Why Are We Buying More Than We Can Wear?
Clueless, 1995
Fashion plays a part in everyone’s lives, whether to showcase individuality or simply to have something on their body so they are not walking around naked. The second you come into this world, you are wrapped in a blanket, and when you leave it, you are buried in an outfit. Therefore, it is safe to say fashion is everywhere, and it seems to be growing faster and bigger. This may seem like a good thing, since the world relies on the fashion industry to clothe us and provide employment for many. Yet, things seem to be getting worse, and our environment and health are at risk. One big contributing factor is the overconsumption of clothes due to new clothes coming out every week, fast fashion, and the spread of media.
Photograph by Dorothea Schroder
Since becoming a fashion merchandising student, I have done lots of projects and papers based on sustainability within the fashion industry, including the rise of overconsumption. Brands and companies are coming out with new clothes faster and faster, while also making items cheaper by using cheap labor and lower-quality fabrics. This phenomenon has spread like wildfire thanks to influencers who shove brands and sales down the throats of viewers. People are buying items, wearing them a few times, then throwing them away because they have lost their appeal, or they have become damaged after only a few wears. So, what becomes of these thrown-away clothes?
Dumpsite, Old Fadama in Accra, Ghana
The long answer is they could end up in various places depending on where the person threw away their clothes, if they donated them, etc. The short answer is they end up at a dumpsite like Old Fadama in Ghana. These dumpsites are larger than villages and taller than buildings, causing pollution in the air and water. These piles have been happening for years and are only growing, leading many to suffer the consequences of our actions. People sift through the clothes to sell or to wear as these sites have become a part of their normal life. Many rely on them to live, earning money by selling items they can find.
An influencer’s Shein haul
To be completely honest, I have been one of those people who have bought something off a fast fashion website, only to wear the item once or twice, then throw it away. I was ignorant of fashion’s impact on the environment and how what I do as a consumer can impact it. As I grew and learned, I realized what overconsumption can do to the environment and the fashion industry, and what I can do to prevent it.
Women standing in a pile of textile waste, Pinterest
There are various things I do to stop overconsuming that are easy, and anyone can do them if they put in a little effort. For one, before I buy anything, I always take my time to think about whether or not I really need it,if I will even use it, or if I have something similar. Another thing I do is donate my clothes to thrift stores or give them away to my friends. Something I started with my friends is a clothing swap. Every few months, we go around trading items instead of throwing them away. Lastly, I repurpose clothing that I still love but don’t wear because it doesn’t fit right or the style is a little off. Overconsumption can be pushed back; anyone can help, it doesn’t matter how little or big, anything can help.
Repurposed clothing waste, Pinterest
