by María José Alvarez Toribio (’27)

As fall approaches, so does hot coffee, cozy sweaters, and unnecessary shopping. Even though there is nothing inherently unethical or shameful about shopping, it does leave a pretty irreversible footprint on the environment. Overcoming the want to buy unnecessary things might feel impossible, but the environment deserves better, and so do we. 

Fast fashion seems impossible to avoid, and it might be sometimes, but there are ways to look your best without spending an exorbitant amount of money and still making eco-friendly choices.

Brands frequently market their clothes as “natural”, or “sustainable” as a way to seem moral and attract a bigger audience, but they aren’t always telling the truth. 

Try to buy good quality clothing

 A good way to determine an item’s quality is to look at the label. Labels often mention the material that clothes are made out of, and by reading them, you will be more aware of products’ ethicality. If you are looking to buy new clothes, opt for more sustainable materials; organic cotton, organic linen, and recycled wools. Poor-quality clothing can increase the amount of microplastics going into your body. Looking closely at the seams of clothing is another way to know if the item was made ethically. Even though better quality clothing tends to be more expensive, it will last longer, making it a better investment of your time and money.

Figure out what your style is

Shopping without knowing what you’re looking for could significantly increase your chances of splurging and ending up buying something you will not wear in the future. Great ways to find out what your style is could be to determine whether you mind being comfortable, what colors you look best in, and how you feel in different kinds of fits of clothing.

Repeat outfits

There has been some stigma created around repeating outfits, making people believe that wearing something more than once will make them “uncool”, but in reality, it is the best way to be sustainable when it comes to fashion. There is absolutely no shame in wearing an outfit that you think is good more than once. In fact, it sounds silly to only wear a piece of clothing once, and then throw it away. 

Buy only what you need

Refraining from buying anything and everything that catches your eye can be challenging and frustrating, but it could be incredibly helpful when picking out an outfit. Of course, wearing only basic clothes does not allow a person to express themselves through fashion, which is why buying pieces of clothing you know you will still like in a year or so could increase your chances of putting them to good use and not spending too much money on clothes you won’t like in the near future.

Know what you are looking for

 Knowing beforehand what you are looking to buy can significantly help reduce anxiety over shopping as well as confusion over what to buy. Knowing what you need as opposed to what you want will allow you to correctly prioritize what to look for while shopping.

Avoid microtrends

Microtrends are influenced by trends that come to become popular very fast and lose popularity just as fast. The downside to microtrends is that they are not timeless, meaning people are more likely to fall into and spend money on clothes they will probably not wear often. A way companies hide microtrends is by rebranding preexistent styles to appeal to new generations and labeling those styles differently to fit an aesthetic.

Sustainability is all about continuously maintaining habits that will allow us to utilize natural resources in the future. To be able to sustain these habits, they have to be achievable enough to be a day-to-day practice, so don’t beat yourself up if you occasionally buy something you know you will not like in the future. It’s okay to have different priorities, as sustainable clothing can be more expensive than fast fashion. Fast fashion serves its purpose: to provide affordable fashion for everyone, but a lot of people mistake this as an opportunity to spend exorbitant amounts of money on cheap clothes. Of course, fast fashion is there to take advantage of, but it’s also important to be mindful of the impact overconsumption has on the environment.