TRASH TALK

alk is cheap, but thrifted Levi’s are cheaper. Minimum wage T workers are cheap, but conglomerates see children working in Bangladesh garment factories as cheaper. In a world of cost efficiency over conservation, we have to ask ourselves: are inexpensive options actually costing us more? Or do the ethics of “less expensive” check out? Our companies, retailers, and even food sources are digging us a grave in polluted soil that’s getting harder to climb out of. Environmental education can’t stop in elementary school. More than ever, it needs to be taken to the next level.

Starting with ten dollar shirts and second hand sunglasses.

From Buswhick to the brownstones of Greenwich Village, thrifted clothes have monopolized the hub of east coast fashion. The train heading into New York Penn Station is always filled with girls in Nike Air Force Ones, lowrise jeans, and baby tees. The new “it girl” style is reminiscent of a mid 2000’s red carpet. Popularized by celebrities and social media influencers alike, thrift stores have become the epicenter of style. Whereas decades earlier, thrifting had no say in the conversation of mainstream fashion. It’s rise to fame has shifted the way consumers shop for clothes. Once a necessity solely for Americans in a pinch, who had no other option and definitely did not see it as a “trend”, thrifting has expanded its market. Fast fashion brands are no longer on the forefront of consumers minds… and thank God for that.

In 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that roughly 16.9 million textiles were generated. Yet, only 2.6 million of all textiles were recycled. Textile waste is responsible for the majority of global pollution. Nearly 20 percent of global wastewater

is produced by the fashion industry. The price of a dress from fast fashion brands like H&M and Forever 21 may be affordable, but the environmental impact is costing us so much more. These companies are outsourcing their production for cheap labor in deplorable conditions. Their workers tirelessly work in sweatshops, the majority of them young girls and women. Thrifting has put the companies that profit off of slave labor in hot water. However, they’re starting to catch on.

Large retailers are using a facade of “pseudo-sustainability”. They’re carefully curating collections with the thrifted look of reused fashion, just to capitalize off of it. They’re delivering the look without the process. Why browse through racks of denim at Goodwill, when for $45, you can buy a pair of perfectly distressed mom jeans? Consumers are being tricked out of upcycling, due to these retail conglomerates upselling. Is the rise of thrifting due to an increase of environmental and ethical awareness amongst youth? Or could the unfortunate truth be that thrifting is just another trend, soon to be dropped? Whatever the answer is, it’s our responsibility as consumers to turn the tide. Contributing to the harmful ramifications of fast fashion not only costs us environmentality, but it costs us our individuality. Donating clothes, and shopping at second hand stores creates a cycle of creative conservation. Thrift stores have racks and bins of hidden gems and pieces that are completely one of a kind. Whether the sole of your carbon footprint is vintage, designer, or streetwear, it’s crucial to walk down a path of ethical consumption. Vintage Vogue, Cherry Canary, and My Sister’s closet are great Bloomington thrifty alternatives to fast fashion. Solely shopping at second hand stores isn’t going to completely solve the problem of textile waste. There are miles to go, and the true remedy lies in large corporations changing the way they create and distribute clothing. But in the meantime, save the planet and look good doing it... all within budget.

photographed by: Courtney Schultz head stylist: Lexie Porter modeled by: Anna Lane, Evan Vaughan