So much of your experience mirrors my own sustainable fashion journey! My weight has fluctuated a lot during that period, so I have been forced to buy more clothes than I would have otherwise. But I have tried to do that intentionally (not that I always succeed!! But it is a journey), and I keep hold of the idea that perfection is the enemy of progress. I may buy more than 5 items a year, but I am buying less than I used to.
Been really trying to diy-or-die with my style. Turned a harness i had that didn't fit right into a choker and belt with a bit of work, and saved myself from buying a seperate choker or belt. The goth scene has SO many people establishing their whole identity around what fast fashion alt brands they consume now, and Goth Unboxing and Haul videos, and its a whole entire situation that drives me up the wall.
Sewing really is a lost art. I only know the most basic stitches and that's still more than the majority of my peers. My high school got rid of Home Ec about 5 years before I got there, so I can officially say they never taught us in school. I'm trying to teach myself because I know it's such a valuable life skill.
Learned it by myself when my first child was born because we used cloth diapers and it was difficult to find pants that fit. Now I am so happy that I can repair their (and my) clothes. Also my 3yo niece is very slim so I often change her trousers for her.
It's great to hear someone put into words how hard it is to cut yourself out of the fast fashion circuit - I try to really consider my motivations when shopping and it has led to buying a lot less but WOW it is hard not to buy something 'just because I want it'.
This may sound silly but my closet is pretty small, so I always had to be mindful of it, making me more picky when making/buying clothes. If I had a huge closet I probably wouldn't even realize if I have stuff I never wear
This is such a good point though! Wardrobes used to be MUCH physically smaller than they are now. If you look at antique furniture from the 50s and 60s, wardrobe cabinets look almost comically small compared to the average closet today. Especially here in the US, walk in closets have become quite common, when they used to be an aspirational home feature that only the wealthy would have. It’s so much easier to overconsume when you don’t have to think about where you’re going to put everything.
The comment on changing where you shop isn't actually resolving the issue hits so hard, cause that is 10000% my current issue. I have been exclusively thrift shopping (except for undergarments..... which is a whole thing) for yeaaaaars, but I still find that my closet is overflowing with garments that are honestly entirely too similar for me to be able to justify the number of articles of clothing I own. I've gotten way better about not over consuming in other aspects of my life (my craft supplies and number of books is way more intentional now) but still a work in progress for clothing.
I'm the same. I've really been trying to cut back on my shopping, but it's so hard when in the past I've always gotten so much pleasure from shopping or when my friends want to go (thrift)shopping as a fun activity. Almost all my purchases for the past years have been from thrift stores or sustainable and ethical brands, but I still simply have way too many clothes, even with all the stuff I've also sold on apps like Vinted.
I love your use of the community tab, it's a proof of the algorithm problem and how you fight it. Sadly, this means you can't have a career solely based on videos, but the fact that you still publish and people actively decide to watch your videos, gives me a sense of what a community actually looks like and how we still apprecciate the things you want to share. Thank you!!
I always love your videos about wardrobe planning and sustainable fashion! I would be really interested if you wanted to do a video about taking inspiration from fashion and styling/making things in your own wardrobe, like how you kind of talk about wanting to do more. It would be fun to see how you’re staying inspired and creative without over consuming :)
Only owning one nice winter coat has it's draw backs, is the anxiety that comes with possibly misplacing or loosing that coat. Also conserning my one coat is from a defunct brand I bought relatively unused from a thrift store (that's also defunct now). I feel bad that my current job has such a strict dress code that the majority of my wardrobe goes unworn. The close that I wear daily get worn out, but at least a good percentage of my wardrobe can be resold third hand.
The last three years I've made a more concerted effort to be more mindful of what I'm buying. I've learned how to do repairs to my clothing, make clothing in an effort to use a bunch of fabric I inherited from a relative, and just doing my research into fabrics and what works best for me. It's certainly an ongoing, continuous process, and I'm always learning something new, and I've even made a bunch of new friend connections because of it.
Being picky about new items has also saved me from a lot of clothes I didn't really want or need. Low-quality seams and synthetic fibres are an immediate turnoff in the secondhand store 🚩
This is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. 99% of what I purchase is second-hand, so things could be worse, but I recognise I am still overconsuming. It’s not through chasing trends as I have a pretty solid sense of what I like, aesthetically speaking. The multiple life and body changes I’ve been through the last few years have put me in situations where I really did need different clothes, and I think I ended up in a weird headspace where habitual shopping was just normal. Shopping almost exclusively second-hand comes with its own set of issues, though. Second-hand shops by nature don’t have a great selection, which often leads to settling and buying pieces that I am 90% happy with, but over time and over wear, I come to realise that for whatever reason they don’t work for me (fit weird, requires more upkeep than I have the time for etc.). So I re-donate them and the search for functional work pants begins anew. I know the answer is to not buy unless you are 100% happy, but sometimes you just need something, or sometimes issues don't reveal themselves until you've worn an item for a whole day. This issue isn’t necessarily exclusive to second-hand fashion, but at least at a retail store, I can try a different size or style. However, where I live even an H&M top can cost $50, so you can imagine that ethical brands are well out of my price range. I really am trying to cut down, and have been much better about focusing on fabric content, versatility, quality of construction etc. Trying to buy less used stuff online, as it’s always 50/50 on whether it fits and you can’t return it. I’ve purchased a sewing machine and am booked in for an 8-week beginners’ course, so I’m hoping I can at least comfortably alter or repurpose my second-hand items going forward, which will help a lot. I dunno. Guess I am just saying it’s brutal out here 😅
I am totally floored at 5 items per year. 😅 I've had single purchases this year of more than 5 items, and really have tried to invest in sustainable fibers, independently owned brands which have documented fair pay for their seastresses, etc. There are always more ways to improve!
