Clothes have long been a staple of the teenage persona. We use the latest styles of shoes, hoodies, jeans, and jewelry to show our friends and classmates ‘who we are.’ Yet as we face a climate crisis where overconsumption threatens our personal livelihoods, the question between whether we should buy the newest trends or save the planet further grows conflicting. How can we keep our personal styles while practicing sustainability? How do we shop sustainably when it feels as though everything is fast fashion?
They aren’t easy questions to answer. Trends pop onto our social media feeds with influencers convincing us that their purchases are the newest ‘must buys’ and ‘essentials.’ Algorithms increase these wants by pushing viewership on products until it seems like everybody has it. “It’s hard because people want to fit in,” said sophomore Teagan Woodford when asked why it feels so hard for teens to stop buying. “[They want to] fit in, so they just buy new things to fit with the trends.”
The effects that mass production and consumption has had on the planet has been labeled ‘detrimental’ by many. Mainstream brands like H&M, Garage, Zara, Hot Topic, etc. are all fast fashion brands that contribute to the climate crisis movement by producing mass quantities of clothing with low quality materials. Junior Ori Rogers, who learned about these detriments after taking an interest in marine biology, stated: “These clothes are really bad for the environment… [they] are thrown out, they’re not donated, they’re put into garbage plants which then eventually end up in areas like the ocean, the rivers, and it adds to our pollution. We’re just making more stuff that we then come to throw away, only to make another thing. It’s a whole cycle.”
When so many of our favorite brands are fast fashion, and ethical brands are expensive or inconvenient, shopping sustainably feels discouraging and unknown. Still, there are some great alternatives to fast fashion for teens to consider as they look into buying more mindfully.
Secondhand pieces are great alternatives to shopping more sustainably and minimizing our carbon footprint. Thrift and vintage stores provide pre-loved clothing for a range of prices depending on stores. At local thrift stores such as Walnut Creek’s Salvation Armys and Savers along with vintage stores like Buffalo Exchange and Anastasia’s, you can find quality curated pieces for great prices.
Online secondhand hubs are also great alternatives to fast fashion. On apps like Vinted, Depop, and ThredUp, people can find quality pieces which have been used minimally. Shoppers even have the option to ask the owners of these clothes questions regarding sizing, stains, etc. Using these apps is also a great way to find excellent pieces which have been halved in their retail value – prom or ball dresses for example –
can be found for a great value when only worn once.
At the end of the day, minimal con-sumption is the best way to lessen our print on the environment through fashion. Buying a few tops from your favorite store every once in a while won’t harm the environment as
much as buying a surplus of secondhand clothing that you won’t wear. Buying a trendy item isn’t wrong if you like the item for its worth rather than to fit in. “You’ve gotta find out what you want to wear for yourself.” Woodford finished.
