I Broke Up With Fast Fashion and You Should Too | Gabriella Smith | TEDxWynwoodWomen

How many of us have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear? Many of us buy fast fashion as a way to keep up with trends, without thinking about the impact we are having on the planet or the people. Gabriella Smith (@gabriellasmith) has made it her life’s work to raise awareness of the effects of fashion in our world, by utilizing creative ways to engage brands and consumers to rethink the way they design and shop. Follow her work @theupcycelproject.
Gabriella is the Founder of The UpCycle Project and the Director of Sustainability & Innovation for Istituto Marangoni Miami. Gabriella has made it her goal to raise awareness of the waste the fashion industry creates by creating hands-on workshops, student mentorship programs, inspiring discussions, as well as disruptive events and products that find circular solutions for fashion and other industries This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@exxology1]

I buy mostly second hand clothing and get tons of compliments on my style! I supplement with a new dress or jacket once in a great while! It’s better the the environment and my wallet!

[@suides4810]

Vanessa Sky Same I started to do it in spring and i feel way better.

[@cecejagger4527]

Same here, I love old clothes plus I just see that the clothes were way better quality than theyre now

[@machi-full-of-coffee]

After I watched the documentary "The True Cost", my view on fashion has changed. Also, I realized that my desire to buy new clothes all the time is greatly influenced by social media. I stopped using Instagram and quit posting on facebook and I found myself not really caring about how fashionable I look, I focused more on the function of what I wear. And I saved a lot of money! Also it really helps to remember that nobody really cares about your looks (unless your work depends on it).

[@naeemaless774]

Same

[@henriheimbach1379]

Can someone help me for school maybe an English speaking person Nr1 Listen to the TED talk and point out the message that Gabrielle Smith is trying to bring across. Nr2 How does she try to convince the audience of her opinion regarding fast fashion? (Which aspects/ images does she mention?) Nr3Read some of the comments below the video. Then write a comment yourself. (What is your opinion regarding fast fashion?) Please

[@naeemaless774]

@@henriheimbach1379 for Nr1 there could be many answers since in the Ted talk she conveys many messages about how fast fashion affects our lives the lives of those who make the clothing and the negative effect it has on the planet

[@henriheimbach1379]

@@naeemaless774 oh Tanks but what can I write

[@henriheimbach1379]

@@naeemaless774 im not from England so I can’t speak really good

[@englishcloud6299]

i made it my new years resolution to not buy newly manufactured clothes any more. i now only buy vintage and second hand. i love vintage clothes because i love history and knowing i don’t contribute to the fast fashion industry feels good. it also makes me appreciate my clothes more because my clothes are more personally valuable to me because they’re usually unique.

[@karenfrierson9550]

Love vintage 🍀

[@deanwinchester3356]

Not everyone likes vintage. That’s your personal taste.

[@karlareyes4688]

I loved this talk. I've never been a big shopper and dont care about trends but still I've never thought of the impact my shopping habits have on the planet and on people around the world. I'm always looking for ways to reduce my footprint and not being a shopacholic helps. Now the thing is to instill that mentality in youngsters. Social media keeps them wanting more and more without thinking or being grateful of what they already have. Now, one thing that we need to make full circle is to make sustainable fashion AFFORDABLE!! As a mother of 3 on a low income my desire to help stops at the price tag. 😓😓 I hope one day sustainability in all areas of life can be part of everyone's life regardless of income.

[@hannahprince3512]

Sustainable fashion is affordable. You don't have to buy 100% organic cotton shirts to be sustainable. You don't have to buy anything. That's the thing. With kids it's difficult because they grow, but there are so many ways to be sustainable. Friends with older kids who have leftover clothes, thrift shops, there are organizations that have this loop where you can hire something, send it back when it gets too small and get clothes a size bigger instead. I don't mean to sound rude, absolutely not. I just get so sad when I see these comments and think about all the people who give up sustainability because they are misinformed about the essence.

[@karlareyes4688]

@@hannahprince3512 you dont sound rude at all!! Thank you so much for the advice 😊 you are right. We shouldn't make excuses when it comes to being sustainable. There are other ways to help. The point is helping reduce and protect the one planet we have 😊🙏🏻

[@crimsonmatter]

@@karlareyes4688 THIS 👆

[@j9epeart773]

I love this. This makes better sense. It will just take a long time to break many ego's to reach. Better balance on the planet.

[@azeljoyportugues2580]

As a practicing minimalist, i stopped buying new clothings, i am a fan of second hand clothings and i love thrift stores! There are so many cheap or affordable clothings nowadays which you can purchase online. But nah, i am not a fan of shopping online, it's quality over quantity always for me..