I think the state of the wardrobe and knowing one's favorite items plays into this. The more I learn what suits me and finding THE favorite pieces, the easier it is for me to own less.
Is it with undergarments and socks? Then it would be impossible for me as well. I wear down about 5 pair of socks in a year. But I guess it means „outer wear“. This year I bought 3 light cotton trousers for summer (wore two down last year and the third also already had not repairable holes), a Second Hand dress (replacing two dresses that didn’t fit anymore) and a pajamas button so far. Maybe I will need a new jeans later this year. This would be 5 items, although I wouldn’t count the pajama neither. I think it depends on how you use your items. Ride my bike every day to work so my trousers wear down pretty fast. For active people with already a small wardrobe (like me) things will wear out quickly. I think 5 in average is realistic, but there will be years where you will need more.
Thank you for saying you can still overconsume with 'ethical' methods as I've seen some people on here who make a big deal about being thrifters and how good it is but they still buy way too much stuff.
Yes, some of my fave channels have begun to feel uncomfy to me because it feels like every other video is about going to a store. I am looking for inspiration about making use of what I have, not acquiring more!
I've been trying to buy less items and take better of them since finding your channel a few years ago! I've beenn trying to focus on versatility. Like being able to wear certain things in more ways than one, and for more than 2 seasons. It's a bit challenging, used to be on meds that made my weight fluctuate until recent years. I try to tailor some of the stuff I have from then to avoid buying too much, and so far, so good!
I love this update! I found your channel around early 2020 and you inspired me to try quitting fast fashion as well. I've been buying mainly second hand and learning how to mend my own clothes for about 4 years now and I love it. I find that really being intentional about clothing purchases makes fashion more fun for me personally, because it makes each piece feel more special :)
i really appreciate what you're doing educating people here, i've learned a lot from your channel. i've been trying not to buy things new other than stuff like socks and underwear, but i still am a far ways off from being fast-fashion free. still, a lot of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe are from my mom, hand-me-downs, thrifted, gifted, or from clothing swaps. i'm planning on doing a clothing swap with my mom and some family friends soon :)
I liked the point you made about being “inspired” by fashion compared to being “influenced” by social media to consume fashion. I briefly tried being a fashion content creator and I just wanted to create outfits, not do hauls etc. The amount of abuse I got in the comments along the lines of “why are you showing me this if I can’t buy it via a link???!!!”
Thank you for sharing your experiences and your insights into sustainability within fashion consumption. I think I first began watching your videos around 2020 and you've inspired me to try my best. I'm definitely not fast fashion free myself, but I give so much more thought into what I buy and why I'm buying it. I have also learnt that I actually do not like sewing, apart from small fixes and mending my clothes :D So I leave that to family members who do not mind the sewing machine and ask them for help with bigger alterations and such. In turn I am the one who mends all the woollen socks (here in Finland these are a practical wardrobe staple). Anyway, I think the biggest giveaway I've gotten from you is planning my wardrobe ahead. I actually do not enjoy shopping because it's difficult to find what I'd actually want, but now I'm less likely to just settle for something that kind of works. Instead I will consider and plan what I'm really looking for and patiently wait until I find something like that or figure out if there is something in my wardrobe/house that could be altered to serve the purpose. Impulse buying is also so much easier to resist now!
thank you for real for sharing ! I used to have that same experience as a kid with teen vouge and diy ! But as an adult who has thier own money & no one to ask as well as definitely the landscape of buying changing so much Ive been adjusting in the same way im still ways away from where I would like to be but this is inspiring to hear as I personally am trying to step away from over consumerism for the environment , my wallet and heck even personal self & growths sake. This was great to hear as someone still working on things
My biggest issue isn’t over consumption, it never has been. My biggest problem is finding items that actually work for me. When I have an item I have really enjoyed and it’s what I know has really worked but then it either ‘becomes the wrong size’ or it just wears out. When I NEED to replace an item or I know a certain item would fill a real gap in my wardrobe…I cannot find what I want/ need. To find an item that actually fits me, ( the majority of sustainable brands do not offer sizes over a size 10 or 12 at best) the ones that offer plus sizes then don’t have items I want or need or not in my color palette or style at all. Or to find items also in a natural/ organic fibre, is the right color, the right ‘cut’/ style/ fit and can actually be returned if it does not fit or work out, or if it sells out and I ‘miss it’ ( small brand issues with limited ‘releases’) I can actually get my $100’s of dollars back and not just get a store credit, and not have to pay for original shipping, duties and return shipping …usually an extra $100 that I will never get back just to TRY the item. Also, I would thrift more ( I do try) but most thrifted clothes are washed in toxic, scented detergent and rinses and dryer sheets etc. I cannot tolerate the smells of these and it is not good for my health. I’ve never heard anyone ever address this issue online. Soooo, all that to say, I actually still ‘over consume’ because what I actually want and need is almost impossible to find so I ‘have to’ compromise on some aspect of an item but it’s not exactly what I want or need so I get it because I never know if it’s the closest I will ever get to what I want,so I get it. Then I still need another item to fill another gap or do another ‘job’ in my wardrobe because I can’t get ( find) the item with ALL of the characteristics I want/ need in one item. I try to get as versatile items as possible but to be most versatile, it has to hit ALL of the requirements fit, color, fabric, style, cost and that is almost impossible. I wish more RUclipsrs who speak about wardrobes and shopping would talk more about ‘compromises’ . You did here to some degree, much more than most. Thank you for that.
