After
watching The True Cost and reading Overdressed I found myself contemplating
every single item I ever remember purchasing and trying to determine if I truly
needed it. I felt very guilty for my past ignorance but I also found myself
getting anxious and burning with a desire to do something about all these
issues. I guess this is why I’ve chosen socially responsible business practices
as my concentration and it’s why I want to work towards improving the fashion
industry. I was primarily knowledgeable about a lot of the information conveyed
in Overdressed and The True Cost but the statistics and
imagery are still impactful nonetheless.
I
think that our current rate of consumption is definitely a result of fashion
marketing and the capitalistic economic model that dictates our society. The
capitalistic economic model is based on infinite growth in a world with clearly
defined limits and finite resources. This is clearly unsustainable and has
forced clothing to become disposable and low-quality. This further perpetuates
consumerism and actually facilitates financial instability as people continuously
spend their money on low cost items. Even though clothing is cheaper now, people
spend more annually on various items of clothing instead of building a wardrobe
over the course of time with quality pieces.
Currently,
we are still headed in the wrong direction—but it is possible to change. Every
day I see more platforms that make new brands offering more accessible and
publicized. These brands offer items that are more appropriately priced based
on inputs such as materials and labor. With the increase in these new brands,
large corporations are facing competition. They are feeling challenged for
keeping their market share because more consumers are demanding products that
are ethically made from ethically operating companies.
I
think the most important factor in spreading the urgency of the need for change
lies in spreading information in an easily digestible manner. A lot of people
don’t want to feel guilty for their actions so they don’t want to look into the
truth about the fashion industry. They avoid articles, documentaries, and books.
People are often reluctant to change and get overwhelmed when they find out
that the way they live and exist needs to change. They may feel helpless and
not know where to start. I am a firm believer that education about these topics
and the like needs to start at a young age. If this type of information is
included in school systems, then people will have the resources to make
responsible choices from the start.
This was an incredible, truthful break down of the consumerism issue in America. I loved that you wrote, "The capitalistic economic model is based on infinite growth in a world with clearly defined limits and finite resources." because you are getting to the core of the consumption problem and why it is a problem in the first place. We simply cannot sustain the amount we produce and consume. I also I loved your solution to this problem by making this knowledge accessible for everyone and even making it required to learn about. Lastly, I really liked your correlation between new brands and large companies because companies are struggling to compete against one another therefore making their products more desirable by lowering the prices which comes at an extreme, unethical cost.
ReplyDeleteCaroline- well done.... You sum up the predicament well in this sentence: "Even though clothing is cheaper now, people spend more annually on various items of clothing instead of building a wardrobe over the course of time with quality pieces." You are right- we are getting more for less- who wants to walk away from that? Your notion of education is a fabulous idea! How do you propose this education can get started - in an across-the-board way at the elementary grades? Let us know... how do we get there! Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline,
ReplyDeleteYour post is great! I felt the same way after reading the novel and watching the movie. It really influenced to me to make a change and help solve the issue. I think consumers are driven by the price of the clothing rather then the quality and the brand. I agree, I think if more people were aware of the issues, more consumers would have the urge to make a difference. Overall, great post! Your post flowed so nicely and was powerful.
Very well written analysis of the psychological elements of people and corporations with consumerism and production. Loved the idea of emphasizing sustainability in classrooms so people will have the resources to make change. You mention capitalism and how it dictates our society, but is there a solution that won't affect capitalism but will be good for the environment?
ReplyDelete