I absolutely found myself skipping £20 polyesters and loading my wardrobe with £100-£300 silks, cashmeres and boy oh boy. How much I spent lol with the justification of “I don’t have any good quality clothing”. Meanwhile my polyester has lasted me 5+ years……….
This is the consumer "onion" channel! The layer upon layer of thoughtful, educational, informative, and warning content. You may not have thought this deeply before about these topics but the exercise is worth it and fun! Onward and upward!😎
“The link is in my bio” always gets me when I’m watching a “sustainable, Ecco friendly, low consumption” channel.😂 I get it though, they gotta eat too but it just cracks me up.
Yes! On one hand, if something is mentioned it can be seen as "gatekeeping" to NOT share a link or where they got it...but, if a creator is trying to take a stand against overconsumption and then proceeds to overconsume (through sponsors or PR that they didn't truly need) it just presents an interesting contradiction in the nature of the "job". Nothing personal against any of the creators!
I appreciate you taking the time to evaluate how your content could affect others because yeah, it might seem like overkill to have a disclaimer, but I think it actually helps me as the viewer to know when products are going to be shown. I can be aware that I might be shown something I could be influenced to buy and remind myself that it's not your intention lol My achilles heel is always looking for the "best" version of any item I already own, so I'm very susceptible to being influenced on items to replace perfectly fine items because they're not "good enough". Looking forward to videos from you every day this week! 💜
Thank you! I know I do have a tendency to "overthink" and I don't want to come across as TOO serious with the disclaimers etc. but at the same time it's like you said, I don't know how to be clear about my intentions of NOT selling, without some kind of possibly over-the-top acknowledgement. And even WITH the acknowledgement, I have received a couple of comments now about how I'm a no-buy channel that constantly shows stuff - which is indeed a fair point and got me thinking (and journaling yet another video) too! 😅
I appreciate you saying "I don't blame the influencers" and to a certain degree I'm with you. But sometimes I can't shake a little bit of an ick however, especially knowing that these creators must be aware of who their audience is. They know who they're catering towards and the struggles these people may or may not have. These creators possibly even have dealt with similar hickups/tendencies themselves to a certain extent. So in my opinion that should warrant some extra kindness and awareness in regard to these topics on their part. Am I expecting too much of people on the internet?
Oh man I just wrapped up editing Saturday's video about who's to blame, and actually on Friday I share how I have the "ick" too partly because influencers do not "know" (on a personal level) who their audience is - as far as they don't directly interact with people with struggles or weaknesses or even know if they're inadvertently pitching to children/minors who may be watching. But your point is ANOTHER layer again, because like you said, if it's any type of conscious consuming channel, they MUST know that people struggle with conscious consumerism. And to be willing to disregard that awareness in pursuit of sponsor money or whatnot, is another kind of icky.
I can think of a couple influencers who rake in tons of money shilling anything and everything to their audience, and I absolutely blame those influencers for their part in the rabid consumerism infecting so much of society. It's not every influencer and there's an argument to be made for blaming the framework in which influencers work that make it so profitable to "influence," but it's still a choice. There are other choices when it comes to earning a living.
To your point, I actually looked up your Buffalo Sweatshirt at Abercrombie site (which is not a brand I ever buy) when you first showed it, you were just saying you wanted it!! Zero influence intended, yet, I influenced myself! 😮 I am far enough along my own journey that I did not buy it, but now I have a buffalo living rent free in my brain. This video is truly my favorite so far, very deep down the rabbit hole of our motivations to consume. When watching your videos in order, I did feel like you were justifying some of the purchases, and I saw it because ai used to do it too. I am glad of all your progress toward a more balanced and self rewarding lifestyle. Fellow over-thinker from Miami Ps. Have you watched Marisa Zen? You might get something out of her channel
Happy to meet another over-thinker! 😁 And yes I also see (and feel!) the change in where I was when I started, not just as far as "content creating" but also how I related to shopping and wanting stuff. Just hoping I don't backslide after removing the framework of the "no buy" challenge...or rather, I might find a way to go forward with a lot of that framework actually still in place. I have seen Marissa Zen! I like her personal approach and how she's not afraid to share the more vulnerable stories sometimes.
You are SO right! I decided to choose 1 nice reusable water cup-my favorite was always needing washing and my other needed a new lid. I found a replacement that fit on Yeti. Then I saw a pretty yeti color and it was a nicer version so I bought it… and a 2nd one. Yikes. I have 2 yeti and 2 non-branded ones. So I have 4!!! I never needed 4 reusable cups but that “better version “ definitely got me! 🤦🏼♀️ I almost got the Pela years ago… I’m glad I forgot about it back then after your report!👍
It's so easy to fall into the traps...especially as companies as well are always striving to make a "better" version to entice customers, even with products that are supposed to last a very very long time (like the water bottles and cups). I also wouldn't be surprised if enough reusable water vessels are now on the planet for every single human to have one!
