Fashion For Thought

There is nothing to buy because there is too much to buy.
Words by Shinnie Park


Just a scroll on Instagram or TikTok will have your feed bombarded with what to buy. It’s as if the universe is conspiring to lure you into a perpetual shopping spree. The holiday season only adds to this grand scheme by letting us know about the latest sales, what the new trendy aesthetic is, and what the hottest influencer and model is wearing.

Whether it’s a fluffy Acne Studios scarf, the viral Ganni ballet flats, or the latest collaboration drop, there is never a moment where there is nothing to buy. As a consumer and fashion lover, I find this even more apparent because my social media algorithm has infiltrated my brain, showing me things before I realize I need them.

On the other hand, lies an uncomfortable reality. The fatal impact on our planet due to overproduction. The carbon footprint from shipping, microplastics from synthetic fabrics, unethical material sourcing, and labor practices to name the least.

With one side pushing to indulge in our desires and one pulling us back, as an average consumer, you might wonder if there's a way to win this relentless battle. The most sustainable approach to consume is to: 1) Buy less, 2) Produce less and 3) Take care of the things you already have. However, this isn’t always a realistic solution economically. Clothing prices have skyrocketed, with even fast-fashion brands asking for hefty sums, sometimes reaching up to $500. Now, here’s where the dilemma sets in. Let’s say you want to buy a winter coat as the temperature starts dropping. A full wool and cashmere-blend Max Mara coat will cost you $4350 and by no means is this affordable. It’s practically double my rent in NYC. “But it’ll last me a lifetime.” You rationalize. You go to Zara to search for a cheaper alternative. A felted coat with a similar design is priced at $109, about 2.5% of the Max Mara coat but it’s made of 100% polyester. You think to yourself “$109 for a coat made out of plastic? There has to be something better.”

As a consumer (seeking warmth in the blizzarding East Coast winter), you are presented with two options: either obliterate your bank account or contribute to the never-ending cycle of fast fashion, settling for subpar items that won't even keep you that warm, with the knowledge that you'll need to replace them in a couple of years. You search high and low for a full wool coat from more mid-range brands but a coat made fully out of natural fiber seems to be increasingly scarce. You opt for the secondhand market and end up with a beautiful coat made by a local tailor in the 80s.

If this was my situation, I would call this a win. But why should we, as consumers, be responsible for luxury brands’ outrageous prices and fast fashion brands' unethical practices?

The more you delve deeper into this discourse, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth toward the fashion industry. An essay by Alec Leach “The World is On Fire but We're Still Buying Shoes," underscores this point. The fashion industry has always thrived on creating incessant consumer demand. This was an integral part of the industry from its very start. Whether it's trends or seasonal, utilitarian needs, the natural cycle of clothing is that it wears and breaks down over time and requires replacement. Wanting new things is not inherently wrong, but the scale of consumption has spiraled out of control, with corporations capitalizing on it to the point of no return.

Until recently this has gone unchecked. When I was a teenager in the 2010s, I didn’t care what my clothes were made out of, if it was cute I bought it. And it was cheap to do it. We are the generation that grew up with Forever21, Zara, and H&M, blissfully ignorant of sustainability and the future. However, as we grow more conscientious of the impact and consequences of our spending, it is now time to take a step back and evaluate your closet. To find the fun in thrifting, befriending your local tailor to amend and alter your clothes with time, browsing second-hand markets for luxury goods, and all in all, only buying what you need (with a little treat to yourself here and there because that’s also the fun of fashion).

Sites like TheRealReal and Vestiaire Collective overflow with bags and shoes from just a season ago. The bitter truth is that nobody truly needs the newest Prada bag that graced the runway yesterday. Waiting for it to hit the second-hand market or to go on sale will also let you reflect on whether it genuinely aligns with your style or if you want something just because it's new. Personal style isn’t a daunting thing to achieve, it simply takes time and patience to decide what sincerely resonates with you.

Fundamentally, fashion operates as a capitalistic cycle of supply and demand. It is hard to say which comes first but once the demand subsides, wouldn’t it be natural for the companies to produce less? This only seems possible in “fashion utopia” but what are we striving for if not the most ideal?

So, as we navigate the ever-evolving world of fashion, I leave you with a parting thought: if anyone finds a perfectly oversized cashmere sweater that doesn’t break the bank, please do share.

With the love of beautiful things and positive change,
Fashion for Thought.