Fast Fashion - Blog Posts

Someone told me my hair and fashion style was “too 2010s.” It’s only been two years. Please!😭😭😭

Pardon me while I throw everything I own away and buy hundreds of dollars of now clothes so I can be one of the cool kids.

Seriously though, who has the time, money and energy to completely reinvent themselves every time a new style drops. Not me. 👋

Fr, learn to sew. It also helps to reduce your wardrobe only to garments that you absolutely love 💕

Let sewing radicalize you against fast fashion

I feel like something that doesnt get talked about enough is how fast fashion is coming to hobbies as well. Sure, you can sew, knit, and crochet something better than youd buy in store, but good luck finding quality materials

Want a fabric that doesnt fray from being gently caressed? Want yarn thats not 100% plastic and splits if you touch it wrong? Good luck finding that if you dont have a genuinely good crafts store near you.

Go on any thread where people are trying to figure out where to buy fabric. 50% of it is people saying big stores are servicable, online stores work, or the like, and the other 50% are talking about how bad the quality is or how the quality of a website dropped because it was bought out

Were running into a problem where fast fashiob is so integrated into society that even the ability to make your own, comfortable and long lasting, clothes is being threatened by capitalism

Okay so correct me if I’m wrong but you CAN buy fast fashion BUT ONLY if it’s from thrifting, and like you can buy trendy stuff if it’s from a small business

RIGHT???

Like obviously I wouldn’t be caught dead in something from shein but like, hypothetically, I could if I wanted to??, or like if I wanted to use its fabric?

polish (and maybe other countries too) fans of blur there's a parklife t-shirt at House!!

(80zł)

The Psychology behind Fast Fashion:

Fast fashion has revolutionized the retail scene, providing the masses with the hottest styles available within lightning-fast timeframes and at breakneck prices. But what makes the phenomenon tick? Behind the thrilling aspect of fast fashion lies a complex interplay between emotions, social pressures, and cognitive biases.

Instant Gratification

The biggest psychological factor is the demand for instant and immediate fulfilment of a person’s needs or desires . A world that applauds in immediacy ensures fast fashion delivers exactly what people want: fast rewards. The shopper rushes with new clothes, lifting their mood temporarily. And this impromptu satisfaction fosters an addiction; sooner than later, more purchases might lead to buyer's regret.

Social Identity and Peer Influence

Thus, as a means of self-expression and social identity, fashion can also present a crucial role in defining who people are. Associating with fast fashion can be a means of creating the perception that wearing the latest trends "heightens" the individual's social status. Social pressure is at a great level to avoid FOMO through keeping abreast with peers, influencers, and even celebrities. The cycle leads to the fact that one needs to change the goods in his or her wardrobe continuously "to keep up," causing overconsumption.

Cognitive Dissonance

Fast fashion consumers experience cognitive dissonance, which occurs when values clash with practices of purchase. The consumer on one hand may preach sustainability and ethical responsibility, but low prices and fashionable items can justify a one-stop shop at fast fashion. This can cause guilt, but social acceptance usually drowns out these thoughts.

Marketing Techniques

This fast-fashion company uses many psychological tactics in its advertisements that play tricks in the consumer's mind. Scarcity-based marketing, where limited stocks, sales, or low quantities are offered as time-sensitive forces the buyer to shop on impulse. Consumers keep coming back due to a new collection each month that convinces them to shop because it's new and is the 'thing' at that particular moment.

Conclusion To put it in a nutshell, the psychology which defines fast fashion reveals how emotional wants, social influence, and marketing manipulation blend together into a notable shopping experience. Understanding these aspects will empower the consumers to make mindful decisions that will lead to a far more sustainable approach towards fashion.

A list of (realistic) things you can do to be more environmentally friendly

(from an earth-loving horticulture student.)

— COSMETICS

Use bar soap instead of soap bottles

Use old toothbrushes for cleaning surfaces

Try exploring and researching some homemade face/body/lip products

Use ice sleeves, sunglasses, and caps instead of sunscreen (Edit: I’ve seen people say that it is safer and even necessary to wear sunscreen at all times so try to use eco friendly sunscreen instead! In my country it’s pretty uncommon to wear sunscreen often as we usually wear ice sleeves which is why I did not know this oof)

Use coffee grinds or homemade tumeric masks instead of cosmetic products with exfoliator beads

Invest in a metal ear cleanser instead of cotton buds

Try placing more importance on skincare instead of contributing to exploitative beauty companies by buying makeup

Use cosmetic products that do not contain palm oil

— CLOTHING

Try as much as possible to rewear your outfits at least twice before washing them

Actually WEAR your clothes! I know some of y’all just wear them once for your Instagram post and let it rot in your closet forever. Stop doing that!