Extremely well said! I recently bought some stuff from a not so ethical brand because finding secondhand clothes in my size is no easy task, but reminding myself that I wear my clothes for years helped stem the guilt a little bit. Like you said, it’s less about where you buy the clothes and more about how you treat the clothes.
This is so true! I think a big part of it the lack of community spaces for teens in general. For a lot of them their only community is on social media, and social media is so fluid that it really doesn’t give them anything stable to hold on to. It’s normal for teens to go through phases while they find themselves, but everything moves so fast now!
I make most of my clothes, and at this point, I have a pretty good wardrobe, about four years after I started transitioning. I'm also a college student on a pretty strict budget, and so I dont buy very many things. I imagine that the five item a year guideline doesn't take into account situation like mine, where I literally had to get rid of almost every peice of clothing in my wardrobe and replace it with the opposite gender. If you have a stable wardrobe, and a stable style, maybe that's reasonable, but some of us like fashion lol.
Yeah experimenting is important! I "cheat" by sewing some of my clothes, or change them into something else if they dont work (eg dyeing, making a blouse out of a mens shirt etc).
Thanks for linking that hot and cold article, seems like it's got a lot of information I know a little bit about all in one place for me to learn in more detail. I drastically cut down on my fashion consumption after auditing a couple of textile development classes during one we had a talk by the founder of Fab Scrap and in another watched The True Cost. Notable exceptions were a shopping spree right after the lockdowns started and needing to buy more or less an entire wardrobe for an intimate destination wedding. Also the economic factors definitely come into play. Last year I was reminded very literally of the Boots Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness when somebody complimented my go-to everyday shoes was amazed by the condition after learning they were somewhere in the 6-7+ years old range. Meanwhile from my perspective I'd been feeling pretty bummed that while they were in good shape, the design on them had faded drastically over the years and which made me feel like they were worn out. The shoes were a pretty big purchase for me for shoes that weren't formal/occasionwear, but in hindsight it made much more sense to spend that much on something I'd get a lot of use out of versus things that I only pull out once a year, if that.
Well as a millennial who grown up pretty low class I always had few clothes and mostly used from other siblings. So when I was younger never had a lot of clothes and that persisted mostly until my 20. When I got my first job I rewarded myself with fast fashion for like 2 years until I started to feel bad, as I knew that wasn't good for the environment. Now in my 30 still got a lot of that clothing, but as I started to replace some of those pieces, started to write a clothing journal as way to write about any impulse that I my have in the days I find myself looking at FF clothes and that helped with not buying 100% of the times. Still buy underware from FF due to size and my flow ruining a lot of it. But in general I try to spend time on slow fashion websites to motivate me for saving for better itens, especially since I now own 7 slow fashion items and use them non stop. Btw sorry for the long comment, just found your RUclips, hope it helps the algorithm 😊
Thank you for the video Stitchess!! I have cut way back on fast fashion since joining the Lolita community, but I still struggle with balance and excess.
I have so many t shirts I just wear them regardless if they're deodorant stained or faded just because I don't go outside a lot so who cares what it looks like. Even when I do leave my house I'm always wearing a sweater so I just keep the shirt on. I'm still wearing shirts from middle school and I haven't bought any new ones for years and if they do rip I just cut them into rags.
I've decided to start knitting most of my garments that I would normally buy like sweaters, socks, scarves, hats, etc. Its nice because I just finished a really intricate sweater and decided that the first time I wore it would also be at my first Hozier concert a couple weeks ago. So instead of buying merch I wore my sweater and now I have a cool memory attached to it. Its nice to make things because then I think about if I really need it or not, because if I don't want to put in the effort for it then I don't need it. Makes me consume way less
i love this video, I really appreciate seeing someone else's journey on quitting fast fashion, I agree a lot with there being a lack of passion in it, I want to see all but a lot of people do just buy what other people have it over the past couple years of dedicating myself, to pursuing my own style theres more to it than just a purchasing journey, its an introspective journey i think ppl dont realize as a fat person, i see alot of people exclusively shop alot of fast fashion brands cuz its the easiest option, but it puts u in a box, always the same silhouette and the sane look, cuz most ppl feel they can only shop at the same places, but its much more rewarding to collect things that are not there just because they fit, rather getting things that are special to u it feels like a lifelong sustainable hobby in a sense idk if this comment makes sense lol but i love the vid all the same 😋
Unless I'm using it for heavy duty work I kinda expect a tshirt to last 10 years. At least that's how old a lot of my 100% cotton ones are. They're not even necessarily "sustainable", but I guess given their age they're made before the rise of ultra fast fashion so the quality is better. Tip: Avoid tshirts with even a tiny amount of elastane in it. The shopkeep claimed it prevents them from losing their shape, but that's *exactly* what it did, getting weird bulges, plus the fibres degrading unevenly made it look super weird. Imo buing from fast fashion brands (or even most designer fashion brands) is by definition not "sustainable" due to all of the human rights violations. From an environmental standpoint sure, buing 10 "sustainable" items might use the same amount of energy/cause the same destruction as 1 fast fashion item. (Making up number here, but you get the idea.) But that one fast fashion item continues to contribute to slavery, child labour, unsafe working conditions, etc, wheras an item from an actually sustainable source will offer people an actually well paid and safe job. It might not always be possible to avoid fast fashion completely, for various reasons. But I'd never call it sustainable, personally. I've always hatet shopping, so personally I don't have the issue of unlearning that habit. But I still had a large wardrobe with too many items I barely wore. In order to cut shopping time short I'd often just buy the next best item that _kinda_ fit what I needed, only to never be worn cause it didn't fit well enough/I didn't actually like the look very much. So I'm kinda going the opposite way. I started caring about fashion more actively, watched a lot of YT videos (including yours) that helped a lot learning about it. One of the best pieces of advice I heard was to not settle for anything that isn't a 100% fit in both size and style. I'm spending a lot more time in fashion stores now, looking through stuff, but I'm buying a lot less pieces. But the pieces I *do* buy are ones I actually wear. Also, another mental shift I made (not for fashion, but other stuff) is to see shops as museums. If you enjoy going through shops, just yanno... keep doing that :) Look at all the beautiful things on display and take home only inspiration, like you would in a museum :)
Thank you so much for this video and for sharing so transparently. I am currently going through this process and it is easy to feel defeated whenever my shopping urge kicks in. But this video gives me hope that is is possible to completely "break free" from old habits. Maybe the journey won't be flawless, I will make mistakes along the way, but I will keep going.
