This article has been lighting up the blogosphere recently and rightly so because it is a thought provoking read about the fashion industry and us as consumers. It details the economic, environmental, and human costs of the industry that keeps churning out fast fashion to appease the masses who then discard it quickly to keep buying to fulfill a need to conform to, you guessed it, the fashion industry standards. The knee jerk reaction to reading this article is to swear off buying fast fashion and turning to vintage or independent, local and fair trade designers. Which don't get me wrong, is really great and should be encouraged; however I'm a little wary of ultimatums and its ability to sustain an action or behavior. The faster the pendulum swings in one direction results in getting to the other extreme direction that much quicker.
Coincidentally, I just watched a great Southpark episode the other day about "Wall-mart" and its effect on consumers (shopping at all hours of the night, buying in bulk and subsequently hoarding because it's cheaper, ie a 3 pack DVD of Timecop when just one copy would surely suffice) and how it shut down local businesses who could not compete with their prices. The Southpark boys go on a quest to destroy the "heart" of Wall-mart, which actually turns out to be a mirror reflecting themselves, the consumers. And the final scenes show the town burning down Wall-mart and going to shop at the local business instead which then grows and grows into its own mega store from the increased patronage and subsequently becomes the target of the mob again and gets burned down. Consuming is certainly a vicious cycle. Who knew a cartoon could be so profound?
The best thing about the article is that it creates room for conversation and more thoughtfulness about our consumer habits and how it is linked to our definition of self. I don't think the answer lies in doing away with our closets and denying our fashion wants but rather to be more thoughtful about our choices and how they impact others and how we view ourselves. I especially love this last paragraph and will certainly be mulling over it for a while.
Coincidentally, I just watched a great Southpark episode the other day about "Wall-mart" and its effect on consumers (shopping at all hours of the night, buying in bulk and subsequently hoarding because it's cheaper, ie a 3 pack DVD of Timecop when just one copy would surely suffice) and how it shut down local businesses who could not compete with their prices. The Southpark boys go on a quest to destroy the "heart" of Wall-mart, which actually turns out to be a mirror reflecting themselves, the consumers. And the final scenes show the town burning down Wall-mart and going to shop at the local business instead which then grows and grows into its own mega store from the increased patronage and subsequently becomes the target of the mob again and gets burned down. Consuming is certainly a vicious cycle. Who knew a cartoon could be so profound?
The best thing about the article is that it creates room for conversation and more thoughtfulness about our consumer habits and how it is linked to our definition of self. I don't think the answer lies in doing away with our closets and denying our fashion wants but rather to be more thoughtful about our choices and how they impact others and how we view ourselves. I especially love this last paragraph and will certainly be mulling over it for a while.
Globalisation has misunderstood and misused this concept for its own ends. We have misinterpreted our connectivity and as a result are more disconnected than ever. Now we have to learn to express ourselves and reconnect with integrity. In the end the true antidote is to adopt an attitude of voluntary simplicity. A manner of living and being that is outwardly more simple and inwardly more rich. A way of being in which our most authentic and alive self is brought into direct conscious contact with every part of our lives.
What does a sustainable wardrobe mean to you?