[@fernandoalarcon8534]

I shop on poshmark, which is used clothing. I only buy new undergarments. Every one in a while I will purchase new clothing. I don't worry so much about trends, my only concern is if I like it.

[@ponypower8]

Exercise, eat right, have an active lifestyle. You'll be healthier, feel good, and look better regardless of what you wear. I actually believe that "the best fashion accessory you can have is your body". Clothes look better if you have a fit and healthy body. So you won't need to buy too many clothes. You also save money & you save the environment.

[@Just1Independent1]

Great message!

[@babynamesbank]

LOVE

[@bricksknockdown]

100%truth. Just loosing 1 kili makes u look better ❤

[@Eli-sy7nh]

How can you throw out something after 1-2 wears?! I have things I've worn and washed countless time.

[@baoanhnguyen4128]

Making clothes from leftover fabric/ rummage will not totally solve the issue, you must start with the fabric, how the fabric is made, will it be biodegradable, how much water is used to produce the fabric??? Upgrade honestly can not help much, but we appreciate people who are concerning and trying to find a way to help

[@sharonjose4141]

"A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear".. a very first world problem that honestly is not even funny anymore.. Emphasis should be on training minds to beleive that what you wear does not really say who you are

[@jennenny87]

Ok, but even when I "invested" in "higher quality" (read: more expensive) jeans, they fell apart just as quickly and had all the same issues (such as stretching/sagging/not fitting as well, even by the end of the first day wearing them). Most "sustainable" clothing brands are not economically sustainable for most people, and most places that sell used clothes in an organized manner where you can actually reliably find something decent and in the correct size are just as expensive now as buying a similar item new. Many people don't have the time or ability to spend hours or days searching through multiple thrift stores/charity shops/garage sales hoping to happen upon the items they need in good condition and the right size, so what is the realistic solution? The best I've found is to continue to buy "cheap/fast fashion" clothes, but be very strategic about what and how much I buy and wear them until they fall apart (in a way that can't easily be repaired). I'm open to suggestions, but "just go thrifting! It's fun!" Is logistically unrealistic for many, and straight up ableist to some.

[@iamnobody2241]

People should ask themselves how many clothes do they really need and why? A decade ago I stepped into forever21 their shop is really huuuggeeeee here in Middle East. I bought few skirts for my sister but nothing for me and I never return again to that said shop as drowned in clothes after clothes but nothing makes sense to me. That’s when I found Muji, as I mentioned in another video, I found Muji to be practical, sensible, comfortable and wearable whatever the season may be. Who says we can’t wear the same clothes over and over again? Who cares? As for office clothes I bought something good for two weeks, I didn’t buy everything all at once, I look out for good brands and wait for them to go on sale. Seems like there’s a sale going on every month. People often advise thrifting but there’s no such thing here that your best bet will wait for the sale of a certain brand you are eyeing for.

[@Emilia-hj5xw]

WHY DID SHE HAVE SO MUCH CLOTHES IN THE FIRST PLACE THATS SO AMERICAN

[@gabriellasmith6203]

That's a good question! I grew up in Venezuela, but I felt the social pressures that more is better... There is always room for improvement. :)

[@monnikhan1000]

Well it’s American consumerism I guess we all get sucked into the buy buy buy more to stay happy etc a vicious cycle every weekend I see parking lots filled with cars going to the malls

[@Eli-sy7nh]

Ikr! my jaw dropped when she said how much she had! How can you even afford or have room for that much clothing!

[@karama8260]

I am a Ph.D. student doing research on slow fashion consumer behaviour, may I ask what are the reasons for you guys to engage in slow fashion? for the environment, labor, personal well-being, showing identity or any other reasons? I hope to contribute more in this field and call for more people to join this slow fashion movement.

[@latristessdurera8763]

Lordy! I can’t even imagine owning over 100 T-shirts 😯 My jaw literally dropped lol.

[@mohanakanumilli]

Amazing.. inspiring 👏

[@bdas7779]

Very inspiring and positive ❤️👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@rileyemel9913]

My dad and I are almost the exact same size so I get his old clothing. He has decent taste so it works out. Most of my pants are his at this point, as are a sizable chunk of my sweaters/pullovers

[@snikepike]

I’m no fan of fast fashion - don’t get me wrong - but she talks about how it aligns with her values. If it aligns with your values to dump something that isn’t even yours on the floor and leave it there with no regard to the person who has to clean up after you or the people who spent time sewing the clothes, you seriously need to take another look at your so called values. Treating low paying work and workers like they’re worthless is the the same mentality that got us in to this fast fashion mess to begin with.