Thank you for this video! I learned a lot, and I also really appreciate you sharing your journey, your encouragement to others, and the emphasis on progress over perfection.
Fast fashion was never an issue with me. Always stuck to the classics. Quality but not necessarily less quantity. I know what works for me and I stick to it.
When you have a small wardrobe and are very selective about what you buy, you really do start to see firsthand what quality actually looks like. As you said, you end up wearing and washing each piece more frequently, so you quickly find out which items cannot withstand that. Mindful secondhand shopping (primarily in person) definitely helps with identifying quality too, because you are exposed to a large variety of seam finishes, clasps and closures, fabrics, detailing, (etc…), which creates a clear visual and tactile contrast between what is, and isn’t, quality. If you only shop at H&M for instance, you will only ever know what their pieces look like and how they hold up to wear/wash, and you might even wind up thinking their level of “quality” is typical across the board.
I'm very particular about fabric content and how my clothes fit, so I've finally bitten the bullet and am learning to draft stuff how i like them to be, so I don't end up getting like, 4 skirts that mostly fit okay in different ways while trying to find at least One that ticks all the boxes perfectly.
One thing I've noticed is that I have often bought and worn certain clothes to be accepted and respected. At school clothes were like an armour from bullying, they helped increase social status in a sometimes hostile environment. As an adult people judge you if you look scruffy. If I go to the shops/other places in scruffier more worn clothes and shoes some people treat me poorly, whereas if I dress up people notice me and treat me better. It'd help uf as a society we stopped worshipping the rich and started treating everyone with respect regardless of income and appearance. Also, one more issue is people using fabric softener on clothes and charity shops using febreeze or other chemicals. I get migraines and both of these things make me nauseous, I've had to redonate a few things back to the charity shop due to strong chemical fragrances on the clothes that I can't remove.
not completely related, but i've been shopping almost exclusively at thrift stores for a few years now, and the amount of fast fashion i see there is so disheartening (and often marked up above the price at the fast fashion store! so totally ludicrous!). i hate how difficult it's becoming to find well-made, long-lasting clothing at the thrift store now.
I get so frustrated at the girlies who act like their shopping second is saving the world, even though they'll still do hauls and buy stuff to wear once. Every item i buy is thought out meticulously and something that brings me joy - thats what matters most.
I'm in kind of a weird place in my wardrobe right now. I have already been thinking a lot about need vs want and trying to pick out what all my favourite things that I want to keep vs what I don’t want anymore. I already don't buy clothes often. I have a lot of clothes I have had for 10+ years and while I still like ans wear some of it,I also know my style is shifting. I want to be inebtional in any purchases I make that will suit me more but I already feel like I have more than I even need. I want to try to sell what I don’t want before the last resort of donating, but I find that kind of hard too. It takes anywhere from a few months to a year or more to sell one item, and meanwhile it is taking up space. I have begrudgingly donated some things and I hope they have founs a proper home and are not just in a heap somewhere. I feel bad getting rid of clothes but at times I'm also struggling to be happy with what I currently have when not all of it feels like me.
I'm also a millenial and have that same experience of fashion being something to admire but not purchase and girl... i started a coupleof brandnew social media accounts on tumblr, bluesky and instagram and i just can't seem to convince the algo i want to see fashion as art. I just dont know whati need to do to make it understand.
My problem is I do laundry and then pick the same few shirts and two pairs of pants to re-wear out of the laundry bag…I work a lot and don’t wear my clothes often except for pajamas. How do you take the time to put together an outfit instead of taking the easy way out with the good old band-t and jeans? 😥 I have some nice clothes that I want to wear but rarely do, or I think I look bad when I try to style them.
14:40 - i think it's pretty well documented the horrors of labor and environmental violations by the fast fashion industry. I don't see how you separate that from sustainability.
I agree with you for the most part, but unfortunately most "ethical" brands aren't actually much better than their fast fashion counterparts. The industry is so opaque that even those who are doing everything "right" still cannot guarantee that every worker at every step of production are being treated well and paid fairly. Climate Town made a really good point about this in their most recent video, "Is Sustainable Fashion Even Possible?" I do think we should do what we can to support ethical practices whenever we can, but the best thing to do overall is buy as little as possible regardless of where you source your garments from.
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So much of your experience mirrors my own sustainable fashion journey! My weight has fluctuated a lot during that period, so I have been forced to buy more clothes than I would have otherwise. But I have tried to do that intentionally (not that I always succeed!! But it is a journey), and I keep hold of the idea that perfection is the enemy of progress. I may buy more than 5 items a year, but I am buying less than I used to.
That’s the goal! We don’t have to be perfect, we just have to try.
Been really trying to diy-or-die with my style. Turned a harness i had that didn't fit right into a choker and belt with a bit of work, and saved myself from buying a seperate choker or belt. The goth scene has SO many people establishing their whole identity around what fast fashion alt brands they consume now, and Goth Unboxing and Haul videos, and its a whole entire situation that drives me up the wall.