Thrift, stitch up holes in your clothes, and use second hand clothing instead of supporting fast fashion companies like SHEIN, H&M, Zara, etc.

Cut up your old clothing into yarn and do macramè with it

Cut patches of old clothing to turn into reusable cotton pads

Learn how to knit, crochet or stitch your clothes!

If you use tampons, try menstrual cups or discs instead. If you use pads, try reusable pads or period underwear. (Trust me, it works). Also, use reusable panty liners instead of disposable ones. They may seem expensive but you will end up saving a lot more in the long run

— GARDENING

Plant seeds/cuttings in your old bottles, jars, and containers

Propagate your plants and exchange cuttings with your friends instead of buying new plants

Make your own soil mixes instead of buying soil mixes

Better yet, don’t use soil for your indoor plants and try getting into hydroponics or semihydroponics instead. This saves so much water and doesn’t contribute to mining of soil

Fertilise plants with fruit peels, coffee grinds, and tea leaves. (DO NOT use chemical fertiliser on soil)

Plant more legume plants in your garden instead of using nitrogen fertilisers. (Look up the nitrogen cycle if you need an explanation on this)

Avoid pesticides unless really needed. Try sprinkling cinnamon powder on soil or spraying neem oil on plants and soil to keep away pests.

If you have a lawn, try looking into rain gardens and consider making one

Let the (non invasive) weeds in your lawn/garden grow! They are there for a reason!

Stop killing earthworms and millipedes in your garden. This also applies to snails native to your region. They are there for a reason.

Water used to wash fruits and rice can be used to water plants

— REDUCE, REUSE

Use the caps of jars as soap holders

Use recycled paper/notebooks

Wash and dry your glass/plastic items before throwing them in the recycling bin

Keep any plastic bags for future use

Use eco friendly or reusable dish sponges

Use reusable straws and cups

Invest in a fabric cup holder

Bring a water bottle with you wherever you go

Drink more water and less sugary drinks

Bring reusable bags for buying groceries instead of using plastic ones

Always keep a folded up tote/shopping bag with you in case you spontaneously decide to buy something

— ELECTRICITY

Set a timer on your air conditioning instead of letting it run throughout the night

Better yet, use a fan instead of an air conditioner

Open your windows! Aerate your home!

Allow natural light to enter your home during the daytime, so as to avoid turning on your lights

Switch to LED lightbulbs instead of regular lightbulbs

Turn off any switches in your house when they are not in use

Collect the water from your air conditioner/dehumidifier condenser and use that to water plants, clean surfaces, steam ironing, and flushing toilets. Do not drink it though!

— INTERNET

Delete your all of your unwanted emails

Delete your inactive social media accounts

Try not to post excessively on social media and stop scrolling excessively too. This not only reduces energy usage but also improves your mental health and productivity

Try to keep to one social media app instead of having so many

Reduce your internet usage

Save your eBooks on a thumbdrive instead of on cloud

Use Ecosia instead of Google

Stop being influenced by social media trends that only just contribute to consumerism

Download music instead of streaming

Reduce online shopping

— FOOD

Reduce intake of processed foods

Reduce intake of fish, beef, and dairy

Try eating vegan or vegetarian foods at least once or twice a week

Cook your own meals instead of eating out

Bring your own food containers when taking away food from stores

Beeswax wrap instead of cling wrap!

Buy loose-leaf tea or plastic free tea bags instead of regular tea bags

Eat more mushrooms, vegetables, and fruits and drink more water

Support local farmers

And finally, educate yourself more about ecology and the environment!

Apparently, some companies now are labeling mass-produced crochet items with "machine crocheted" to justify selling an entire granny square vest for 14 bucks.

1. Machines cannot crochet.

2. Knitting machines, to my knowledge, cannot make granny squares.

3. Even if there was a machine that could crochet, 14 bucks for an entire fucking vest is still too low to be paying people a livable wage basically anywhere in the world.

4. It takes me, a very fast crocheter, about twenty minutes to make one granny square in a single color with five rows. Multi-color granny squares take more time. I'll say 30 minutes. Next time you see a granny square anything in a big box store, count one row of squares and multiply by 20 (for single color squares) or 30 (multicolor squares). Then consider that it's skilled labor which should have an hourly wage you can live on. Then look at the price tag. This is Victorian piece work poor shit going on.