Sometimes retail therapy seems more effective than real therapy. After a long week, one of my favorite pastimes includes browsing through websites and virtually window-shopping, adding items to my cart (only to never buy anything because I’m broke).
As fun as it may be, online shopping and the advancement of technology have entirely changed the ballpark for consumers. Shopping has never been easier: with just a few clicks, you can order new outfits and have them delivered faster than it takes some professors to grade tests. Instead of having to go in-store, consumers can buy from the comfort of their homes and not lift a finger.
However, despite its convenience, online shopping has bred a beast that permeates all of our closets. Coined as “fast fashion,” the term refers to a design, manufacturing, and marketing method that focuses on rapid production of high volumes of clothing. Industry analysts track trends and replicate them at low cost by using cheaper synthetic fabrics. The result? The trendiest clothing at sometimes shockingly low prices, incredibly palatable to consumers—especially to younger teenagers and adults who yearn for the season’s hottest clothes but can’t afford runway prices.
These cheap clothes come at a price, however, and one that is often two-fold. The first is the severe environmental impact such high volume production causes. It is estimated that fast fashion production generates more carbon dioxide than air travel and shipping combined. The use of synthetic fabrics generates over half a million tons of microplastics, which take hundreds of years to degrade. On top of that, because of how quickly the industry runs through fashion trends (a phenomenon called “micro-trends”), millions of garments are thrown away after being worn only a few times.
The second consequence? The exploitation of underserved communities abroad. Many beloved brands such as Zara, H&M, and PacSun have been accused of outrageously underpaying its workers. Conditions in these (more-often-than-not) sweatshop factories are poor, and with such meager wages, the workers suffer to make ends meet. Out of 75 million fast fashion factory workers worldwide, only 2% make a living wage. Additionally, many of the synthetic fabrics used produce carcinogenic chemicals, which are hazardous to the health of the workers.
This holiday season, consider the impact your shopping may have on the planet and exploited populations that are taken advantage of for the sake of fashion. Although clothing giants such as Shein should be held more accountable for their unethical labor practices and lack of consideration for the environment, each of us can reduce our carbon footprint by being more intentional about our shopping practices and who we give our business to. Ask yourself before you splurge on your next shopping spree whether or not you truly need every item in your cart; or try out more sustainable shopping alternatives like thrifting instead. Some helpful questions to ask yourself next time you go shopping could include: Am I going to wear this more than once? Do I have something similar at home in my wardrobe already? Will this last me until the same time next year? If you’re having trouble wondering whether or not a specific brand is considered ethical to shop from, Good on You (available on the App Store and Google Play store) is an app that breaks down thousands of brands and their reputations for environmental impact and labor practices. It also provides sustainable options in case your chosen brand is a little dubious to shop from. While it certainly is a great serotonin boost to receive a new package with fun new clothes to try on, we can all take small steps to curb our environmental and humanitarian impact.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.