Sewing really is a lost art. I only know the most basic stitches and that's still more than the majority of my peers. My high school got rid of Home Ec about 5 years before I got there, so I can officially say they never taught us in school. I'm trying to teach myself because I know it's such a valuable life skill.
Learned it by myself when my first child was born because we used cloth diapers and it was difficult to find pants that fit. Now I am so happy that I can repair their (and my) clothes. Also my 3yo niece is very slim so I often change her trousers for her.
It's great to hear someone put into words how hard it is to cut yourself out of the fast fashion circuit - I try to really consider my motivations when shopping and it has led to buying a lot less but WOW it is hard not to buy something 'just because I want it'.
This may sound silly but my closet is pretty small, so I always had to be mindful of it, making me more picky when making/buying clothes. If I had a huge closet I probably wouldn't even realize if I have stuff I never wear
This is such a good point though! Wardrobes used to be MUCH physically smaller than they are now. If you look at antique furniture from the 50s and 60s, wardrobe cabinets look almost comically small compared to the average closet today. Especially here in the US, walk in closets have become quite common, when they used to be an aspirational home feature that only the wealthy would have. It’s so much easier to overconsume when you don’t have to think about where you’re going to put everything.
The comment on changing where you shop isn't actually resolving the issue hits so hard, cause that is 10000% my current issue. I have been exclusively thrift shopping (except for undergarments..... which is a whole thing) for yeaaaaars, but I still find that my closet is overflowing with garments that are honestly entirely too similar for me to be able to justify the number of articles of clothing I own. I've gotten way better about not over consuming in other aspects of my life (my craft supplies and number of books is way more intentional now) but still a work in progress for clothing.
I'm the same. I've really been trying to cut back on my shopping, but it's so hard when in the past I've always gotten so much pleasure from shopping or when my friends want to go (thrift)shopping as a fun activity. Almost all my purchases for the past years have been from thrift stores or sustainable and ethical brands, but I still simply have way too many clothes, even with all the stuff I've also sold on apps like Vinted.
I love your use of the community tab, it's a proof of the algorithm problem and how you fight it. Sadly, this means you can't have a career solely based on videos, but the fact that you still publish and people actively decide to watch your videos, gives me a sense of what a community actually looks like and how we still apprecciate the things you want to share. Thank you!!
I always love your videos about wardrobe planning and sustainable fashion! I would be really interested if you wanted to do a video about taking inspiration from fashion and styling/making things in your own wardrobe, like how you kind of talk about wanting to do more. It would be fun to see how you’re staying inspired and creative without over consuming :)
Yes! Love your re-styling videos!
Yay! I decided to quit fast fashion, too! (I'm pretending it's a choice & not just because I'm poor!)
Only owning one nice winter coat has it's draw backs, is the anxiety that comes with possibly misplacing or loosing that coat. Also conserning my one coat is from a defunct brand I bought relatively unused from a thrift store (that's also defunct now). I feel bad that my current job has such a strict dress code that the majority of my wardrobe goes unworn. The close that I wear daily get worn out, but at least a good percentage of my wardrobe can be resold third hand.
The last three years I've made a more concerted effort to be more mindful of what I'm buying. I've learned how to do repairs to my clothing, make clothing in an effort to use a bunch of fabric I inherited from a relative, and just doing my research into fabrics and what works best for me. It's certainly an ongoing, continuous process, and I'm always learning something new, and I've even made a bunch of new friend connections because of it.
So much work but so worth it 💕
Being picky about new items has also saved me from a lot of clothes I didn't really want or need. Low-quality seams and synthetic fibres are an immediate turnoff in the secondhand store 🚩
This is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. 99% of what I purchase is second-hand, so things could be worse, but I recognise I am still overconsuming. It’s not through chasing trends as I have a pretty solid sense of what I like, aesthetically speaking. The multiple life and body changes I’ve been through the last few years have put me in situations where I really did need different clothes, and I think I ended up in a weird headspace where habitual shopping was just normal.
Shopping almost exclusively second-hand comes with its own set of issues, though. Second-hand shops by nature don’t have a great selection, which often leads to settling and buying pieces that I am 90% happy with, but over time and over wear, I come to realise that for whatever reason they don’t work for me (fit weird, requires more upkeep than I have the time for etc.). So I re-donate them and the search for functional work pants begins anew. I know the answer is to not buy unless you are 100% happy, but sometimes you just need something, or sometimes issues don't reveal themselves until you've worn an item for a whole day. This issue isn’t necessarily exclusive to second-hand fashion, but at least at a retail store, I can try a different size or style. However, where I live even an H&M top can cost $50, so you can imagine that ethical brands are well out of my price range.
I really am trying to cut down, and have been much better about focusing on fabric content, versatility, quality of construction etc. Trying to buy less used stuff online, as it’s always 50/50 on whether it fits and you can’t return it. I’ve purchased a sewing machine and am booked in for an 8-week beginners’ course, so I’m hoping I can at least comfortably alter or repurpose my second-hand items going forward, which will help a lot. I dunno. Guess I am just saying it’s brutal out here 😅
I am totally floored at 5 items per year. 😅 I've had single purchases this year of more than 5 items, and really have tried to invest in sustainable fibers, independently owned brands which have documented fair pay for their seastresses, etc. There are always more ways to improve!
I think the state of the wardrobe and knowing one's favorite items plays into this. The more I learn what suits me and finding THE favorite pieces, the easier it is for me to own less.