Thank you, it is so nice to have someone else put the words to the thoughts I’ve been having. I have been trying to be more aware of this exact issue and trying to figure out how much or to what degree I’m still being influenced or not.
Thank you right back, and I've found that actually in some cases I've had to step back from influencer content because it felt like I'm ALWAYS being influenced.
Indeed!!! Finally getting around to that employer-matched retirement account too (my work only starts matching from your third year, which is next season for me!)
Just a note re: sustainability and fashion brands, whether it becomes relevant to you further down the line or if anyone else is looking for info, a good, easy-to-use, free resource for checking brands' sustainability and ethics claims is the Good On You directory. But maybe don't look at it yet, as when you search a brand it helpfully signposts you to similar brands with better ratings, which could maybe be a bit tempting 😂😅
Thanks for sharing this resource! Where I'm at right now, I'm skeptical that I'll EVER need to actually buy new clothing ...but I'm sure the time will come 😆
I am an environmental science student and this contradiction in eco-conscious content existing in a capitalist system is something that always crosses my mind and it kinda sucks for these content creators because since this is their livelihood, they are kinda doomed regardless (if this is their actual value, which I hope it is).
Yes! I do think that in what I've seen (especially here on RU-vid) it is the specifically eco-conscious creators who go the "extra mile" with vetting and curating their sponsored content and PR, because the very nature of WHY they promote certain brands IS the comparison to the existing options so more research and consideration kind of HAS to go into it, and there can be value for a general consumer to be aware that there are better options for products they actually use and can replace after the version they already have is no longer usable. But that's part of the key for the consumer, to not replace still-usable items. Even though the creators give this disclaimer (don't buy it if you don't need it) some of us are too curious or impulsive with shopping to resist, which is not their fault at that point 😅
This is such an important topic… I wish kids would pass it along to tic tok too. It’s like RU-vid/Facebook moved to insta to tic tok etc. advertising keeps moving along like a shady slimy snake eating our time and money.
Haha I actually did try to do tiktok shorts on my no buy year, but had to deactivate because I was seeing too many ads myself and it was making me want things I didn't need! Also I highly prefer long form content, both to watch and to make. But yes tiktok needs more creators over there fighting against the ads and influencing going on 🙃
Great video, I agree, and that's probably why I have never really been attracted to the minimalist space here on RU-vid..they also push consumerism! Not all, but it is weird to see sponsorships on so many of these minimalist channels. There are a few I follow in order to help me with impulse purchases. They have taught me certain habits such as not replacing everything with the best quality and to wait on purchases that do not need to be made now like you mentioned, so again, I think they help but some of them dont make sense especially, the high tech minimalists. Technology is so bad for the environment, and we really need to be more conscious in that space! Side note, I do blame influencers to a certain extent because I did well in my June no buy and so this month when I started watching some of my favorite creator's videos, now I want to buy things this month! 😂 Jk, it is still my fault, but I was really proud of myself in June, so I am so annoyed with myself that now I want to treat myself with shopping since I did so well last month 😅
You can stay strong! Especially if it's stuff that you didn't even know you wanted in June - you don't have to cave in July! Easier said than done, I know but I believe in you 😄
I dont fully blame influencers because the system is rigged and the culture of consumerism is already set. But for example you mentioned the vitamins on your last video and said you would rport back' if they really worked. And I thought honestly I dont need to know, I dont want to be influenced to buy that product. But it is such a common thing hearing people say they will 'report back on this product' like do we need this really? but it is how we've been communicating so far, so it's a habit, and worth rethinking.
THANK YOU for saying that, because actually I don't really want to "report back" unless someone comments specifically to ask or share, or it somehow becomes relevant to a point I'm trying to get across in the future. You've freed me from the trap of "oh I said I might so maybe I should" 😅 I really hope the culture of consumerism isn't permanently set. I've heard about a possible ban on the TikTok app, which, if that's possible to do (or even entertain the idea of), surely it's possible to ban other questionable things...
My problem is that I find myself wanting to buy things to support artisans, either independent or represented by sustainable brands. At least in my corner of the world, the traditional artisanal crafts are on the decline and the artisans themselves struggle to make ends meet. My buying something is a want for me but likely a need for whoever made it. If modern consumerism wasn't a thing, most people would still be buying from local artisans, at a slower pace but still enough to sustain everyone. I guess getting people to buy less fast fashion is still the ultimate goal but I still don't know where I stand on buying sustainable fashion.
