CONSCIOUS FASHION

There are many thousands and even millions of people like me who are big consumers. But are we aware of what’s happening behind the scenes? How are our products being made and who is making them?

When I was growing up in the 70's and 80's, my fashion-loving mom always bought us designer clothing - Guess Jeans, Ralph Lauren, Izod Lacoste, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Calvin Klein just to name a few. I admit that to this day, I love designer labels, and they have continued to be a big part of my life. I appreciate the feel of the fabric and the tailoring. Designer fashion can be so good and so timeless that it can be handed down from generation to generation.

But there is a new trend...fast-fashion or sometimes known as disposable fashion. It’s made quickly and cheaply. Yeah, it can be cute and fun but you're not going to keep it, resell it or be able to wear it again and again. It usually goes into a donation box or a landfill.

Did you know that Goodwill keeps 10% of donations and then ships the rest to Haiti where the Haitians pick through a huge packed cube of clothes. There is so much excess that it just sits in a warehouse or in their landfills. Most clothing that goes into a landfill takes 200 years to decompose, while releasing toxic gases into our air. Then there are the greenhouse gases from the factories that are making fast-fashion. Both are contributing to global warming.

I admit I was someone who thought Zara’s Amancio Ortega was a genius and deserved to be the richest man in the world. He, in fact, surpassed Bill Gates this August. Zara does have cool clothes. They have super soft 100% cotton t-shirts for $10. They have silk shirts. They have “some” really well-fitting clothing that’s even good for work. It's quite impressive. When Zara first hit the USA, there were a few pieces of each look on the floor, and they had a normal turn over in sales. They paced themselves seasonally like the big department stores. It’s no longer like that. It’s overindulgence at its best. For teens and adults trying to keep up with trends, fast-fashion offers affordability and the latest street styles. You can also wear it once, throw it out and go back to the store and get another new outfit the next day.

I didn't really get it until I saw a documentary on fast fashion, The Real Cost by director Andrew Morgan. I had heard of sweat shops, but I couldn't fathom what I would see in this documentary. I don’t think many people really know what truly goes on.

There have been a few singers/actors who were scrutinized in the late 90’s and early 2000’s for having their names on clothing labels that were made in these sweat shops. I thought changes were being made. Then H&M popped up and there were no big names behind the labels and people were going crazy for cheap fashion. Jobs were being created in first world countries. Conscious buying flew out the window. Many other companies followed suit with fast-fashion concepts, Zara, and Topshop to name a few, competing with each other to get the fastest and cheapest clothes out on the floors.

When these fast-fashion companies are having price wars with each other, they go back to the factories in the third world countries. They tell them that they need to lower their price (If such and such is making it for $.05 less, you need to make it for $.10 less or we will give the work to another factory). They usually agree which means less money for the people who work in the factories, and the conditions in these factories becomes even more despicable.

I know I can't save the world but since I am in the fashion industry, I should be conscious of what is happening in my small sphere.

Here are some stores where you can shop and feel good that you are making the right purchases.

AMERICAN APPAREL

VENUS

LL BEAN

List from reference Non-Fast Fashion Brands. Just As Good As Zara by Refinery 29

either And

exhibit

petite studo

grana

maggie marilyn

lacausa

sii zu

everlane

cuyana

outdoor voices

reformation

ethica

melissa joy manning

hackwith design house

h&m conscious

patagonia

asos

svilu

vitamin a

base rouge

brothers vellies

kowtow

brother vellies

kowtow

LEVIS’S

maiyet

zady

one by one

aday