I am a victim of cheaply-priced clothes. I am aware of what is so wrong about fast fashion: its harmful effect on the environment, its role in child labor and what is habitually sacrificed for my spring break Shein cart; Yet, I still find myself at the checkout with a cart of 23 items a few weeks before spring break.
I have 25 bathing suits from Shein alone and I always seem to shop at cheap online stores like Cider or Princess Polly right before beach vacations. I’m not the only one, according to a Google Form posted on the Arlingtonian Instagram page, out of the 42 responses collected, 81 percent of the students tend to shop at places like Shein or Cider for cheaper clothes. The majority of teens buy five to 10 items, which usually include swimsuits, crop tops or other beachwear.
I am one of the many guilty teenagers ordering carts full of clothes and accessories. I will order them in bulk packs, full of bathing suits and low-quality shirts. Online shopping easily becomes addictive and in high school, it becomes too expensive to keep up with what is cute and still buy nice clothing. After I wear the items I ordered once, maybe twice, they are either shoved to the back of my closet or end up at Goodwill.
Fast fashion companies thrive off of underpaid workers and mass production of clothes made with inexpensive material. Their system for manufacturing and producing items is one reason I am able to afford a large order for such a good price.
Similarly, because of fast fashion brand prices, even if you order 20 items, it is cheaper to keep the clothes rather than return them and get a refund. So, when spring break comes around, and my previous Shein order sits deteriorating in my closet, I donate it and make room for my new clothes.
But, when last year’s clothes make their way to the Goodwill bins, I know that even though I gave them away, I am just giving them one more chance to be looked at, but not worn, before they end up in landfill.
I try my best to take care of the environment, to not over consume. I have led myself to believe that breaking down cardboard boxes, and ripping apart plastic bags so they don’t harm the environment, I cancel out the harm each order causes. Yet, I still give places like Shein my money because I don’t have the means to buy expensive clothes for every special occasion and beach vacation.
In the same Google Form, 90 percent of responders claimed to buy clothes that were manufactured at sweatshops because the process is cheap and easy. I hate the corrupt system that provides an outlet for microtrends and impulse purchases to thrive. Though unfortunately my bank account can’t afford to buy clothes regularly while also supporting quality, sustainable brands.
These businesses have a reputation of promoting overconsumption and waste. But the reality of the situation is that, at least for the foreseeable future I will continue to give sweatshops my money. The crave for an updated closet and unworn bathing suits, overrides my better judgement and I hit checkout.
I believe we are all guilty of shopping at stores that mass produce and underpay their workers. Most clothes that we wear are made in sweatshops, it is unavoidable. Shein, Cider and Temu are just the big names of the operation. Unfortunately, until everyone around me stops supporting fast fashion, which means not shopping at Urban Outfitters, Brandy Melville, Zara, H&M, Abercrombie and Fitch, Free People and so many other popular stores, I will continue to add items to my Shein spring break cart.
I can’t control where other people buy clothes or how expensive it is to update my closet or get some new outfits for spring break. But what is manageable is the level at which the ease of online shopping is abused. Instead of buying five new bathing suits, I could buy two or three. That method is achievable for most situations. By buying only a few items, it is easier to incorporate newer purchases into your existing wardrobe while still refreshing your closet.
It can be hard to “rip the Band-Aid off” and reduce overconsumption of cheap goods. Especially since fast fashion will probably be the norm in the shopping world for the near future. I, for one, have failed to stop buying items from sweatshops and exploitive-fashion brands. Although, I have started to buy more basics and order less clothes. This way, I am detoxing myself from the addiction and ease that comes with online shopping and cheap clothes. I am also helping the environment by reducing the amount of unworn clothes that eventually end up in landfills.
Fast fashion is all around us, it is inevitable, but the level at which I submit to fast fashion is something I am able to control.