[@novaartino9553]

I think what she was doing there was trying to emphasize a point. It sounds more dramatic and gets the point across to the viewer better. Being honest, she probably did put them back on the shelves where she found them. Well, hopefully. If she actually left them there, that is extremely rude to the people who work there. They are not your maids and have better things to do than to clean up after others.

[@andreang13]

52 jeans???? WHAAAAT

[@pinkprincessinthecity1177]

I get someone having as many as dozen pairs of jeans. But my eyes buldged out when I heard her say 52.

[@monnikhan1000]

pinkprincess inthecity one for every occasion lmao

[@crobutts1230]

literally going to use her as an argument how not shopping fast fashion is a privilege. 52 pairs of jeans jfc

[@gabewong6171]

Inspiring!

[@MomAsol]

Thanks for sharing

[@hangluu83]

Thank you

[@kaylieveritt7422]

I understand it is bad but not everyone can afford things that aren’t cheap like fast fashion. I’ve always either had to try and find things that work in thrift stores or buy fast fashion because other places were too expensive. I feel it has a bit of privilege to say that you “cut out” fast fashion because to me at least that shows you don’t struggle with finding clothes you can afford easily.

[@deanwinchester3356]

Exactly what I said. Like oh I’m sorry, I can’t afford Chanel and 200 dollar shirts when I need new wardrobe for work. That money goes to rent, utilities, my car payment, food, etc. Maybe if wages would increase or college loans weren’t so freaking high everyone could afford nicer things that aren’t cheap. But alas it takes more than some TED talk to change this. You need to change the root of the problem (wages, student loans, high rent) to get rid of fast fashion. When she talks about then, then I’ll deem her TED Talk as credible.

[@hotjanuary]

Well, she has 52 pairs of jeans... I don’t think the average person falls within her intended audience. I don’t know anybody that has more than 2 or 3 jeans.

[@May-qb3vx]

I was in the same boat. It is a place of economic privilege to cut it out completely. Here’s what I do aside from thrifting: I will go somewhere that sells fast fashion like TJMaxx and I will look with a purpose. If I need 2 tops for the office, I will look for 2 tops. No more than that. Before I buy, I look at all the seams to make sure they’ll hold up and I’ll look at the the materials. Polyester and other plasticky fabrics are almost unavoidable, but I make sure that whatever fabric type it is and whatever the care label says, I can do that so it lasts longer. It’s not about a few people cutting fast fashion completely, but about more people thinking before they buy, fast fashion or no. It’s about more people doing it imperfectly. Over consumption is at the core of the issue. That is where we all need to start. Only buying what we need and striving to use everything we buy until we can’t anymore. Also, expensive stuff like Coach, Chanel, etc. are just as guilty of fast fashion as Zara or H&M. expensive does not mean sustainable. I also look a lot at ThredUP and order from them. I’m not perfect and I don’t pretend to be. Just do what works for you and make sure you use everything until they are falling to pieces and forget everyone else’s judgments.

[@crimsonmatter]

There are second hand thrift stores ma'am.

[@littlehousepineywoods5352]

The vast majority of my clothes are from thrift shops. My most expensive haunt charges $5 for long sleeved tops/sweaters and $5 for skirts. My least expensive is $1 per item and sometimes "stuff a bag for $5" sales. You can do it; I believe in you. ❤️

[@sarafernandez4920]

Honestly you just don't get what fashion is about really if you just keep spending. It's not really that cool to see people dressed from top to bottom in Zara aesthetic

[@suides4810]

loiun be its way better to have your own style

[@sarafernandez4920]

@@suides4810 I don't know if It's better but defenetly more nourrishing and wholesome

[@gabriellasmith6203]

I completely agree. Fashion is not about spending, but more about communicating who you are through the way you dress. Unfortunately, we have it all backwards and think if something is expensive then it is better.

[@izziestevens5835]

AUTHENTIC designer clothes is treasured! Who in their right minds would wear a PRADA/VALENTINO bag once or twice and then throw it out? It's not "fast fashion", that's cheap FAD clothing!

[@jenniferhofstede4587]

What happened to all the shirts and jeans after the no buy year?

[@NanaLunaTik]

🖤

[@olenabi]

Just started watching and realized immediately that I don't have any problems with clothing. I have like two pairs of jeans and maybe another two pairs of pants that I wear routinely, a couple of t-shirts, you get the idea. I also own second-hand items. Love the idea of buying only from ethical brands, but I then would have to make a choice between saving up for my kid's college and dressing ethically.

