I was recently surprised to hear that there are enough existing clothes on our planet to provide for the next six generations. This means that for those generations, we do not need to produce any new clothing for people to live comfortably. But we keep producing and we produce big.
“Fast fashion” has taken the world by storm, with companies like the infamous Shein providing cheap clothing and accessories that will end up in a landfill within a year. Fashion itself has lost much of its uniqueness and creativity to these trends, not to mention the devastating environmental impacts.
While I hope this is convicting to individual purchasing habits, I don’t mean for it to be condemning. Many of us don’t realize the impacts that our simple spending choices have. When I see a T-shirt I like, I want to buy it and it’s easy not to think outside of me, myself, and I. However, it’s important that we consider the bigger impact and make changes to benefit our planet and its people.
As I previously mentioned, fast fashion largely contributes to these problems. This means that a trendy article of clothing is produced quickly and in large quantities. Overproduction is not uncommon, which results in excess clothes being incinerated or discarded into landfills. Popular brands include Shein, Temu, and Zara, all of which have faced criticism for unethical labor practices in addition to negative environmental impacts.
Clearly, there are a variety of reasons to refrain from supporting these brands and others like them. Alternatively, consumers can choose clothing that has greater longevity and quality, a better investment in the long run.
Another option is to thrift clothes. A fair warning to the faint of heart, thrifting can require a lot of patience. You may need to sort through racks of clothes at times to find the one good item. Even though this can be frustrating, it’s much more rewarding to have an outfit you worked a bit harder for.
Second-hand shopping also saves money. It’s not uncommon for a new pair of jeans to cost between $30 and $50. I have thrifted jeans for $10 to $15 and they have been some of my favorite finds. It’s also far more common to find unique pieces that can add to your personal fashion statement. While I understand that this isn’t a priority for everyone, it can be fun to have a few signature items.
In Rochester we have a surplus of thrifting options. Goodwill and Savers are both common choices and great for donating towards. They recycle the clothing that they can’t sell, which creates another environmental benefit. Other options in the area include Plato’s Closet, Clothes Mentor, and Danielle’s Consignment. If these aren’t to your interest, I’d recommend a quick Google search to expand your options.
Repurposing old clothes is beginning to grow in popularity too. Individuals have chosen to thrift basic clothing items and use their crafty skills to give them extra flair. Sewing patches and buttons onto garments, and embroidering designs are becoming fun ways to personalize clothing. Those who knit or crochet have also begun to take apart old sweaters to reuse yarn.
On a larger scale, small businesses have opened that make new clothing from old garments. This strategy takes clothes that would otherwise go into a landfill and allows new and unique items to be made from them. Finding and supporting these businesses not only helps them to run but allows them to grow. This will hopefully make recycling old fabrics more common and affordable.
The final method that I would like to mention is reducing consumption, the method with the biggest impact. If we have enough clothes for the next six generations, we certainly don’t need more. Learning to live off of what we need rather than what we want benefits the environment and those whose needs are not being met. The problem is not the lack in our world but the unequal distribution.
This concept goes beyond clothing. We waste large sums of food on a daily basis and seek out bigger and better houses that go far beyond our needs. Learning to live simply can start with our clothing and expand to other areas of our lives. We can make better decisions not only for our environment, but for our fellow human beings.
Aria Urban is a senior at Century High School. Send comments on teen columns to Jeff Pieters,