FAILED BY FAST F A S H I N Students turn to sustainable fashion choices MAKDA BEKELE DESIGN EDITOR | TARA PANDEY REPORTER
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s fashion trends come and go, the amount of clothes people dispose of is rarely given a second thought. Fast fashion brands like H&M, Uniqlo and Zara attract customers through their affordability, marketing and accessibility.
NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK OUT SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING.”
- ARIELLE ELSE JUNIOR
While they are convenient, many of these overproduced clothes end up in landfills, making the process of producing clothes incredibly damaging to the environment—fast fashion companies are known to use polyester, a synthetic fabric that is actually a form of plastic, and is not easily decomposable. But to go sustainable, there are a lot of factors to consider. “I think it’s hard to find a student at McLean who hasn’t bought something from a fast fashion store,” junior Elizabeth Nourse said. “Under a high schooler’s budget, fast fashion is probably the most accessible option for most students.” Teenagers are targeted as consumers via social media. Advertisements for notorious fast fashion brands such as Romwe and Shein are virtually inescapable. They often partner with social media influencers and low-level celebrities in order to market their brand to a large audience.
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“Occasionally I do buy into fast fashion just because I have to pay for my own clothes. Especially when I’m looking for something specific, fast fashion is right there at my fingertips for only like two or three dollars,” junior Lily Martin said. “It’s easy to not think about the implications of fast fashion when you’re buying something.” To combat the alluringly cheap clothes provided by the fast fashion industry, sustainable brands aim to promote slow fashion, using ethical, eco-friendly means to produce their clothing. However, one issue with such brands is that they are expensive in comparison to fast fashion brands. “Not everybody has the opportunity to seek out sustainable clothing,” junior Arielle Else said. “It
can be difficult because if you look up sustainable brands, for example House of Sunny, a sweater can cost $100.” Nonetheless, there is a cheaper option. Shopping sustainably does not only include slow fashion shops but also secondhand shopping. As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This is characteristic of many secondhand shops such as thrift stores, flea markets and even online shops, which are an easy way to shop more conscientiously. “A few months ago, I hit a 50% mark in my closet, meaning half of my clothes are secondhand,” Nourse said. “This has been a massive goal for me, and I want to reach 75% next.” Martin tries to be mindful about where she buys clothes while cycling out items she no longer wears.
Cartoon by Liz Nedelescu
