Tbh the most sustainable thing you can do is to not shop at all. Basically only shop when needed. But ofc sometimes shopping is the only thing that gives you dopamine sometimes. So when you do shop, you should learn to take care of the things you own. Young people have fully lost the knowledge/skill about repairing, how to wash different fabrics, how to store them, etc. Even though google is right there, it doesn’t usually come across a young person’s mind to think about those things. Poor people have always known to repair things out of necessity. Sustainability looks different on different people but I think we all have a responsibility. Poor people statistically are more sustainable in general because they are forced to be more resourceful, reuse & repair, use secondhand, etc.
I love this because someone told me I’m trash coz I said SHEIN is affordable and then proceeded to give me websites that were RIDICULOUSLY priced. I have been “thrifting” and I still couldn’t get what I needed 😒
Thrifting is unsustainable as well when people go to thrift stores, pick through it, and then upsell it on sites like Poshmark which have started to rob poorer neighborhoods of access they have to money and shopping locations. Also anyone who calls someone trash is actual trash. You're beautiful girl and don't let anyone take that from you.
@@vshcvsh98 these same people who shame you for shopping at these places literally defend these upsellers too.. you can’t win. Thrift store prices now be sometimes the same price as new depending on the brand. Personally, idc anymore
H&M is what I can afford, the clothes are cute and I take really good care of them so they last for ages. The only time I buy higher priced clothes is for winter outerwear, because I am DONE looking cute but freezing 😂
I have also googled Sustainable Fashion websites before, read article after article and most of them ended up being $50+ for a regular cotton top. I love that they are grown, harvested and produced responsibly but? I can‘t afford it. Period.
@@HoneyLittleSis I think a good solution as well is to shop secondhand. Plenty of apps like depop allow you to still get the things you're looking for at good prices without supporting problematic businesses.
It’s a matter of being a wise consumer…thinking of the longevity of the product and not just what is “trendy”. When shopping, looking at things like material, seams, fit, etc helps purchase better quality than just buying something because it is cute or trendy. Polyester would be cheaper than wool and cashmere but at the end, the latter (natural fibers) is better than the polyester . Expensive but better. These items can be bought secondhand if money is an issue. Even fast fashion sells them for reasonable price. How one cares for their items matters too regardless of the price tag. I do my best to care for my items regardless of the price spent because I’m exchanging cash that I worked for for an item that looses value immediately. Again being a wise consumer is the key here.
I think thrifting is a problem in America. In the uk charity shops are so cheap and I'd rather go there cause boohoo/H&M/ect are too expensive for me. What I say to to friends who do buy on shein, don't over consume. Just buy clothes you need and not an entirely different wardrobe for each new trend, and this also includes Sustainable brands.
Agree. I used to frown upon it until one day I saw on RU-vid someone showing their clothes then a woman at my job mentioned consignment stores and I was sold. I still buy new items but I most buy secondhand now.
Overconsumption wether it is done sustainably or not is still overconsumption. I buy high(on sale) and low all the time. It’s really the materials of the garment that people should look into.
I refuse to let people shame me for not buying clothes that's made overseas for $3.00 and sold in the US for $100.00 and up. Chile I can't! Buying brands is a "status" thing, not a smart thing! That's how I see it.
I don't like fast fashion, but I'm broke and when you're a bigger size, that doesnt leave much options. thrifting can produce some good pieces here and there, but there's hardly any plus sizes available.
THANK YOU 😢 I have been shopping secondhand/ “thrifting” & it makes me feel so sad that I don’t have time to find good clothes. I’ve avoided SHEIN & PLT FASHION NOVA etc. like the plague because I never wanted to be judged. I appreciate you giving me the peace in my SOUL to buy clothes online. I plan to shop for my first capsule wardrobe FINALLY and can feel good about it. I love you, Simone. Please never stop recording. Much love from Dallas.
Please, don't make anyone ever make you feel guilty for how you choose to spend your money. You worked hard for it and should buy whatever your heart desires. Please don't
As an individual that makes clothing I would prefer to not wear fast fashion(not saying I don’t because I do) BUT to expect everyone not to and to go as far as to shame them is a bit too much. Sounds super shallow as well. Knowing how those clothes are made plays a part in why I decided to begin making my own (I was also a poor mother 9 years ago when I started). People should get over themselves though(the shamers) who died and made them the fashion police?!
