The race to keep up with current trends is one without a concrete finish line.
As transportation continues to advance and stores across the world become more accessible, new styles are rapidly introduced and discarded in the blink of an eye.
Overconsumption is the term used to describe the excessive purchase or consumption of goods and services. In popular culture, this is often associated with fast fashion and social media trends.
Items that are popular on platforms such as Tiktok or Instagram can be extremely hard to resist, but these trends are often short-lived. New goods will rapidly replace ones that already exist. The question we should ask ourselves is: Are such trends worth spending our money and time on?
Social media influencers perpetuate the rapid cycle of trends through both short-form and long-form content. “Get Ready with Me” videos showcase skincare, haircare, and clothing items to large audiences. Sponsorships play a substantial role in the types of products advertised to social media users.
“I get really invested in ‘Get Ready with Me’ tiktoks when they have interesting stories and then end up buying all the makeup shown,” Jazmin Hunter ‘27 said.
In order to supply their goods to such large consumer bases, companies like H&M or Shein often produce items in bulk through sweatshops and with unethically sourced materials. Though this method of production can provide customers with lower prices, it also results in the underpayment of workers and poor quality products.
“I usually buy [clothes] from Hollister because it’s convenient and I like their styles, but I haven’t really thought about how their clothes are made,” Shriyaa Madanlal ‘27 said.
Instead of large businesses, like Shein and Temu, consumers can look to smaller businesses or thrift stores that use more quality material in their products. While it may be tempting to keep up with current social trends, it will be more worth your time and money to invest in items that last.
Although many thrift stores do not give buyers the opportunity to look for specific items or styles, it’s very possible that you find a hidden gem that can’t be found on fast fashion sites like that of Shein. Small businesses on the other hand tend to focus on specific styles or aesthetics. If you look to your own community, you may find quality items that you’ll love for a lifetime.
The race against fast fashion will never end in a traditional sense. The only way for consumers to escape fast fashion is to not chase the cycle of trends in social media and real life. Through the search for quality clothing, you may discover your new individual style.
