When: January sometime // Weather: 40s // Real life: work
I feel like this outfit is the perfect meeting between the old me and new me. The shoes are Everlane, a sustainable brand. The top is Eileen Fischer, also a sustainable brand, and I got it used at a local consignment shop, so doubly sustainable.
Meanwhile, the cardigan was gifted from Shein, the quintessential fast fashion e-retailer. You’ve probably at least heard of Shein because they partner with (read: send free shit to) about a bazillion bloggers. I know because I used to be one of them. In 2018, they would send me 2 or 3 things at a time, and once I featured them on the blog, they would send more.
This went on for several months, and eventually I stopped answering their emails. Even before I was “officially” on my sustainable fashion journey, something just didn’t feel quite right about it. The clothes were of very questionable quality, and while I did in fact wear them, it was usually only once or twice before dumping them at Goodwill.
For a while I tried to justify this in my head – I wasn’t giving rave reviews or actively saying “you guys should try Shein!” BUT, we as bloggers/influencers have to recognize that when we feature a product and give you a link to buy it, paid or not, the subtext is: “I personally recommend this” and “I believe this business is worth supporting.” And the fact was, I did not really want to recommend anyone buy from Shein. I tried out their products because I had the chance to do so for free, but would I spend my own money on them? Probably not.
So, I stopped accepting free stuff from Shein, and now that I’ve learned more about what the fast fashion industry is doing to the planet, I feel extra good about that choice. Shein does claim to make efforts to be socially responsible, and if that’s true, great. But when brand new clothes are priced extremely cheaply (with quality to match the price), it tells the consumer: “This garment is disposable. Wear it once or twice, then toss it. You won’t feel bad because it was so cheap.” That’s not the kind of attitude toward clothes and shopping that I want to promote anymore, so I won’t. I will still try to link to some of the stuff I wear for anyone’s who’s interested, and I will do my very best to link to things that I think are worth your money.
Thank you all for being patient as I sort out how to best use my influence for good. I’m still a work in progress.
I disagree that everyone who shops at “fast fashion” retailers view the clothing as disposable. Not everyone spends a ton of money on clothes, and I keep I’ve gotten from “fast fashion” places for at least a year or more. The prices on Shean aren’t so cheep that I would throw them out right away. A lot of stuff on there is 15-40 bucks, which is the same as I’d probably spend on it anywhere else. I have tried Shean but the clothes fit oddly, so that’s why I don’t really shop from Shean. I feel it’s a little classiest to think that everyone who shops fast fashion will just toss it or that they do not care about the environment.
Hi Jessica – Thanks for your comment! You bring up some great points, ones that I hope to delve into more in future posts. 🙂 Some people take the “all or nothing” approach to sustainable shopping, but I’m not one of them. I agree with you that shopping fast fashion once in a while (Shein or Forever 21 or wherever) does not mean you don’t care about the environment, and I’m sorry if that’s how my comments came across. Unfortunately not everyone is like you in making responsible choices to keep their clothes in rotation for many years, and my concern is that the wide availability of cheap, trendy items makes it easier for people to make the less responsible choice. (I know because I fell victim to it for many years!) I don’t claim to have all the right answers, but at least we’re talking about this important topic! Thanks again for reading and chiming in. 🙂 ~Sarah
Hi, I really liked you post, it brings up some serious and valid points. Influencers should definitely be more conscious about what they advertise and what they promote. Thanks for sharing your point of view. Regards, Franca.