So you want to buy a new pair of shoes? If you do not have a concrete idea of what you want to purchase, all I can say is good luck.
With an endless list of retail websites and products, ranging from a specialized Etsy purchase to a pair of shoes more expensive than your monthly rent, the era of fast fashion has taken off in an effort to satisfy consumers who want to keep up with trends without breaking the bank.
This new trend is theoretically perfect for consumers in the current market due to short attention spans and tight budgets. Before retailers started mass producing products at a fast rate, it was almost impossible to purchase trendy clothes without spending an excessive amount of money. With retailers such as H&M and Uniqlo dominating the fashion world, the world of fashion has been opened up to just about everyone. Month after month, new trends are introduced and the turnover rate for inventory is rapidly increasing.
Despite the convenience that may come with easily being able to buy into a new trend, fast fashion definitely has a significant impact on the world's labor force and the sustainability of the fashion industry as a whole.
These drawbacks of fast fashion are not unheard of. Just a few years ago, US News gave a report on the wasteful and unethical practices of Forever 21. From underpaying workers to producing poor quality clothes, Forever 21 is a prime example of a typical fast fashion retailer.
Without getting too deep into the politics of outsourcing and fair wage rates, the other component that strikes me as important is the lack of sustainability within fast fashion. The business model that these businesses base their strategies on relies on the assumption that consumers will constantly be buying new articles of clothing. This rapid cycle of buying and selling can become wasteful if it means that perfectly good clothes are no longer being used.
If you are familiar with the idea of a sharing economy, this cycle can serve as a counter example. With all of the waste and ethical dilemmas that fast fashion has the potential to foster, it makes me question how long this cycle can last in our economy.
As my motto has been for many years quality over quantity. I am definitely guilty of buying into the perpetual cycle of fast fashion, though I am well aware of the long term impact that it can have on the fashion industry. Even with the popularity of fast fashion in the current market, all trends eventually have to bow out.
Next time you do decide to purchase a new pair of shoes, consider all of the other options that the internet (or even a small business) offers. Not only will you be supporting more sustainable practices in the fashion industry, you just may find a pair of shoes that are truly one of a kind.
