Fast Fashion and My Journey to Do Better

Thank you for joining me in my journey! Just so you know, any links you click might allow me to earn some money at no extra cost to you. I would never recommend anything solely for that purpose, and I really appreciate your readership, even if you don't click or buy anything. It really means the world to me that you would choose to spend some time in your day with me!

This was me trying to downsize my wardrobe in 2020. I knew I wasn't wearing all of my clothes, and I was reading about Marie Kondo and getting rid of things that don't spark joy. To this day, I am still in the process of downsizing.

The Problems with Fast Fashion

I had never been the most fashionable person, but who hasn't fallen victim to the siren calls of the fashion industry? I am sad to say that I have bought multiple clothing items from online companies with questionable business practices in the past. While I am not perfect, I have been trying to avoid fast-fashion companies like Shein because their cheap clothing comes at a cost.

First, the environmental cost of the fashion industry is well known. Here's a BBC article about the industry and why clothes are hard to recycle and why most end up either being burned or sent to a landfill. I am not ditching all of my old clothes yet because I know getting rid of them won't solve the problem. However, I have started buying more eco friendly options. While wool clothing is more expensive than synthetic clothing, it is more durable, needs less washing, and lasts longer. While it hurt a little bit to buy my first pieces of wool clothing, I have been wearing them like crazy, and not only do they not stink like my polyester clothes, but they are also more comfortable and higher quality. Also, the customer service has been amazing, unlike fast fashion companies, where it is often cheaper to just throw away a garment that doesn't fit correctly, the wool companies I've dealt with, like Woolx and Wool&, have been happy to exchange items that don't fit how I want.

Second, the human cost of the fashion industry, which is known, but I think talked about less. How do you think it is possible to sell a dress for $8? The workers that made it certainly aren't getting paid fair wages for their labor. Their working conditions are also sometimes deadly. We have better conditions here in the US, though we didn't always have them. Have you ever heard about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911? 146 people died because of the terrible conditions that led up to it. We now have laws to protect working conditions in the US, but factories abroad don't always follow our minimum pay, safety, and health standards. When you buy a $2 shirt or a $5 dress, someone was not getting paid their worth to make that clothing.

Resisting Fast Fashion

I understand that not everyone can afford to spend a ton of money on all their clothes, but we can all take steps to do better. Before I started this journey, I loved to go to discount stores for some "retail therapy." I loved the thrill of getting a good deal on a new outfit, but I wasn't really looking for quality or even pieces I would wear often. Here are some of my shopping tips below:

Here I am at Burlington, one of my ex-favorite stores. (I ran in to have my mom take my picture, and left before I could be tempted by anything! Though honestly, it wasn't so bad because I love the feel of my merino wool clothes compared to the things offered here.)

Buy Less. I've been wearing my new Wool& dress for over 40 days now, and hardly anyone has noticed. I'm not even trying to hide it either. I wear different leggings because I have a bunch of them, and I might change up the sweater or jacket I wear over it because it's a tank dress, and my classroom is freezing, but none of my students or coworkers have said anything, so I really don't think they've noticed.

Check the Tags. You want to put thought into what you are buying and where it comes from. many companies still outsource their labor to other countries, and that is fine if they make sure their working conditions are meeting standards. Certified B corporations do meet those standards, which is why I like brands like Cotopaxi and Toms. Read about the high certification standards here. More on that below. You should also check what the clothes are made of. Polyester is basically just plastic, and it usually comes from petroleum, so it's not exactly an eco-friendly material. Your polyester fabric will be around loooong after you are done with it. Polyester can also be made from recycled plastic bottles, so it can have less of an environmental impact at the source.

Buy High Quality Pieces, Especially Merino Wool. I am OBSESSED with my merino wool clothing now! Most people think wool is itchy, but merino wool is soft and feels like a regular fabric, especially when blended with other fibers. I have a dress from Wool&, leggings from Woolx, and two sweaters from Amazon. I rarely have to do laundry because my clothes don't need it. Wool is an amazing material that resists odors and wicks away sweat.

Buy Secondhand. Not only does buying secondhand give clothes another chance, it also keeps clothes out of landfills for longer! Plus, then it makes high quality pieces more affordable! I bought a Smartwool shirt on Poshmark for $25 plus shipping, and it was like brand new!

