reduction of wastage while at the same time promoting the green, clean, fair, and ethical manufacturing of clothes and other fashion items.

The one-time price that we pay to acquire green and clean attire is far less than the cost incurred through fast fashion. It contributes towards sustainable living, using resources responsible for safeguarding current and future generations’ survival.

Next time you are thinking about buying a new outfit, think about the environment and ask yourself whether you contribute to sustainable fashion. Consider whether you will still be wearing the clothes one year from now, or better yet, calculate how many other items you would need to buy to remain fashionable.

Thinking about this will help you make a sound decision, one that will help you get quality fashion—a gem that will stay trendy and enable you to contribute to making our world better.

 

Five things you can do to overcome impulsive shopping better:

1.Unsubscribe from retailer emails and delete shopping apps on your phone.

2.Visit your closet and make an inventory.

3.Choose your colors and stick to them.

4.Create a budget.

5.Buy items that match your lifestyle, not the current trend.

If you are interested to learn more about how to overcome impulsive shopping, read my other detailed blog on this

 

5 questions to ask yourself next time when you want to shop:

1.Ask yourself, do you really need that item?

2.Is it good quality and will it last you to wear it at least 20-30 times?

3.Did you check the materials, and where are they produced?

4.Do you support the brand’s philosophy?

5.Do you see enough value for the price?

 

If you decide to declutter your wardrobe and become minimalist, I encourage you, the items you think you won’t wear anymore for x reasons, to donate to your friends, secondhand store. Give your unwanted clothes repurposing through the secondary market. Or ask around your neighborhood you may find someone who will need them. Instead of throwing it away, you also prevent them from ending in some landfill. And in case you don’t think that this would make an actual impact … check out WRAP’s research that says extending the life of a garment by just nine months reduces its clothing footprint by 20 to 30 percent.

“Our personal consumer choices have ecological, social, and spiritual consequences. It is time to re-examine some of our deeply held notions that underlie our lifestyles.” – David Suzuki (1936 – ), Japanese Canadian Academic, Science Broadcaster, and Environmental Activist.

Progress and improvement start with each of us, from the way we consume to our disposal. Let’s work together to change our consumer behaviors for the better tomorrow.