The Green Race

Men’s vs. Women’s Fashion

By Maya Pettiford Managing Editor

In the dynamic world of fashion, where trends reign supreme, a subtle shift is occurring and the sustainability debate takes center stage.

It is no secret that women’s fashion has dominated the industry for years. While men’s fashion is in the conversation, it has never felt like the main focus, instead it is a secondary player. New trends in women’s fashion fly in and out of the market at rocket speed and the industry thrives on this fast-paced style. However, among this, men’s fashion still seems to stay more constant.

Coveteur, a fashion and beauty magazine, interviewed Josh Peskowitz who has worked at Esquire, Bloomingdale’s and Moda Operandi.

“Trends come and go over the course of years, rather than seasons,” when referring to men’s fashion trends.” Peskowitz said.

Think about men’s fashion for a second. It usually consists of a high-quality hoodie or a signature flannel, and a lot of times a durable pair of baggy jeans.

What seems to differentiate men’s and women’s clothing trends is that the pieces men buy are long lasting and overall better quality.

According to Society 19, it is obvious that “If you have ever compared the fabrics used in both male and female clothing, you will have noticed a change in the quality. Men’s clothing tends to be made of thicker fabrics that are not only warmer but more durable, meaning they will last longer than women’s clothing which is prone to wear and tear faster.”

All of this raises the question: Is men’s fashion inherently more sustainable than women’s?

Coveteur also spoke with Aaron McWilliams, the senior men’s merchandising manager at The RealReal and he said that “women are generally driven more by trends and influence when it comes to how they dress.”

He then added that “Men, on the other hand, have always gravitated towards what they know and are comfortable with. We’ve seen this a lot with men shopping our site.”

This overwhelming feeling of needing to keep up and always be on the latest trends is what keeps this market of fast fashion and micro trends alive. However, not everyone feels this pressure to stay on trend.

“I think I create the fashion trends, I just wear what I wear, I don’t care about people’s opinions,” advertising sophomore Christopher

Castro said. “And I feel like whatever makes me happy, is what I’m gonna do. Because if I want to wear all blue or all green like I do sometimes.”

The absence of makeup in men’s fashion could potentially be one of the biggest contributors to their fashion being overall more sustainable. According to the social justice platform TRVST, “beauty packaging amounts to 120 billion units annually. That includes plastic, paper, glass and metals, all of which end up in landfills year after year.”

At the center of men’s fashion are quality staple pieces. When made well, simple things such as sneakers, denim and outerwear are the most noteworthy pieces in men’s fashion today.

“Staple pieces are kind of like a must, I always have to have a black pair of baggy pants in my wardrobe and I feel like with having those there’s less need to buy more stuff.” political science sophomore Jackson Colla said.

In comparison to women’s fashion, there is a tendency to need a larger quantity of clothes to make outfits. This can have a very large impact on the environment.

“I feel like men’s fashion might be a little more sustainable in my opinion than women’s,” aviation sophomore Julia Sutter said. “Because it’s okay as a male to repeat what you’re wearing multiple times. I think that it’s more socially acceptable for men to just wear the same thing, or wear the same patterns. You don’t have to be different or show off as much as a male in society. But I think with women there is more pressure to stand out and not wear the same white shirt.”

Another big factor in the men’s fashion industry is sneaker culture and the resale market. According to a 2023 Resale Report done by ThredUp, the global secondhand market is set to nearly double by 2027, reaching $350 billion. In the United States alone the secondhand market is expected to reach $70 billion that same year.

“A lot of companies like to do collaborations with artists and I think that’s one way the resale market is definitely staying alive,” Colla said. “I mean if I see my favorite artists wear a new pair of shoes and they look good on them. I’m obviously going to want to try and get them for myself.”

Companies will only release a limited amount of shoes, making them more coveted. The lower the amount of shoes that are made also makes them more valuable, and they can be sold for a higher price on the resale market.

Despite often high prices, for years the market has been able to push on and continues to thrive today. Lots of people’s obsession with sneakers will lead them to continue buying no matter what the price may be.

“Reselling has been going on for years, and people have been having shoe collections for years. And, you know, that’s something that’s so unique. People idolize that, and I think that’s why it thrives.” Castro said.

The sustainability debate in the fashion industry is complex, and declaring one gender’s fashion more sustainable than the other is challenging. However, factors in men’s fashion such as long-lasting trends, quality staples, and a thriving resale culture, suggest that men may be taking the forefront in the sustainability race. That does not mean that there are any true winners when there is still a long way to go to reach a more sustainable future.

“This should be talked about, and a lot of people aren’t aware of what sustainability is or how we can make women’s and men’s fashion more sustainable. So I think just create a conversation about it with those you know, I think that’s the easiest way to spread the message,” Sutter said.

By Loren Ball Social Media Manager