How to Break Your Fast Fashion Addiction
Many of us have fallen victim to cheap fast fashion prices. Who wouldn’t consider $15 for a dress a good deal in this economy? However, it’s time to consider the much greater cost of fast fashion. If you’re finally ready to kick your fast fashion addiction, here are some ways you can make more sustainable choices without sacrificing your style.
What Is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion focuses on the mass production of garments in response to current trends. Many of the items produced are “dupes” or imitations of designer brands, although manufacturers race them off the assembly line without much thought to quality — they aren’t intended to last.
The Allure of Fast Fashion — Why Is It Popular?
It’s easy to see why fast fashion is a booming industry. Mass production keeps costs low, so people can buy more clothes at cheaper prices. When a top is only $10, you might not think twice about buying it.
The Environmental Cost of Fast Fashion
However, convenience and low prices come at a steep environmental cost. Consider the potential damages caused by fast fashion:
Factories produce more emissions and burn more fossil fuels.
Planes, trains and automobiles create even more emissions as they transport such products to store shelves.
Landfills fill more quickly, creating increased methane emissions, a dangerous greenhouse gas.
The people creating such goods often labor in horrific conditions, contributing to human rights abuses.
Further, the cheap prices mean cheap materials and construction. After just a few washes, a fast fashion shirt will wear out a lot quicker than a higher quality item. Is that really worth your money? It makes more financial sense to spend $50 on a well-made piece than to repurchase a cheap item every time it wears out.
6 Ways to Break Your Fast Fashion Addiction (and Still Look Stylish)
If you want to break your fast fashion addiction but still look sleek and stylish, here’s what you can do.
1. Educate Yourself
Often, learning the true cost of your behaviors is enough to inspire change. Many people don’t know the full consequences of fast fashion.
2. Shop in Your Closet
You might already have a wardrobe enough to rival a small mall, but you can’t find anything in that teetering laundry pile. Get organized by hanging your clothes in your closet and arranging them by type — for example, pants in one section, dresses in another. It’s easier to mix and match when you can clearly see what you have.
Make closet cleaning a mindfulness exercise. Asking yourself questions, such as, “How do I feel when I wear this,” helps you decide what to keep and what to donate to a friend or local thrift shop.
3. Thrift
Thrift shops aren’t just for donations — they’re veritable treasure troves of fashion. Why would you wear a cheap designer knockoff when you could find the real deal for pennies like one lucky Birmingham shopper recently did? Repurposing used but perfectly serviceable items is one of the most environmentally sustainable things you can do. Thrift store prices are often better, if not equal to, fast fashion prices, so there’s no major trade off.
4. Visit Yard and Estate Sales
Yard sales can be hit or miss, but they’re still worth the stop. The real treasures may lie in estate sales, especially if the heirs don’t know what they have. Seek those in affluent areas for designer items at bargain-basement prices. With a vintage handbag or a designer pair of sunglasses, you’ll look more like your favorite celebrity it-girl than you would with a knock-off.
5. Sew
If you want to create truly one-of-a-kind fashion, get handy with the sewing machine. Work on ditching the trend mindset. While many people stress over having the latest styles, it’s much more satisfying to have a unique wardrobe that perfectly fits your size and tastes.
6. Accessorize
Finally, the right accessories can transform the vibe of nearly any outfit. If you have a solid collection of basics in your closet, you can make different outfits by adding belts, outerwear and jewelry. For example, a white tee can be plain and simple on its own, but if you have a blazer and a cardigan, you can create two distinct outfits with the same top.
Break Your Fast Fashion Addiction
Fast fashion might make you look good, but it isn’t pretty for the planet. Fortunately, you can break your addiction by following the above tips. Nothing improves your appearance more than a clean conscience — doing the right thing creates a glow from within that sets off any ensemble perfectly.
