Written by Siya Patel
“I don’t support it. It’s dehumanizing to its employees and I feel like it’s morally unacceptable,” said Senior Emily Olmstead about fast fashion. “It’s something that’s been talked about a lot, but not canceled and I find that really weird. Why are we being selective about it?” she added.
Fast fashion has become increasingly popular owing to its cheap price and trendy designs. However, there’s another side to fast fashion, one that isn’t so appealing. Fast fashion has been criticized for its detrimental effects on the environment.
Olmstead, who now steers away from stores known for their fast fashion, used to buy from them when she was younger.
“In middle school and freshman year, I was trying to fit in with the look a little more and so, that’s when I went to Shein and Forever 21 because that’s where everyone else was going.”
As she became more educated upon the issue and got her own job, she stopped supporting these businesses and switched to more eco-friendly alternatives.
“I’ll go to consignment stores once in a while to find jeans because they’re just so expensive. I’ll go to Old Navy and Cotton On, which advertise as really eco friendly. I haven’t looked too far into it,” said Olmstead.
Olmstead explained that the costly price of sustainable clothing can pose to be an issue. “My biggest issue is when it’s time to go buy a pair of jeans or something, I don’t just go to Forever 21 or H&M and spend like fifteen dollars. I have to spend 50 or 60 dollars to get a good pair elsewhere. It’s kind of frustrating.”
Senior Matt Mitchell felt a similar way regarding the cost. “I can’t afford something that’s seventy dollars. It’s not fair. It’s like they’re forcing you to support it.”
Mitchell admitted that he wears fast fashion because of its affordable price. “I haven’t been using Shein, but Shein is what half my closet is, which I know that’s really bad but it’s so cheap.”
Mitchell revealed that there should be more eco friendly alternatives to fast fashion. “I hate what it does to the environment and the work conditions that they put people through in other foreign countries just to make it that cheap.”
“I know it sounds like I support fast fashion because of everything I said, but I really hate it but I can’t afford not to,” Mitchell expressed.
A possible solution he suggested was to pay the factory workers a good living wage. Mitchell also mentioned that there is simply a gap in the market. “We need a store that is eco friendly and cheap, but there just isn’t one.”
Olmstead found thrifting to be a good replacement for fast fashion. “I truly believe that is the best bet because even if the items are from fast fashion industries, you’re not directly supporting them.”
Mitchell agreed thrifting reimburses clothing to the community, but raised concerns about it. “I like it, then again I don’t think that people who can afford name brands should thrift shop for a trend. Because some people have to go thrift because they can’t even afford Shein,” he explained.
Olmstead concluded by admitting that eco-friendly clothing can be expensive, but it certainly is not impossible. “A lot of teenagers cannot afford to pay for regular priced clothing and I’m fortunate I can. At the same time, I got a job, my parents aren’t paying for my clothes, I am.”