Wash Less. Washing takes a toll and wears out clothing faster. When you buy high quality clothes that don't need washed as much, you are helping the environment by saving water and energy, AND you're saving your clothes by washing them less often.

In summary, when you decide you need to buy a new piece of clothing, invest in a high quality piece that will not need washed as much instead of buying multiple low quality pieces. Focus on quality not quantity when it comes to your wardrobe. When you try a minimalist approach, you realize how little you really need. You don't have to become a minimalist; I am not one, but I have realized how little I actually need. I no longer go shopping as a stress relief.

Brands I Trust

Before I buy new products now, I *try* to buy from reputable brands. I am not perfect, and there are times that I will pick something off a shelf at TJ Maxx or something, but in general, I try to do better than before, especially with bigger purchases. So, moving on, here are my favorites so far.

Cotopaxi

I have loved them since I first found them! First, I love their colorful backpacks, which is how I originally discovered them as a brand. Then, I found out about how they're a certified B Corporation, which means they meet social and environmental standards while having transparent business practices.

Toms

I dance a lot, but I've never been much of a heels person. I do have dancing shoes with heels, but a friend said she really likes dancing in her Toms, so I bought a pair to try them out (shout out to you, Katie!). I fell in love with these shoes, and unless I'm wearing boots in the snow, I pretty much only wear Toms now. They're so comfortable, and my favorite part is that they're machine washable!

Here I am wearing Cotopaxi and Toms to see Amorphophallus titanum blooming in Cleveland, July 2022.

Wool&

I found them when I started researching better clothes for travel because I wanted clothing made with odor resistant fabric so I could pack less and do less laundry while I travel. They have a 30 day and a100 day dress challenge, so that helped me too. I decided to do the 100 day challenge, and when I complete it, they will give me a $100 gift card for their store, so here I am, doing the challenge! I am currently in my second month, and it is easier than I thought. I can't wait to finish my challenge and buy my reward dress with the gift card!

Woolx

Another company I found in my search for merino wool products is Woolx! I bought leggings from them that are merino wool mixed with recycled polyester for durability. A bonus with them is that I noticed the recycled polyester outside is pretty resistant to pet hair (I have 3 cats!), so that's a huge plus for me! I'm not seeing how many days I can wear them in a row like I am with my dress, and I do mix up my leggings when I want to add more color to my outfit, but I've worn them quite a few times without them needing to be washed.

As for customer service, I did have a minor problem with my first pair, and the company was very responsive. They were happy to replace my old pair for a new one, and at a different size. They recently just had a seasonal clearance sale, and I ended up buying a few shirts to try them out, and I am OBSESSED! They are so soft, and I would never guess that they were made out of wool. (Shout out to my friends who put up with me when I say "Feel my clothes and guess the material!" You the real MVPs!)

Branwyn

This is a woman-owned wool company focused on innerwear and sustainability I love the bra and underwear I have from them because they are seamless, they don't smell (even after working out), I can hand wash them when I'm traveling, and I can hang them to dry overnight. Also, like all of my other merino wool clothes, they are not itchy and basically just feel like regular clothes! If you want to try them out, you can use code RACHEVERYWHERE10 to get $10 off your first order!

My Example Pieces!

Because I am currently still doing the 100 day dress challenge from Wool&, you will see me in the dress basically all the time right now. I have tons of different leggings, but I definitely prefer my Woolx ones because they are super comfortable, and I don't have to wash them as much. When I go to the gym, I've started wearing my Woolx t-shirt that I just bought recently. My only regret is that I didn't buy more during their sale while I still had the chance!

Shirt: Smartwool, bought secondhand on Poshmark

Sweater: Goodthreads from Amazon I liked this one so much that I bought a second one in red!

Dress: Kalle Ponte from Wool&

Leggings: Merino Flex McKenna from Woolx

Shoes: Alpargata Heritage Canvas from Toms

Underwear: Branwyn

In closing, I'm not saying you should throw out your old wardrobe and spend thousands of dollars on all new clothes. I certainly am not doing that. I would like everyone to think more about where their clothes come from and how they affect the environment. I've learned so much from the 100 Day Dress Challenge, and if you're interested, you can read about my journey here. Again, nobody is perfect, but even the small changes we make to become better can make an impact for future generations. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about my journey!