This article was written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
It’s safe to say that I have shopping problem for as long as I can remember. I didn’t think much about where my clothes came from, how they were made, or what happened to them after I stopped wearing them.
The most important thing for me was finding the newest style, wearing it a few times, and then completely forgetting about it. However, after learning about circular fashion while listening to the podcast Brown Girl Green for the weekly biology assignment, my perspective on clothing and sustainability completely changed.
Circular fashion is a concept that focuses on keeping clothes in use for as long as possible. Instead of the traditional way of fashion, in which clothes are produced, worn for a short time, and then thrown away, circular fashion encourages the reuse, repair, sale and recycling of clothes. The podcast talks about many ways to get involved with the loop, like dyeing different colors of fabric or adding fun patches to reinvent any clothing item.
Learning about the concept of circular fashion has helped me better understand how individual preferences are connected to larger environmental issues. The podcast focuses on sustainability, environmental justice, and ways people can make more conscious decisions in their daily lives. Hearing discussions about sustainable fashion made me realize that the fashion industry is one of the biggest contributors to pollution and waste around the world. Something as simple as buying a cheap t-shirt can have a bigger environmental impact than I thought.
What I appreciate most about circular fashion is that it really is easy to practice more than most people realize, especially for college students. Trading clothes with friends or having group-wide clothing swaps are great ways to get involved that are easy and can help you expand your wardrobe without buying new items. Other ways to become obsessed with clothes include being thrifty or visiting thrift stores, upcycling and donating.
Since learning more about circular fashion, my shopping habits have definitely changed. Another big difference is that now I try to buy used equipment first. Instead of buying something new right away, I look in my closet (or my friends’ closets) first to see if there is another way to buy a completely new outfit. I also like to go to vintage stores like Plato’s Closet, where I can find brands like Lululemon and American Eagle for half the regular price. Not only is it more durable, but it’s also often cheaper. Sometimes, thrift is even better because everything is unique, and it takes extra effort to find something special.
I’ve also started to be more intentional about what I buy. Instead of buying something just because it’s trendy or viral on TikTok, I try to think about how often I’ll wear it. Sometimes I buy things because everyone else has them or because it’s a popular brand, but not because I really like them. If I can imagine myself wearing something multiple times and painting it in different ways, it feels like a better investment. Round fashion helped me from impulse buying making well thought out shopping decisions and having a wardrobe I’m more than happy with.
For our generation, circular fashion is especially important. Many young people today are more aware of environmental issues and they try to live more sustainably. Although it may not always be possible to avoid fast fashion completely, making small changes, such as saving money, swapping clothes with friends, or buying fewer but high-quality items, can still make a difference.
Can’t get enough of HC UMass Amherst? Make sure you follow us Instagramlisten to us Spotifylike us Facebookand read the latest Tweets!
#Circular #Fashion #Changed #Shopping #Patterns