Is it with undergarments and socks? Then it would be impossible for me as well. I wear down about 5 pair of socks in a year. But I guess it means „outer wear“. This year I bought 3 light cotton trousers for summer (wore two down last year and the third also already had not repairable holes), a Second Hand dress (replacing two dresses that didn’t fit anymore) and a pajamas button so far. Maybe I will need a new jeans later this year. This would be 5 items, although I wouldn’t count the pajama neither. I think it depends on how you use your items. Ride my bike every day to work so my trousers wear down pretty fast. For active people with already a small wardrobe (like me) things will wear out quickly. I think 5 in average is realistic, but there will be years where you will need more.
Thank you for saying you can still overconsume with 'ethical' methods as I've seen some people on here who make a big deal about being thrifters and how good it is but they still buy way too much stuff.
Yes, some of my fave channels have begun to feel uncomfy to me because it feels like every other video is about going to a store. I am looking for inspiration about making use of what I have, not acquiring more!
I've been trying to buy less items and take better of them since finding your channel a few years ago!
I've beenn trying to focus on versatility. Like being able to wear certain things in more ways than one, and for more than 2 seasons.
It's a bit challenging, used to be on meds that made my weight fluctuate until recent years. I try to tailor some of the stuff I have from then to avoid buying too much, and so far, so good!
I love this update! I found your channel around early 2020 and you inspired me to try quitting fast fashion as well. I've been buying mainly second hand and learning how to mend my own clothes for about 4 years now and I love it. I find that really being intentional about clothing purchases makes fashion more fun for me personally, because it makes each piece feel more special :)
i really appreciate what you're doing educating people here, i've learned a lot from your channel. i've been trying not to buy things new other than stuff like socks and underwear, but i still am a far ways off from being fast-fashion free. still, a lot of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe are from my mom, hand-me-downs, thrifted, gifted, or from clothing swaps. i'm planning on doing a clothing swap with my mom and some family friends soon :)
I liked the point you made about being “inspired” by fashion compared to being “influenced” by social media to consume fashion. I briefly tried being a fashion content creator and I just wanted to create outfits, not do hauls etc. The amount of abuse I got in the comments along the lines of “why are you showing me this if I can’t buy it via a link???!!!”
Thank you for sharing your experiences and your insights into sustainability within fashion consumption. I think I first began watching your videos around 2020 and you've inspired me to try my best. I'm definitely not fast fashion free myself, but I give so much more thought into what I buy and why I'm buying it. I have also learnt that I actually do not like sewing, apart from small fixes and mending my clothes :D So I leave that to family members who do not mind the sewing machine and ask them for help with bigger alterations and such. In turn I am the one who mends all the woollen socks (here in Finland these are a practical wardrobe staple).
Anyway, I think the biggest giveaway I've gotten from you is planning my wardrobe ahead. I actually do not enjoy shopping because it's difficult to find what I'd actually want, but now I'm less likely to just settle for something that kind of works. Instead I will consider and plan what I'm really looking for and patiently wait until I find something like that or figure out if there is something in my wardrobe/house that could be altered to serve the purpose. Impulse buying is also so much easier to resist now!
thank you for real for sharing ! I used to have that same experience as a kid with teen vouge and diy ! But as an adult who has thier own money & no one to ask as well as definitely the landscape of buying changing so much Ive been adjusting in the same way im still ways away from where I would like to be but this is inspiring to hear as I personally am trying to step away from over consumerism for the environment , my wallet and heck even personal self & growths sake. This was great to hear as someone still working on things
My biggest issue isn’t over consumption, it never has been. My biggest problem is finding items that actually work for me. When I have an item I have really enjoyed and it’s what I know has really worked but then it either ‘becomes the wrong size’ or it just wears out. When I NEED to replace an item or I know a certain item would fill a real gap in my wardrobe…I cannot find what I want/ need. To find an item that actually fits me, ( the majority of sustainable brands do not offer sizes over a size 10 or 12 at best) the ones that offer plus sizes then don’t have items I want or need or not in my color palette or style at all. Or to find items also in a natural/ organic fibre, is the right color, the right ‘cut’/ style/ fit and can actually be returned if it does not fit or work out, or if it sells out and I ‘miss it’ ( small brand issues with limited ‘releases’) I can actually get my $100’s of dollars back and not just get a store credit, and not have to pay for original shipping, duties and return shipping …usually an extra $100 that I will never get back just to TRY the item. Also, I would thrift more ( I do try) but most thrifted clothes are washed in toxic, scented detergent and rinses and dryer sheets etc. I cannot tolerate the smells of these and it is not good for my health. I’ve never heard anyone ever address this issue online. Soooo, all that to say, I actually still ‘over consume’ because what I actually want and need is almost impossible to find so I ‘have to’ compromise on some aspect of an item but it’s not exactly what I want or need so I get it because I never know if it’s the closest I will ever get to what I want,so I get it. Then I still need another item to fill another gap or do another ‘job’ in my wardrobe because I can’t get ( find) the item with ALL of the characteristics I want/ need in one item. I try to get as versatile items as possible but to be most versatile, it has to hit ALL of the requirements fit, color, fabric, style, cost and that is almost impossible. I wish more RUclipsrs who speak about wardrobes and shopping would talk more about ‘compromises’ . You did here to some degree, much more than most. Thank you for that.
Extremely well said! I recently bought some stuff from a not so ethical brand because finding secondhand clothes in my size is no easy task, but reminding myself that I wear my clothes for years helped stem the guilt a little bit. Like you said, it’s less about where you buy the clothes and more about how you treat the clothes.
Omg your timing is amazing!!! Im currently preparing an exam project in psychology/social studies and im hitting so many of the same points as you
This is so true! I think a big part of it the lack of community spaces for teens in general. For a lot of them their only community is on social media, and social media is so fluid that it really doesn’t give them anything stable to hold on to. It’s normal for teens to go through phases while they find themselves, but everything moves so fast now!