[@tammyot]

Reaching out to the Kardashian’s / Jenner family and the World 🌍

[@meminal23]

India has a lot of climate healthy textiles..like cotton

[@the_resourceful]

Sadly, even thrift/donation stores are guilty of lending to the pollution of textile waste. If buying clothing, read labels and purchase natural materials. At least they will break down in a landfill. Avoid H&M and Zara.

[@henriheimbach1379]

Can someone help me for school maybe an English speaking person Nr1 Listen to the TED talk and point out the message that Gabrielle Smith is trying to bring across. Nr2 How does she try to convince the audience of her opinion regarding fast fashion? (Which aspects/ images does she mention?) Nr3Read some of the comments below the video. Then write a comment yourself. (What is your opinion regarding fast fashion?) Please

[@cassandraknight8804]

Why? Do I get fast fashion adds with this talk ? ANYONE.

[@topa1468]

2:15 bruh this applies to the fast fashion industry only (ZARA H&M FOREVER21), designer brands are completely different since they work on seasons that take about a year to plan and produce, garments are original and well designed, very little to none synthetic fabrics are used and although the initial cost is higher not only do the clothes last way longer but in the long run, they cost less because there's no need to replace it or buy a new one period.

[@novaartino9553]

Yes, this pretty much only applies to the fast fashion industry (it's in the name of the video), but it is also heavily reliant on the shoppers as well. I have had the privilege to grow up in a pretty good town, and it's honestly sometimes appalling to see how people treat their fashion. I used to attend a private school, before switching to public school, and there were people there who did wear high-end items once, and only once. While they are made well, and very originally too, it really all depends on the buyer. Hopefully, more people will value their product, and not be bratty private school children.

[@meisekohl8765]

💚💜🖤👍

[@h.t.7310]

Yep when I went to jail I became happy thinking I didn’t have to deal with my pile of clothes and then put my shoes under my pillow so they wouldn’t get stolen! Stay out of trouble people! ; ) Also I remember seeing two guys in denim being in the presence of sheriffs and thought, wow, what a perfect shot for a fashion magazine! It was an incredible visual!

[@anithaganapathy4567]

ok

[@vincewhite5087]

90% of my clothes come from thrift stores, and wear for years.

[@user-fc6xc7ls5c]

смотрю на свои 3,5 футболки и че-то не догоняю

[@dokasaku1233]

judging by your clothes you`re wearing, I dont believe you

[@OtheringHeights]

when it's literally a privilege to "break up" with fashion..not "empowering"

[@laragrove75]

How is it a privilege?

[@novaartino9553]

@@laragrove75 Fast fashion is really cheap, and for some people, it's all they can afford. Which is awful, because fast fashion tends (at least for me) to fall apart after a few wears or uses. Not everyone can afford to get rid of this fast fashion, but for those who can, they should try to. And @eli sometimes, keeping in mind who her target audience was, it makes a lot of sense why she phrased it that way. (ie a room full of people who, much like her, had too many clothes and probably were shopaholics) If she was presenting to a very different group of people, she would change her wording. I do agree with you that it is very much a privilege to give up fast fashion, but what she was focused on was making a point and making sure it stuck.

[@deanwinchester3356]

@@laragrove75 Because not everyone can afford Brooks Brothers and Chanel, sweetheart. If you want to get to the root of the problem and change fast fashion then you need to make wagers higher, rent lower along with college tuition. When you have student loans, renting apartments that are up 1000% from 15 years ago, car payments, utilities, food, and just general things you need YEAH IT ADDS UP! So when a person needs new clothes for work or an event or just when the new season comes around they can’t always afford those 250 dollar pair of pants. Educate yourself.

[@crimsonmatter]

People like you don't find anything Empowering

[@thatwaslithe3849]

Oh look, we never learn

[@donovanberes]

Not saying it’s right or wrong , Walmart burns all the extra clothing , it doesn’t go to landfills

[@phoenix8498]

I wonder if those women advocating for a sustainable fashion industry worry about the highly contaminating plastic containers of the face make up and hair dye they use.

[@crimsonmatter]

Either ways they try and STAND up for it. Without judging others like you

[@hkc8544]

I don’t think this brand of whataboutism is helpful to this discussion, or to anyone, really.

[@alexisroiz2004]

Yes they do

[@lorrainea.285]

I own ZERO T-shirts!! T-shirts are for women who dress BASIC!!!!!

