Slowing Down Fast Fashion
By Nicole Van Stralen
Most of us are familiar with typing the word “SHEIN” into a search bar and being taken to an online store that offers thousands of pieces of clothing and accessories for unusually cheap prices. I myself have purchased their $6 crop tops and $10 pair of jeans in the past, however, I was left unsatisfied. The website was no longer of interest to me until a couple of weeks ago. I was walking in downtown San Francisco and saw a sign with big, white letters spelling out the word SHEIN. The sign was painted onto a storefront window welcoming customers into their store. I was blown away by the fact that this notorious online store rooted itself into a real place in the city, and it inspired me to write the following piece:
I feel like, as a whole, we are shying away from buying clothes from stores like SHEIN and other fast fashion brands that are extremely harmful to our environment and economy. I have seen a rise in ethical brands and an overall push to live more sustainably. However, when I saw SHEIN’s in person store in San Francisco, I was rudely reminded that we still have a ways to go.
Don’t get me wrong, I have purchased clothes and swimwear from SHEIN in the past. But, I am always disappointed when the material breaks or it just looks completely different in person. A part of me knew that this would happen if I bought something from this website, however, $11 for a bikini set? I was sold.
As I grew older, I learned more about SHEIN’s negative environmental impacts and unsafe working conditions. Plus, as I matured, my style also matured. I no longer wanted to buy tiny tube tops and trendy bikinis all the time. I realized that wearing more relaxed clothes actually compliment my body more than wearing tight clothing. I started to migrate towards wearing looser jean shorts and longer tops that didn’t show my belly button all the time. I was also more interested in investing my money into clothing that I truly felt my best in.
This idea was put into action this past year when I cleaned out my closet to head home for the summer. I was donating and selling clothes from Zara and Urban Outfitters that I (maybe) wore once. I was getting so frustrated with myself because I never felt too confident in those purchases in the first place. So why did I even buy it? Well, it was cheap. And as a broke college girl on a budget, I wasn’t itching to buy a $150 dress that is made organically, sustainably, and vegan. I wanted to buy a cheap dress that I could wear to a semi formal and would probably become dirty from spilling cheap alcohol and self tanner, you know?
I kept clearing out my closet, and noticed myself taking special care of the pieces of clothing that I splurged on. For example, the pair of jeans that I wear three times a week because I finally found a pair that doesn’t make me want to rip them off as soon as I get home. The midi skirt which was a little pricey for me but I know I will keep forever. The leather jacket that I saved up for because I wanted to have that staple in my wardrobe. I looked at these pieces of clothing and thought, this is how I should be building my wardrobe.
I realized that I would much rather have a smaller, good quality wardrobe that I am confident in wearing, rather than a huge wardrobe that is full of cheap clothing that I throw away after a year of owning. When I go out in public wearing quality clothing that I am proud of, I can immediately sense the shift in my confidence. My shoulders are back, I am standing tall, I am not adjusting any straps or creases in my clothes, and I am confident in what I do.
I know this is much easier said than done… and I am nowhere near having that small, good quality wardrobe. However, I have made an effort to simply slow down with my purchases and think before I buy. How often will I wear this? Will it go out of fashion in the next couple of months? Does it make me feel good when I put it on? These questions help me buy pieces that I am truly excited to buy. Yes, the price is steeper and I could probably find a dupe at Zara or H&M, but I never regret spending a little more on clothing when I know it is for the right reasons.
Now, this article isn’t supposed to be a diss on people who buy clothes from SHEIN and other fast fashion brands. Like I said, I have bought many things from these places in the past. I simply needed to share my thought process on this topic as I continue to build my wardrobe and mature. I am also nowhere near perfect and I don’t buy sustainable clothing every time. However, when I do, I feel so much better inside.
I don’t believe fast fashion will ever go away. Perhaps the awareness of its negative impact will grow, however, we will always be faced with the decision to either buy the cheap, low quality piece of clothing or the more expensive, better quality piece. The hard part lies in making that decision. No one is perfect when it comes down to this. However, I have made enough frustrating mistakes to know that I should weigh the pros and cons of the purchase and make the right decision.