Is the Sustainable Fashion Movement Classist?

In this day and age, it’s all about sustainability. It’s the idea that one should adopt a lifestyle that produces the least amount of harmful waste to the environment. It means recycling, reusing clothing and materials, and being conscious of what you’re purchasing in the first place. More and more people are taught through social media, magazines and even school to be conscious of the environment, especially when making shopping decisions. That means staying away from fast fashion—No Forever 21, no Zara, no H&M, and instead shopping from sustainable brands that make their clothing with natural materials, use less water, or even fabrics made from recycled waste. While being part of this movement is the hottest fashion trend and is crucial in saving our environment, some people simply can’t afford sustainable brands like Reformation, People Tree, and many others. They’re too expensive to fill up a closet worth of their clothing. That means many people of the middle and lower class, who are the bulk of consumers in the fashion industry, are left with limited options due to cost and accessibility. Should they be shamed for not shopping sustainably, but rather purchasing clothing from fast fashion sites and stores because it’s what they can afford and it’s convenient?

The Underprivileged Shoppers

Most people say that cost is a huge factor when buying clothing. Unfortunately, most shoppers have to consider costs when purchasing clothing. They can’t afford to swipe their cards without looking at the tag. “I am all for it and I love doing it, I just can’t always afford it,” says one fashion student. This kind of shopper is left out of the sustainable fashion movement as most companies that produce these eco-friendly clothing sell pieces for high prices. A basic shirt could very well start at $100 and the price only goes up when there’s more detail or fabric involved, as with most clothing. This makes these brands unattainable to most middle and lower class shoppers. So what do they buy? What they can afford, which in most cases is cheap clothing from fast fashion companies. Brands like H&M, Zara, Fashion Nova, Pretty Little Thing…all fast fashion. These are the companies one must avoid when shopping sustainably, as they are known to produce high amounts of pollution and exploit factory workers in foreign countries. This is the horrible truth of the fashion industry. A solution needs to be found, and many suggest that it is up to the consumer. Consumers should stop buying clothing from fast fashion brands altogether. But when this solution is pushed onto an underprivileged shopper, what are they to do if they cannot afford the solution? Why won’t these fast fashion companies change their ways, and why can’t there be a cheaper sustainable option? Unfortunately, fast fashion has become a monster that is hard to defeat. There are so many factors in finding a solution, and one which is brushed over is the shopper who can only afford fast fashion.

The Thriftshoppers

I know it sounds like there is no way of making this sustainable movement affordable to the masses. But there are a few methods that can help, and some of these include thrifting and shopping from the resale market online. A lot of people who cannot afford these high-end sustainable brands often turn to raid their local Goodwill or buy clothing from Poshmark and Depop. “It is very costly for college students like me to be a part of the sustainable movement, thrifting is the only way for me to be sustainable,” says another college student. Yes, thrifting can be a grimy and tedious process that involves having to spend hours searching through used clothing just to come out with one thing. For some people it’s thrilling, but I’m sure for your typical shopper it is the type of store that one would avoid. However, with as many resale apps and websites that are present in today’s industry, it’s possible for shoppers to find nice items with just a quick search on their phones. One can find anything from a simple white t-shirt to a designer jacket all at the touch of a button or quick trip to the thrift store. Thrifting and resale have become a great method for recycling clothing that helps keep unwanted clothing from the landfill. If you have a thrift store or consignment shop nearby, I highly suggest checking it out, because you may find some great pieces to add to your closet for low prices. And guess what? It’s sustainable. Now I’m sure some of you are wondering how this is possible if you don’t have a Goodwill close by, hours to spend searching for clothing, or even a phone to buy from resale apps. What then? That is the conundrum. Not all shoppers can thrift, and not all shoppers can purchase sustainable clothing. So who’s job is it to fix the system and put an end fast fashion? The answer is still yet to be found as revisions to the current shopping process must be made. But it is unfair to shame people for buying fast fashion when they can’t afford anything else or only have access to whatever stores are in their local mall. 

The Privileged Shoppers

With all this talk about people who can’t afford sustainable clothing or don’t have access to resale, many people could do more. This means that people who have the time and extra money should look into more sustainable clothing and perhaps buying basics that last through seasons from eco-friendly brands, or buying name brand items on Poshmark. Some people are simply falling into the fast fashion trap of “consumptionism”. This is the process of treating clothing as if it is a disposable or perishable item. Fast fashion has made many shoppers treat clothing as if it is a use-once throwaway product. Take Zara for example; they have new clothing coming in every few weeks. People buy it, maybe wear it once or twice, then get sick of it because the hottest thing is already on the racks by the next week. This mind control is what keeps fast fashion thriving. To end fast fashion, it is up to those who have a choice in how they shop and what they wear to make a difference. People need to be more conscious of where their clothing is being made and make the right decisions about where to shop. It is up to people with the privilege of shopping to help make a change. These shoppers might suggest that they don’t have the time to thrift or buy from resale, or that they don’t care about where their clothing is made and just want cute clothing at cheap prices. This is sad to see but happens all the time. Some people don’t know about the harmful effects of fast fashion or simply don’t care. “I think it’s all about finding alternatives and fight against what we want.,” says another college student. These people hold the most cards in this game, and they can make the most change by altering their buying habits or at least being aware of where they’re shopping and how much clothing they use then discard. Limiting the number of purchases from fast fashion companies can help tremendously. No more excuses. We all have to be aware of what we buy and where we buy it. Otherwise, more damage will be done to the world and the people that live in it.

The Answer

Yes, the current sustainable fashion movement is classist as it does not consider those of the middle and lower class who have limited options in shopping and does not educate those who could do better. So, what’s the solution then? The solution is to do what you can. Educate yourself on sustainability, know where your clothing comes from, and try to change your shopping habits if you have the capability. In the wise words of Troy Bolton from High School Musical, “We’re all in this together”. That’s the truth. No matter your background, social class or economic class, we are all responsible for caring for this earth and each other. That means bringing an end to fast fashion and shopping more sustainably by doing what you can to help.