I want it,

How fast fashion has changed the fashion industry.

IT TAKES

7,200 LITERS OF WATER

TO PRODUCE ONE COTTON SHIRT

In this new and evolving world of fashion, fast fashion has taken over much of the industry. Due to the recent detrimental rise in clothing waste, Rocklin High School students were asked about alternatives and their opinions on fast fashion. Fast fashion can be defined as “cheap, trendy clothing that can be easily mass-produced.” Apps such as TikTok and Instagram have made connections between consumers and influencers easily accessible. Thousands of advertisements get posted each minute, pulling in consumers.

Sophie Shin, RHS freshman, expresses, “I feel like social media gets us influenced … We’re like, ‘ooh someone has this? I want it,’” Sophie said, “A lot of influencers on social media definitely impact that ‘I want it, cause they have it’ mindset.” She feels as influencers on social media platforms have special power over younger audiences.

However, there are solutions to sustainable shopping. Along with fast fashion, thrifting has been rising in popularity recently. Thrifting is purchasing second-hand items for a discounted price. Garage sales, thrift shops, Goodwill, and even on-line stores all are part of thrifting.

Sophie says, “I would definitely tell people to give [thrifting] a shot, not even by yourself, go with friends, it doesn’t really have to be your thing but it’s a very fun experience.”

Many people stray from thrifting because of how time-consuming it is to look for specific pieces they like. However, Sophie encourages thrifting with friends and family to add to the experience. There are many on-line thrift options, such as Depop and Poshmark.

RHS freshman Brynn Eckardt, explains why she likes to use Poshmark, “It’s very easy to look at every single item rather than going through racks.”

From the comfort of her own home, Brynn is able to browse sustainable fashion on-line. Another benefit of thrifting is that customers can bargain with the owner, gaining better prices.

Brynn explains, “You can bargain. So if I want to, I can be like, ‘I want this to be five dollars,’ and the [store worker/ cashier/owner] will be like, ‘No, six dollars.’”