[@lorrainea.285]

LIKE HER!!!!!!🥱

[@kawaiimagicalex5170]

no

[@deanwinchester3356]

Sad part is MOST stores are fast fashion unless you want to fish out 200 bucks for a shirt that many times goes out of fashion anyway after a year. I don’t have 200 dollars to just chuck away, do you? If so, then consider yourself lucky. I can’t work wearing the same 5 pieces of clothing constantly when meeting with people. The money I make goes to rent, utilities, my car payment, food, etc. Maybe if wages would increase or college loans weren’t so freaking high everyone could afford nicer things that aren’t cheap. But alas it takes more than some TED talk to change this. You need to change the root of the problem (wages, student loans, high rent) to get rid of fast fashion. When she talks about that, then I’ll deem her TED Talk as credible. Also, this Ted girl needs to stop with the flipping vocal fry. I couldn’t bare to listen to her voice.

[@crimsonmatter]

Thrift stores and second hand are always open if you didn't know that. NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE NEW . And yeah having money is not always a LUCK LIKE YOU SAID 🙄. Some WORK for it.

[@phantommenace6934]

The abject battle theoretically complete because bubble anatomically enter times a glossy trowel. lean, profuse geography

[@neodog1491]

this is why I buy designer I don't just go around throwing out $600 dollar hoodies and they are hand made in house, get your money up

[@FraBra88]

Good for you! But of I do not have money I have to use the same rags for 2 years?

[@suzyblack8396]

just because it's expensive, doesn't make it automatically sustainable. a lot of luxury brands make their clothing in the same sweatshops as fast fashion brands but then sew one stitch in house so they can slap on a "made in italy" tag. do your research so you don't get robbed. or better yet, buy secondhand to reduce demand in the damaging fashion cycles.

[@deanwinchester3356]

LOL! This is an embarrassing comment. First off, most people don’t throw out hoodies considering many of them stay in style for years, even decades. Secondly most people do NOT have 600 dollars to spend on a pair of jeans or shoes. My parents make almost 500k a year and would never spend that much on freaking clothing. You are obviously very young or make millions because you don’t know how to be frugal. Either way with how irresponsibly you spend your money, don’t expect to be saving money anytime soon when you truly need it. No shirt should ever cost 600 dollars, sweet cheeks. Very spoiled, indeed. Please educate yourself and grow up a little. When you’re adding in your rent, utilities, food, car payments, student loans and other miscellaneous bills or needs, you will look back at this and realize how silly you sounded. Take care.

[@shengvang6887]

2700 liters of water to make one tshirt? You sure about that, lady? Please cite all your sources. I’m no expert in math, but that doesn’t sound right. Human population should be shrinking. Maybe they meant it takes 2,700 liters of water to make a batch of tshirt and they phrased it as your one tshirt (out of a batch) takes 2,700 liters of water. It’s just not believable until I see the sources and have it explained to me how one damn tshirt can use that much water.

[@suides4810]

ShengVang the numbers are for watering and washing after bleach and dying usually

[@ashleyjolie7310]

2700 liters of water is how much water it takes to grow the cotton used for making the t shirt. An acre (5.23 square miles) yields about 375lbs of cotton. So one acre of cotton yields about 1200 t shirts. Cotton is only grown in warm climates (CA, TX, NM, AZ, Southern state), requiring even more water in comparison to climates that receive increased rainfall. It takes 5-6 months of growing before the cotton is harvested.

[@seevang678]

Ashley Jolie Her saying it takes 2700 liters of water to make one T-shirt was misleading. She should have said it takes that much water to make a whole batch of T-shirts. But I guess 1 T-shirt 2700 liters of water sounds more shocking and would get people angry and would have them supporting the cause.

[@ashleyjolie7310]

@@seevang678 The 2700 liters (713 gallons) of water to make one t shirt is commonly accepted across many publications. It comes from a WWF and National Geographic collaboration video. It can be found on NG's youtube channel. Not a scholarly source. I don't think she was purposefully trying to mislead, well, because a lot of people have accepted this stat. 2700 liters of water makes one batch of t shirts is also incorrect. Logistically, that doesn't make sense. An acre of land would need more than 713 gallons over a 5 month span. Cotton actually requires less water than most other crops. It's not easy to pinpoint how much water cotton needs because of variations in farm, location and year. Pima's Food Alliance says one acre of cotton uses 5 acre-feet or 1,629,000 gallons (double the WWF stat). According to the CCGGA, one shirt requires 256 gallons. An article from Ecological Economics (scholarly source) found that cotton was responsible for 2.6% of the world's water usage.

[@adalynmurray4061]

the human population is not shrinking, in fact, human overpopulation is the biggest factor leading to climate change. (think about all those people living the try American lifestyle)

[@cindyhalpern3187]

A worker had to take time to pick up what you left on the floor. They get paid minimum wage. You don't value their time! Sorry, but your attitude is not sustainable!