From Hauls to Hand-Me-Downs: The New Look of Fashion

Keeping up to date is a full-time job in a world where viral TikTok hauls and Instagram aesthetics reign. More than ever, fashion is a throwaway and available. Today’s students are more concerned about how frequently they can change their outfits than with what they wear. However, there is a rising tension behind that quick turnover: our clothing is not only expensive, but it is also negatively impacting the environment, factory workers, and our mental health. As social justice movements gain momentum and climate change becomes a pressing reality, many students are reconsidering their personal style definition and where they purchase their clothing. The outcome? A fashion faceoff that reflects our generation’s ideals is the widening gap between quick fashion and secondhand options like thrifting.

Fast Fashion: Cheap, Trendy, and Costly in More Ways Than One

Fast fashion is the term for the rapid creation of low-cost apparel that imitates high-fashion trends. Nearly every week, companies like Shein, Forever 21, Zara, and H&M introduce new collections, urging customers to update their wardrobes with the newest trends. However, there is a more sinister side to the allure of cheap costs and limitless options. These garments are frequently produced in factories abroad, where employees receive minimal pay, experience unfavorable working conditions, and are not afforded the most fundamental labor rights. In Bangladesh, one of the biggest centers for fast fashion production, garment workers make as little as $0.32 per hour, according to a 2022 study from the Clean Clothes Campaign. The costs to the environment are astounding. Water and energy use in the fashion sector are enormous. About 2,700 liters of water, or what one person consumes in two and a half years, are needed to make one cotton t-shirt. An estimated 11.3 million tons of textile trash are thrown away annually by Americans alone, making fast fashion a major contributor to landfill garbage.  “I used to buy Shein all the time because it was so cheap,” admits a junior who recently changed their shopping habits. “But then I learned about the working conditions and how much pollution it creates. Now I try to avoid it when I can.”

Thrifiting: Sustainable, Creative, and On the Rise

Thrifting is the opposite of fast fashion, which thrives on quick consumption. Purchasing used goods, whether from online resale marketplaces, vintage shops, or thrift stores, provides an eco-friendly substitute. It slows down the cycle of continuous manufacturing and disposal while simultaneously reducing textile waste and giving clothing a second chance at life. Thanks in part to social media sites like Instagram and TikTok, where influencers showcase unique findings and inventive thrift flips, thrifting has become extremely popular among Gen Z. It is now simpler than ever to purchase or sell lightly used apparel from anywhere in the world thanks to applications such as Depop, Vinted, and Poshmark. However, thrifting is a form of self-expression as well as sustainability. A sophomore who mostly wears vintage and used clothing, says that thrifting lets him create a wardrobe that truly represents who he is rather than just what’s in style. Furthermore, you never know what may be discovered. It resembles treasure seeking. The best part? Thrifting is reasonably priced. Many students discover that they can get designer or high-quality items for a fraction of the original price. Thrifting gives people the best of both worlds when it comes to conserving money and maintaining flair.

The Complications of Conscious Consumerism

Although it is sometimes seen as the “ethical” option, thrifting is not without criticism. Some thrift stores have increased their prices in response to the growing demand for secondhand fashion, making it more difficult for low-income families, whom the stores were first designed to help, to buy basic apparel. A new generation of “thrift resellers,” who purchase attractive items in bulk and resell them online for a profit, has also been brought about by the thriving secondhand market. Despite being innovative, this technique has drawn criticism for driving out regular customers and gentrifying secondhand businesses. Another problem is greenwashing, which occurs when fast fashion companies promote themselves as “sustainable” by introducing little eco-friendly collections while maintaining their high-volume, high-speed production process. People have noticed that a shirt’s label of “conscious” doesn’t always indicate that what the firm is doing is morally correct. “It’s kind of like slapping a band-aid on a much bigger wound.” Ultimately, overconsumption is the main problem. Do we really need more stuff? is the main question, regardless of whether you’re buying quick fashion or used goods.