Good afternoon everyone!
The title of this post is pretty self explanatory really. The question that has been out there for some time and at the back of everyone’s mind but has only recently came to light since Stacey Dooley’s documentary which I feel a lot of people have watched and can relate to wholeheartedly. I worked in retail for over six years and still work in fashion today so I know first hand what its like to deal with the demanding expectations of high street and fast fashion stores.
I will hold my hands up as much as anyone will in this generation and admit that we all buy and consume too much. I want to say it out right that it isn’t our fault. It is the fault of the ever growing clothing businesses. With that being said it does not mean there is nothing that we cant do about it and try and help take the pressure off. We all have an influence so why is no one fully using it?
Three decades ago clothing was more limited and made of higher quality using more locally resourced materials. Yes this is still available today but it is genuinely a lot more expensive than your typical high street clobber simply because of the quantity that is pumped out of these factories across the world. It is more desirable it seems to favour quantity over quality.
You may be reading this thinking “Your wardrobe is huge” “You buy too much” etc etc and yes I agree it comes with the description of being an influencer. It is a lifestyle choice, a hobby but that does not mean that I’m not trying to help out behind the Instagram photos. I have always shopped in charity shops before it was cool to even do so. My Granny and Mom were the driving force behind me shopping there. I grew up shopping in them as a little girl not because we were poor but because the two most influential women in my life had an eye for a bargain. Whether it be a rare antique or an old piece of quality vintage clothing it was the meaningful element of the item that mattered not the cost or where it came from. This state of mind has now been passed down to me. I absolutely love shopping in charity shops it gives me a buzz when I find that piece of clothing that I know no one else in my area or even country will own. Even better when that item is truly vintage and of higher quality. It honestly dosent hurt to head out of your door and go and find your nearest charity shop, it not only helps that charity but you also never know when you’re going to get that gem of a find! – ( TOP TIP: Always remember to gift aid if that option is there in your charity shop as this helps the charity claim tax back from the government!)
As a consumer of high street goods and an influencer it is hard to keep up with the ever changing trends and this involves an ever bursting wardrobe. If you are like me and buy a lot whatever you do please please don’t just throw away! I usually sell on ebay/depop or give to charity. For me personally Depop is a great platform to sell used or unwanted clothing. There are a lot of users yes some scammers but overlooking that the idea is brilliant! I myself have sold many unwanted clothes or items which I have worn a couple of times and this gives these items a new lease of life and has made someone else happy! I have bought off there too, its an endless cycle of recycling and up-cycling! With this idea set in motion and the more and more choosing to recycle our clothes it may start to make a difference in the long term. It certainly wont stop the growing fast demand for high street fashion but it will help! You need to ask yourself would you want to pay full price for an item or get it half price or even less for the exact same item that has been worn once or twice and is still in shops today?
Keeping with the up-cycling trend places like Etsy are a great place for home made recycled or custom made items, as well your local Facebook pages/friends. Try locally sourcing first. You may be shocked with the results and the quality of the item!
The point of this post is not to criticise anybody, as whether or not you like it we are all unintentionally trying to keep up with the growing consuming world. Its a sad fact that does seriously need addressing properly. What we can however do is help and try and limit that. Think more where you’re shopping and what you’re doing with your older clothes. Every bit of difference helps and it may just give everyone involved a better quality of life. Below I have a short list of little things everyone can do to help out!
- Shop more locally (Facebook business pages/Local shops)
- Resell on apps and websites (Ebay, Depop, Shpock, Mercarci)
- Hold a clothing sale/car boot.
- Shop in charity shops.
- Think about what you’re buying (Do I really need that leopard skirt which I already own in 3 different colours?)
- Limit the amount of pair of jeans you’re buying (quality over quantity)
Thanks for reading,
G xx
Georgina Marie 