I make most of my clothes, and at this point, I have a pretty good wardrobe, about four years after I started transitioning. I'm also a college student on a pretty strict budget, and so I dont buy very many things. I imagine that the five item a year guideline doesn't take into account situation like mine, where I literally had to get rid of almost every peice of clothing in my wardrobe and replace it with the opposite gender. If you have a stable wardrobe, and a stable style, maybe that's reasonable, but some of us like fashion lol.
Yeah experimenting is important! I "cheat" by sewing some of my clothes, or change them into something else if they dont work (eg dyeing, making a blouse out of a mens shirt etc).
Thanks for linking that hot and cold article, seems like it's got a lot of information I know a little bit about all in one place for me to learn in more detail. I drastically cut down on my fashion consumption after auditing a couple of textile development classes during one we had a talk by the founder of Fab Scrap and in another watched The True Cost. Notable exceptions were a shopping spree right after the lockdowns started and needing to buy more or less an entire wardrobe for an intimate destination wedding.
Also the economic factors definitely come into play. Last year I was reminded very literally of the Boots Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness when somebody complimented my go-to everyday shoes was amazed by the condition after learning they were somewhere in the 6-7+ years old range. Meanwhile from my perspective I'd been feeling pretty bummed that while they were in good shape, the design on them had faded drastically over the years and which made me feel like they were worn out. The shoes were a pretty big purchase for me for shoes that weren't formal/occasionwear, but in hindsight it made much more sense to spend that much on something I'd get a lot of use out of versus things that I only pull out once a year, if that.
Well as a millennial who grown up pretty low class I always had few clothes and mostly used from other siblings. So when I was younger never had a lot of clothes and that persisted mostly until my 20. When I got my first job I rewarded myself with fast fashion for like 2 years until I started to feel bad, as I knew that wasn't good for the environment. Now in my 30 still got a lot of that clothing, but as I started to replace some of those pieces, started to write a clothing journal as way to write about any impulse that I my have in the days I find myself looking at FF clothes and that helped with not buying 100% of the times. Still buy underware from FF due to size and my flow ruining a lot of it. But in general I try to spend time on slow fashion websites to motivate me for saving for better itens, especially since I now own 7 slow fashion items and use them non stop. Btw sorry for the long comment, just found your RUclips, hope it helps the algorithm 😊
Thank you for the video Stitchess!! I have cut way back on fast fashion since joining the Lolita community, but I still struggle with balance and excess.
I have so many t shirts I just wear them regardless if they're deodorant stained or faded just because I don't go outside a lot so who cares what it looks like. Even when I do leave my house I'm always wearing a sweater so I just keep the shirt on. I'm still wearing shirts from middle school and I haven't bought any new ones for years and if they do rip I just cut them into rags.
My reusable cotton rounds that I use to remove my makeup are made from an old t-shirt of mine ^-^
I've decided to start knitting most of my garments that I would normally buy like sweaters, socks, scarves, hats, etc. Its nice because I just finished a really intricate sweater and decided that the first time I wore it would also be at my first Hozier concert a couple weeks ago. So instead of buying merch I wore my sweater and now I have a cool memory attached to it. Its nice to make things because then I think about if I really need it or not, because if I don't want to put in the effort for it then I don't need it. Makes me consume way less
Nice to see you again, hopefully spring is treating you well.
i love this video, I really appreciate seeing someone else's journey on quitting fast fashion, I agree a lot with there being a lack of passion in it, I want to see all but a lot of people do just buy what other people have it
over the past couple years of dedicating myself, to pursuing my own style theres more to it than just a purchasing journey, its an introspective journey i think ppl dont realize
as a fat person, i see alot of people exclusively shop alot of fast fashion brands cuz its the easiest option, but it puts u in a box, always the same silhouette and the sane look, cuz most ppl feel they can only shop at the same places, but its much more rewarding to collect things that are not there just because they fit, rather getting things that are special to u
it feels like a lifelong sustainable hobby in a sense
idk if this comment makes sense lol but i love the vid all the same 😋
Unless I'm using it for heavy duty work I kinda expect a tshirt to last 10 years. At least that's how old a lot of my 100% cotton ones are. They're not even necessarily "sustainable", but I guess given their age they're made before the rise of ultra fast fashion so the quality is better. Tip: Avoid tshirts with even a tiny amount of elastane in it. The shopkeep claimed it prevents them from losing their shape, but that's *exactly* what it did, getting weird bulges, plus the fibres degrading unevenly made it look super weird.
Imo buing from fast fashion brands (or even most designer fashion brands) is by definition not "sustainable" due to all of the human rights violations. From an environmental standpoint sure, buing 10 "sustainable" items might use the same amount of energy/cause the same destruction as 1 fast fashion item. (Making up number here, but you get the idea.) But that one fast fashion item continues to contribute to slavery, child labour, unsafe working conditions, etc, wheras an item from an actually sustainable source will offer people an actually well paid and safe job. It might not always be possible to avoid fast fashion completely, for various reasons. But I'd never call it sustainable, personally.
I've always hatet shopping, so personally I don't have the issue of unlearning that habit. But I still had a large wardrobe with too many items I barely wore. In order to cut shopping time short I'd often just buy the next best item that _kinda_ fit what I needed, only to never be worn cause it didn't fit well enough/I didn't actually like the look very much. So I'm kinda going the opposite way. I started caring about fashion more actively, watched a lot of YT videos (including yours) that helped a lot learning about it. One of the best pieces of advice I heard was to not settle for anything that isn't a 100% fit in both size and style. I'm spending a lot more time in fashion stores now, looking through stuff, but I'm buying a lot less pieces. But the pieces I *do* buy are ones I actually wear.
