The Real Price of Fast Fashion

fashion / frugality / simplicity / wardrobe

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Something that’s been on my mind lately, is the fast fashion industry. Shops like H&M, Zara, and Forever21 pump out new garments weekly, tricking the consumer that the item they’ve purchased last week is already old news. We get that temporary high of finding a good bargain, but we get what we pay for. Secondhand stores cannot keep up with the amount of clothes they are receiving, and it’s also doing harm to the environment when endless clothes are being made, and then being tossed away just as quickly. Not to mention, the ethics behind the actual labour and how cheap clothes are being made.

Recently I purchased a few tops from H&M that I was hoping would last me a while. They fit well and they looked really nice. And then I threw them in the wash – one, two, or three times – and already one of the shirt’s arms have unraveled at the sleeve, another shirt has lost a button, and another has ripped open in the back from the seam.

They were built to fall apart. On purpose. Just so I would go out to H&M again and buy some more tops, and the company would make money on my stupidity. How can we be conscious of our spending and living on less, when what we buy falls apart just so we have to go and buy more? I do think however, that the fast fashion industry is becoming less appealing to consumers because of the low quality clothing, and high quality is going to be the next big thing.
We should be focusing on buying quality clothing that will last. Shopping will be less impulsive and more thought out because you will be focusing on something that is meaningful.
How do we find quality clothing?

1. Know what you want and plan your wardrobe so shopping is purposeful.

2. Take your time and don’t rush into a purchase if it isn’t quite right.

3. Know where to shop. If paying the high prices at name brand stores isn’t in your budget, thrift stores are a great place to start. There are shops that sell high quality brand named items, or if you love vintage, we all know that the clothes from the era’s past were made to last.

4. Know how to look for quality by looking at the cloth, seams, buttons and other details and make sure they’re secure and made well.

For some online shops that focus on higher quality at an affordable price, check out more info here:

What have your experiences been with shopping? Do you buy fast fashion, or stick to high quality? I’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations!
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Comments

  1. Rebecca

    I stick to high quality and will pay more for something I wear a lot such as jeans. I bought two pairs of jeans that were about $100. Excessive perhaps but, these are my only two pairs of jeans and I wear them almost constantly. I also stick to companies that I know and trust to have the quality clothes I am looking for. I onlhy buy what I need and maybe once in awhile what I want.

    1. Pia Edberg

      It’s great to hear how others approach buying clothes. And jeans are worn all the time, while mixing the top choices, so it would make sense to choose jeans that are good quality. Thanks for sharing!

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