My Problem with Anti-Fast-Fashion People
I've got something to say about fast fashion. First of all, fast fashion is basically the only kind of fashion I consume. And second of all, I honestly can't completely agree with the people who comes around preaching to you about how fast fashion is ruining the earth and you should just buy designer clothes which are much more thoughtfully designed and produced.
Wearing: Zara jacket, Zara bag, Cotton On top, Zara skirt, Linea Rosa boots, Monki scarf
If you don't already know, fast fashion (try typing that 10 times fast...) is generally known to be cheap, trendy clothing items which are produced at a huge quantity and variations. Example would be like Forever 21, H&M, Zara, even Topshop. Here are some reasons why I don't think fast fashion is as much of a problem as some proclaim.
1) "It's cheap."
Well it's all some people can afford, like me. Yeah. You heard me. Not everyone can afford designer labels, and that's a fact. And definitely not filling their entire wardrobe worth of clothes with exclusively designer label items. If I had the choice, would I buy a lot more designer and a lot less fast fashion items? Probably. But can I? No.
2) "It's bad quality."
Is it really? Because apart from some bad decisions in Fa Yuen Street when I was in my teens, I honestly cannot say that any of my fast fashion items were disposed of because they were so worn that I couldn't possibly wear it another time. This one time, I had to throw away a pair of very well loved oxfords and they were genuine leather, well made and cost less than $600HKD. In fact, I have shoes that costs over $2000HKD that broke on the first day and were extremely uncomfortable to wear. *whispers Jeffrey Campbell... But that's another rant* I have kept many items over the years that stays great after years of washing and wearing, and most of them came from fast fashion brands. I could prolly keep them for another century if I don't grow out of them mentally or physically.
3) "It's made under inhumane/slavery conditions."
So are many other designer label items. It's not even anything new.
4) "They rip original designs from designers."
Clothes are clothes. Yes, some like couture are pieces of art. If you're all about creativity, good for you, be an artist and do couture. But they aren't for the everyday life and everyday people. Clothes are here to cover people's private parts and make them feel comfortable, and hopefully confident and beautiful. If you asked me who the f came up with the first pair of the platform heels, or denim jeans, I will honestly tell you that I don't know. Even if I did, it wouldn't affect my purchasing decisions. Most everyday people care about how to look good for less. If I can buy the same pair of boots in an acceptable (or even better) quality for a lot less, you can be damn sure I pick the cheaper option.
5) "It's wasteful./Quality over quantity."
I personally donate all of my old but wearable or even mint clothes to charities. So yeah. Also be real with me here. If you can have a 100 pairs of shoes, or 100 bags, or whatever you hoard, don't tell me you'll just have one. I want quality AND quantity. Balance, my friend.
TL;DR?!
What really grinds my gears is how some people use fast fashion as an excuse for designs that are expensive, unwearable, and just generally made for rich people. I love looking good and I love great clothes. I also appreciate some designers' stuff. But just because I can't afford designers doesn't mean I immediately should be placed into the category of people ruining the earth and life on it. If you really care about sustainability of fashion that much, please also show me that you are a vegetarian and all about green lifestyle in every aspect of your life. If you are, I salute you. I also can't ever give up Mcdonald's, so basically this is the same situation.You know what I LOVE about fast fashion brands? They have my size. They are affordable. They are trendy. Many are of great, amazing quality. But my real point is. I only look at the item for what it's worth. NOT the label. The design, the fit, the quality of the material is what I really care about. And these things could come from designer labels, or fast fashion labels, or no freaking labels at all. STOP just looking at labels and price tags. An item's worth is it's value over price. Nothing more.The only reason why I would buy more designer items even if/when I could afford it will only be because I genuinely desire the items themselves, not because I'm trying to save the earth. Come on. EDIT: I'm not in any way promoting wasteful purchases just because I'm standing up for fast fashion. You should always only buy for your needs and care about sustainability and where things come from, whether it's in fashion or everyday consumption. I'm just trying to break the dichotomy of fast fashion and designer, fashion is just fashion.
Till next time,xx