Also, another mental shift I made (not for fashion, but other stuff) is to see shops as museums. If you enjoy going through shops, just yanno... keep doing that :) Look at all the beautiful things on display and take home only inspiration, like you would in a museum :)
Thank you so much for this video and for sharing so transparently. I am currently going through this process and it is easy to feel defeated whenever my shopping urge kicks in. But this video gives me hope that is is possible to completely "break free" from old habits. Maybe the journey won't be flawless, I will make mistakes along the way, but I will keep going.
Thank you for this video! I learned a lot, and I also really appreciate you sharing your journey, your encouragement to others, and the emphasis on progress over perfection.
Any day The Stitchess uploads...is a good day ❤
Fast fashion was never an issue with me. Always stuck to the classics. Quality but not necessarily less quantity. I know what works for me and I stick to it.
When you have a small wardrobe and are very selective about what you buy, you really do start to see firsthand what quality actually looks like. As you said, you end up wearing and washing each piece more frequently, so you quickly find out which items cannot withstand that. Mindful secondhand shopping (primarily in person) definitely helps with identifying quality too, because you are exposed to a large variety of seam finishes, clasps and closures, fabrics, detailing, (etc…), which creates a clear visual and tactile contrast between what is, and isn’t, quality. If you only shop at H&M for instance, you will only ever know what their pieces look like and how they hold up to wear/wash, and you might even wind up thinking their level of “quality” is typical across the board.
I'm very particular about fabric content and how my clothes fit, so I've finally bitten the bullet and am learning to draft stuff how i like them to be, so I don't end up getting like, 4 skirts that mostly fit okay in different ways while trying to find at least One that ticks all the boxes perfectly.
One thing I've noticed is that I have often bought and worn certain clothes to be accepted and respected. At school clothes were like an armour from bullying, they helped increase social status in a sometimes hostile environment. As an adult people judge you if you look scruffy. If I go to the shops/other places in scruffier more worn clothes and shoes some people treat me poorly, whereas if I dress up people notice me and treat me better. It'd help uf as a society we stopped worshipping the rich and started treating everyone with respect regardless of income and appearance.
Also, one more issue is people using fabric softener on clothes and charity shops using febreeze or other chemicals. I get migraines and both of these things make me nauseous, I've had to redonate a few things back to the charity shop due to strong chemical fragrances on the clothes that I can't remove.
Great video, as always!
Excellent vid, well said! Thank you! ❤❤❤
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Welcome back! ^•^
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I don't know how to only buy 5 items a year when my body shape is constantly changing
not completely related, but i've been shopping almost exclusively at thrift stores for a few years now, and the amount of fast fashion i see there is so disheartening (and often marked up above the price at the fast fashion store! so totally ludicrous!). i hate how difficult it's becoming to find well-made, long-lasting clothing at the thrift store now.
yes for this!
Hi! I enjoy what you do with your channel. I learn so much and you are unique. Looking forward to more! K
Aww, thanks!
I get so frustrated at the girlies who act like their shopping second is saving the world, even though they'll still do hauls and buy stuff to wear once. Every item i buy is thought out meticulously and something that brings me joy - thats what matters most.
Omg I was wanting you to make a new video!! Miss ur videos so bad
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Wow I’m seeing this in the first hour
Yay! 💖
I'm in kind of a weird place in my wardrobe right now. I have already been thinking a lot about need vs want and trying to pick out what all my favourite things that I want to keep vs what I don’t want anymore. I already don't buy clothes often. I have a lot of clothes I have had for 10+ years and while I still like ans wear some of it,I also know my style is shifting. I want to be inebtional in any purchases I make that will suit me more but I already feel like I have more than I even need. I want to try to sell what I don’t want before the last resort of donating, but I find that kind of hard too. It takes anywhere from a few months to a year or more to sell one item, and meanwhile it is taking up space. I have begrudgingly donated some things and I hope they have founs a proper home and are not just in a heap somewhere. I feel bad getting rid of clothes but at times I'm also struggling to be happy with what I currently have when not all of it feels like me.
thank you for posting those sources they sound really interesting and usefull ʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ
have a nice day!
!! I’m trying to get better about sharing resources that are both useful and science-based.
I'm also a millenial and have that same experience of fashion being something to admire but not purchase and girl... i started a coupleof brandnew social media accounts on tumblr, bluesky and instagram and i just can't seem to convince the algo i want to see fashion as art. I just dont know whati need to do to make it understand.
My problem is I do laundry and then pick the same few shirts and two pairs of pants to re-wear out of the laundry bag…I work a lot and don’t wear my clothes often except for pajamas. How do you take the time to put together an outfit instead of taking the easy way out with the good old band-t and jeans? 😥 I have some nice clothes that I want to wear but rarely do, or I think I look bad when I try to style them.
No. It’s better to buy fewer clothes even if it’s fast fashion than to consume at the same rate but swap it for ethical brands.
14:40 - i think it's pretty well documented the horrors of labor and environmental violations by the fast fashion industry. I don't see how you separate that from sustainability.
I agree with you for the most part, but unfortunately most "ethical" brands aren't actually much better than their fast fashion counterparts. The industry is so opaque that even those who are doing everything "right" still cannot guarantee that every worker at every step of production are being treated well and paid fairly. Climate Town made a really good point about this in their most recent video, "Is Sustainable Fashion Even Possible?" I do think we should do what we can to support ethical practices whenever we can, but the best thing to do overall is buy as little as possible regardless of where you source your garments from.
Sorry but the audio is so bad i cant 😢
I always get so excited when I get a notif that you uploaded!!!🫶🏻 thanks for reminding me why I fell in love with thrifting in the first place💕
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