Oh I feel this too. I hate to think that people specializing in the skills to make beautiful or unique things, or provide services, could be becoming more rare as they don't find themselves supported in this economy of "convenience" and "cheap goods" and "online influence of mega-companies products"
I'm so thankful that I found Shawna Ripari. She really made me change my shopping habits. I'm really enjoying your videos as well. Btw, are you as tired of the wind every day here as I am?? 😮
Well it's good for kite-flying, but when it's windy AND rainy there's really not a lot to be done! haha If you come to Gene Leahy on the 4th (or the 5th), look out for me in the violas onstage! 😄 Totally understand if you don't wanna deal with that crowd though
And there it is! I just finished your last video and commented on how interested I am in this topic. The search for better options… yes. But for me it hinders me sometimes to buy anything at all (at least in terms of clothing and home items). It would be nice to have orientation in the overflowing market. But I would appreciate if every (sustainable) creator clearly marks videos with ads or recommendations in it in the beginning. I also think Shelbi handles this OK. In her normal content there’re no affiliate links, no brands etc. In her recommendations there are. But even with her and more so with others. How do I know they aren’t influenced by sponsorships? Should you support Amazon at all as an sustainability influencer? I think they have a responsibility to at least really talk about ads, sponsors etc. at length and make sure they don’t advertise outside the sponsorship box or a dedicated recommendation video. Especially on fashion channels or also from creators just updating their clothes there are soooo many brands. I never bought „influenced clothes“ but I often research if they are available where I live and what they offer… Oh… I lied. I bought a maternity dress from a sustainable brand after a RU-vidr’s recommendation a few years before 😅
I'm honestly starting to feel "brand overwhelmed" the more I see NEW brands (or new to me) sponsored on channels...while I am somewhat grateful for the discoveries of the brands that DO make up most of my closet, I've reached a point of feeling like I'm "good" now. I did pick up a useful tip from Justine Leconte's channel awhile back that I'll be thinking about if I do need new clothing, which is to look for brands from the countries where your physical needs are best reflected. For example, she said Scandinavian companies often make longer clothing because lots of people are tall there. French brands are not like that, because it's not a generally tall population. And I do find this to be true in my experience, most of my clothes ARE from a Swedish brand, and I am about 5ft10" or 178cm tall, and I have decluttered a lot of stuff that has been too short in arms/legs from other brands. All of that to say, influencers like Justine DO provide some of this service, and I think the only thing I remember her "influencing" us to buy has been her own brand that she designs and produces.
@@Alexas.nobuyyear I don’t follow her that much because I’m rather short and a lot of her tips don’t work for me. And - tbh - almost no influencer has my style, very few sustainable brands have what I like to wear or what works on my body (short and a bit curvy but sportive). In oversized, loose shirts or blouses I look like I stole from my big sister as a child. A classical A-line works for me best. I like Recolution, Fellherz, Blutgeschwister and King Louie (German and Dutch sustainable brands) and mostly try to find them on vinted (European version of poshmark I think). I mention them because they wouldn’t fit you ;) To know what brands work is also good for Second hand shopping. That’s a good thing about influencers. But, as I said, I like it when the separate recommendations from other kinds of content. I think I saw the video about brands in different countries and yes - Italian and also French brands (especially underwear) actually fit me :) I am German but with parents from Croatia.
I think people do not generally accept that RU-vid and Instagram are platforms to sell ads. The user created content is their business model to bring people to their platform to view ads. So I get that you don't want to blame content creators, and I think there is some legitimacy to just wanting to CREATE, but that is not and never has been the goal of these platforms.
I KNEW this would happen, where I get comments that give me additional thoughts/insight on what I'm set to talk about later this week after I've already recorded 😅 but thank you for your comment! That's yet another layer, where there's kind of a facade that social media is this great thing where anyone can create anything and have an audience, spread their "message" (or even make money, whatever they might set out to do)...but really it's just ads-motivated. Kind of like the "American Dream" where "anyone" can start at 0 and "make it" but in reality it's not that simple.
@@Alexas.nobuyyear well then I will enjoy watching that video! I really enjoy your content, and even if it is repetitive I still enjoy it. I was on RU-vid when it was the wild west of internet days... where the content truly was geared towards You, the public, making cool videos, and there were millions of tiny creators who you could find via search or the algorithm. Since Google/Alphabet bought YT they have shifted to trying to make it make more money. Because YT as a standalone never made money because of the cost of video hosting energy data and infrastructure. The algorithm has changed so they only push mid to large sized channels, which are the most likely to have sponsors or ads. The utility of "how do I replace the rotating mechanism of this XYZ12345 model washing machine" has devolved into 5 related hits that are no longer instructions but are ads of the 5 best washing machine to buy in 2024. It's kind of like how WhoWhatWear went from a blog about "here's cool outfit ideas for Fall, with photos of my outfits of stuff that's been in my wardrobe a long time", which I can read infinitely, to "let me link 5 coats you need to buy this season with photos of outfits from the brand manufacturer or the coats that I was sent by this brand that I will never wear again (but I won't tell you I get a commission for each coat you buy)"