Simone 💕 thank you for yet another nuanced video. I internalized this shame for so long and only allowed myself to purchase from thrift stores or sustainable brands I absolutely could not afford. As a person with sensory issues- sometimes shopping at fast fashion stores in the mall is what is the best for me to be able to function physically and financially. I’d order wool sweaters from expensive sustainable brands or rigid 90s jeans from Goodwill to try to be perfect and I was suffering the whole way through. My approach is way softer and more blended now-focusing on owning less, extending the longevity of my clothes, and buying worthwhile pieces secondhand has been my best bet so far. Everyone should do the best they can-but without breaking the bank, being constantly uncomfortable, or not having enough of what they need. Your attitude of dignity for all is exactly what I’ve needed to hear for so long 💕
Exactly! Like what are people supposed to do- go naked? I think there’s a huge difference between people buying what they can afford and rich influencers doing $400 Shein halls every week. People always wanna bring up secondhand shopping but you can’t always find things second hand and that point about gentrifying and hate keeping it! Also that point about capitalism! It is DEFINITELY not the fault of individual consumers to fix problems that corporations have created. We are all just out here doing what we can within the systems available to us! Loved this video in case you couldn’t tell 😂🎉
I love this and definitely agree. It’s about how you treat the stuff you buy on the fast fashion websites and just being mindful of quantity and versatility of the clothing is key. I like to browse Shein but then wait a few weeks to see if I still really want the items in the cart…and usually after a month I don’t. So I don’t get them and the result is I only shop very occasionally
You got me 😭😭 but wow your videos have really been opening a new part of my brain fr I found your channel looking for silk press videos and here you are preaching 🙌🏾 exactly what I need to hear. If I buy a $100 outfit I will be getting my moneys worth. Like I can’t stand someone who shames others for outfit repeating..if it’s that serious how about buy them some outfits since you clearly got it like that.
I did the sustainable shopping for two years in highschool because I was following american media and figured out I was a bad person for wearing new clothes. A rule made up by the anti-fast-fashion girlies in 2016-2017 was that if it doesn`t say it is made ethicaly then it wasn`t. Mind you, I always loved second hand shopping, but you cannot make a whole wardrobe out of second hand clothes, not in Eastern Europe. You can find vintage gems but you cannot buy yourself clothes for every occasion from a SH store, no appropriate bussines, party, wedding, school or winter clothes and footwear. In Eastern Europe H&M is for the rich kids and Zara for rich women, for the rest of us there are chinese shops owned by chinese merchants, that is all we used to wear when we went back to school. When I tried only shopping SH I had the worst wardrobe full of mismatched clothes like granny sweaters, band t-shirts, one pair of boots, one pair of pants and an insanely thin trench-coat. I needed the basics for a SH wardrobe to work, but I wasn`t allowing myself that. When I went to university I was aware I looked like a homeless person and I desperately needed a lot of things, I had no winter clothes . no winter boots and was not dressing like people my age which felt undignifying because it was a choice but at the same time it wasn`t, the SH stores just did not have cute stuff that fit my personality and I was a 18 years old who was told was evil because I wasn`t happy with second handed clothes. There were always those people that preached we should get away with fashion and just dress with whatever we find at the SH store , the only goal being not to get cold. Until you convince the world to that are you going to brainwash people into dressing inappropriately always? Because that can impact their lives, from the jobs they can have, to the partner they choose, to the opportunities that are given to them, to the ability to be taken seriously and in the end their mental health. Because I needed so many things I had to spend a lot of money at H&M, for me that is 300 euros and I felt so guilty. I still take so much care of those clothes, I still have them , believe me when I say THERE WERE NO OPTIONS. In communism my parents used to wear clothes made at the sewer for their measures, even then it was expensive , even then you needed cute clothes for every occasion, I actualy wear my father`s custom made clothes because he gave them to me, don`t tell me I only deserve to dress in rags.
Fast fashion feeds into overconsumption. There’s a thin line between buying what you need and buying to participate in consumerism. Thrift stores are just as affordable as fast fashion and way more sustainable. At the end of the day, nobody knows you or your needs as well as you do. Holding your self accountable and being self-aware goes a long way in all areas of life
Thrift stores now becoming just as expensive as these department stores now thrifting has become more trendy. Websites like Depop and Poshmark are having re-sellers buy up clothes, shoes, and accessories in bulk and marking them up in exponential prices. And it's not to knock folks down who do businesses like this as a means of income. I went to savers not too long ago and saw a cardigan sweater for like $12.99--the same type of sweater I can get at TJMaxx for around the same price. I do agree with you in participating with extreme consumerism like buying unnecessary amounts of clothes from Shein that you know is going to rip apart less than a year, or you know you're not going to wear. Thrift store is more sustainable, but thrift stores are also heading towards that direction of not being affordable for folks who often thrift as a means of necessity.
Shopping second hand where I live is just as expensive as buying brand new, some of the stuff in goodwill here is in worse shape and more expensive than SHEIN. I’m on disability I’m buying the new SHEIN stuff that’s my size and not already worn out and I’m gonna save money doing it.
What's funny is that the same ppl who shame other for wearing fast fashion are the same people who make fun of other for "still" wearing clothes that aren't "trendy" anymore or who don't dress stylish. The way people make fun of me that I'm still wearing adidas Superstars or no brand shoes 🤦🏾♀️
Thank you for doing this video. As someone who got her BA in Environmental Studies I’ve had a lot of mental struggles internally about buying fast fashion and being a thrifter…but you nailed it on where I am now…It’s just my current affordability level and I’d definitely never shame someone else for it. These companies need to be doing better and I know one day I will be buying from more black owned stores/boutiques/eco friendly spots, but right now that’s about as accessible as designer labels while I’m still beginning my career. Anyway, all points were excellent. One of my favorite videos.
