Commentary: Fast fashion vs. thrifting: A solution to the industry’s failings

The first time I stepped into a thrift shop with my brother, I found piece after piece of eccentric, fashionable clothing. As I combed through the racks of unique fabrics, I found beauty in the thought that each article had a previous owner, enriching the history and storytelling of my own style.

That experience also made me utterly rethink the way I purchased my clothes. After years of shopping at chain stores and online sites like Shein, I had finally found a better solution to a problem I didn’t even know I had — how to obtain clothing that is both affordable and ethically sourced.

I began researching the stores I previously loved for their inexpensive and trendy styles, including “fast fashion” chains like Forever 21, Old Navy and H&M. My findings about the entire industry shocked me. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the fashion industry produces between 2% and 8% of all global carbon emissions. The environmental site Earth.org says 92 million tons of textile waste end up in landfills each year. Choosing to donate and thrift saves clothing items from rotting in these textile quagmires.

Fast fashion is designed to be thrown away. A study by the UCLA Sustainability Committee found that styles are churned out so quickly, the quality so poor, that each piece lasts fewer than 10 wears before falling apart. In my experience, that number can even be closer to three or four. As the polyester fabric breaks down, more microplastic particles are added to an ever-increasing amount on our planet, infiltrating our oceans, food and the air we breathe.

In other findings, these companies also heavily rely on exploited labor, part of the reason prices for new clothes can be so cheap. By some estimates, less than 2% of garment workers earn a living wage. Is that new top you “just have to get” really worth it?

Thrift shops offer something different. Instead of piling up in landfills, donated products counter growing fast fashion, promoting sustainability and affordability (most thrift shops have much lower prices than retail stores). Thrifting is an opportunity to have unique clothes and have a fun experience at peculiar shops.

Fashion doesn’t have to break the bank, negatively impact the environment or harm the lives of garment workers. Our society glorifies overconsumption, but by opting to thrift instead, you can feel good about the clothes on your body — and have peace of mind about where they came from.

— Erin Reaney, Reynolds High School

This story was produced by student reporters as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University and other Oregon media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to oregonlive.com/hsji.