YOUR TITLE ALONE JUST SUMS UP MY ENTIRE ARGUMENT IN THIS MATTER!!! OMG, I hate how people always find something to be outraged and political about. It's so annoying! Soon, the internet will shame us for not breathing properly.
Hii..! This is related to my field fo study so I would like to take a moment to talk about it. I agree with almost everything you said. There aren't very good alternatives to fast fashion right now in terms of acessibility or sustainability, this includes second hand shopping, a lot of the clothes at second hand shops just end up in land fills anyway, and lately it seems to just be enabling other people's fast fashion shopping (depop is a good example of this), not to mention that how acessible second hand shopping is depends on where you live and also like you said, how much time you have. If you're someone concerned about how to be more sustainable about your fashion, focusing on the quantity and speed at which you're shopping is the best thing you can do. Also, we can work at being better at styling whatever clothes we already own in creative ways instead of always getting something new, so get ready with me videos and less haul unboxing videos. if you have time, also work on being better at protecting your clothes. There are very fragile expensive items and also long lasting affordable clothing. Second hand shopping although not perfect is a great way to find "quality" pieces at a good price point, depending on where you live. Outlet stores also will sell "higher quality" items at lower prices. (quality here just means what kind of fabric is being used) Also it's good to develop and discover your own personal style--once you know your personal style--it's easier to resist the urge to buy clothes that don't match your vibe simply because they're trendy this week. Finally--Like Simone said, this is a problem that was *very recently* constructed by the upper class. The wealthy that claim to not participate in fast fashion are the ones that profit from it and enable it. As a consumer, the only thing to do is to work on your self. These companies thrive from manipulating your self worth and sense of identity in order to get you to buy their products. They loose their power the more you value and respect your self and the people around you. Respect others too much to laugh at them for wearing a shirt twice (uncessary behavior) respect your self too much to feel less than because your shirt isn't trendy anymore. It's not easy but it's worth doing.
there is No ethical consumption under Captalisim! sadly that doesnt mean to just give up but lets acknowledge that this is bigger than just every day person
Fast fashion is not kept afloat by people who can’t afford to shop elsewhere and are buying just what they need. It’s kept afloat by excessive consumption and our throwaway society. It also doesn’t help that people need to buy more and more of it because the quality is so awful. Also most of the clothes can’t even be resold at charity shops because the quality is so poor. And a huge number of donations are received with the tags still on unworn! This is a complex issue, but personal accountability is really important. Fashion is a huge contributor to climate change, it’s one of the most polluting industries in the world. You can’t just bat away any and all criticism about this as “shaming”. Also the documentaries showing the horrific working conditions of (usually overwhelmingly) female garment workers in the factories is heartbreaking. Shein being one of the absolute worst. They’re not clothing the poor, they’re clothing the consumer who wants an excessive amount of clothes. Our addiction to fast fashion needs to end.
girl i was about to tussle with you and i still don't 100% agree but you had some really good points. i don't condone shaming ever and i do think that people cannot exclusively shop second hand. however, just like they can do their research to find good quality clothing and hope for the best on sites like shein, they can do research to see if the brand is ethical, or go to a thrift store or discount store and be selective about pieces that fit their style and will last a long time (and are clean and good smelling lol). i don't think that people have a right to new clothing. it's a social construct to wear clothes for fashion. in terms of survival it doesn't matter. and i think it's a good idea to think positively and dream about when you will be able to afford a sustainable brand that is new and shiny and a little bit or a lot more expensive. gifts can happen too! and yes we definitely should be shaming companies for using slave labor!
imo i feel like the problem shouldnt be where you buy from, but how often you do so. Even people who buy clothes sustainably/more pricey, they also should be mindful of how much/how often they purchase and if they are actually gonna wear these clothes for years to come. Dont let anyone shame you for what you can afford however I think if you are like an influencer paying $100 or more on huge shein hauls damn near every couple months, you can afford sustainable clothes. i said what i said.
Thank you for saying it like it is! Some body had to tell the truth like it is about the sharks out there. Always pitching one class against the other. Every one was given God's beautiful rights and place on this earth to live abundantly and be beautiful flourishing people.
I will never let the opinion of rich people in rich countries determine or even slightly influence my decisions. They have different options than me and I'm 100% OK with that.
People just want to be told good news about their bad habits, even if it’s complete BS. The only person who can hold yourself accountable is you, so if you’re happy with who you give your money to then fair enough. But all actions have consequences, whether you want to believe it or not, which is why the world is on fire.
I love this video. My AP seminar class last year was based around ethicality, identity, and conformity with a focus on fast fashion, and with me having my first job and being stressed to be more independent (saving for a car, buying my own clothes and such), I felt extremely guilty just having those items from H&M/SHEIN in my cart. Thank you 🫶🏽
