The lies that sell fast fashion

You deserve better than Shein.
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There are countless articles and videos breaking down the abysmal labor practices, horrifying environmental toll, and overall mountain of waste produced by the fast fashion industry. Activists and even just large swaths of the general public have been raising the alarm about this for well over a decade, but it hasn’t stopped the rise of some of the worst offenders in the industry. For example, the ultra-fast fashion brand Shein has skyrocketed in value over the past five years largely due to their marketing success on TikTok. A lot of us know that fast fashion is bad, but the only way companies like Shein still thrive is if we convince ourselves otherwise and hit “add to cart” anyway. So why do we do it?
The answer is that e-commerce has completely warped our view of what items should cost and how long they should last (this includes and extends to our obsession with Amazon and two-day shipping). We’re moving through trends at an unprecedented pace and it’s doomed to get worse if we don’t adjust our buying habits and learn to slow down. Consumers are being manipulated, but we can do better.
Watch the video above to learn more, and don’t forget to check out the Vox article by Izzie Ramirez: www.vox.com/even-better/2023/...
You can also watch the sister video to this one from last year on why everything is worse now:
• Why everything you buy...
Help keep Vox free for everybody: www.vox.com/give-now
Sources and further reading:
Related Vox articles:
www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/2/...
www.vox.com/the-goods/2021/7/...
www.vox.com/even-better/2023/...
www.vox.com/the-goods/2352958...
www.vox.com/2019/9/12/2086062...
www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/1/...
Fashion transparency index: www.fashionrevolution.org/abo...
The state of fashion: cdn.businessoffashion.com/rep...
More on the psychology of fast fashion: www.thesustainablefashionforu...
More on the environmental toll:
earth.org/fast-fashions-detri...
psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/...
www.unep.org/news-and-stories...
www.biologicaldiversity.org/p...
You can find Cora’s book and blog here: www.thelingerieaddict.com/in-...
Video tags:
Fast fashion, fashion, waste, environment, shein, temu, h&m, zara, asos, tiktok, trends, trend cycles, consumers, consumerism, buying, clothing, pollution, runway, labor practices, unethical, hauls, shein haul, gen z, human rights, consumer goods, quality, brands, transparency, misinformation, uniqlo, trendy, cheap, inexpensive, true cost, cost, price, social media, e-commerce, greenwashing, even better, advice, service

[@Vox]

Hey! If you like to hate on planned obsolescence and being manipulated by corporations, a video I produced last year on “why everything you buy is worse now” is up for a Webby! You can find it on our channel and vote for it here until April 18: vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2024/video/general-video/fashion-beauty-lifestyle ... Or you can thread below how much you hate me for the shameless self-promotion. That’s fine too! -Kim

[@tobygonzalez4194]

you’re doing good work Kim! Thanks for these documentaries

[@Entertainment-]

0:30 It really undermines Vox’s credibility when you can’t even get the the basic difference between profit and revenue right.

[@luluthenudist]

Yikes

[@steveosworld]

it's NOT 30 bn in PROFIT ya muppet, it's REVENUE

[@JesseValentine]

Not only would I not want to shop like a billionaire, but a billionaire would never ever buy ANY of the junk on T E M U.

[@jeanbrehon]

People really need to realize that lol..

[@Roshmore7]

Of course not! You realize a 10k $ item for a billionaire is less expensive than a 1$ item for an average person with 100k$ 😂

[@swaggery]

Who doesn't want clothes that have toxic heavy metals in them?

[@Ondowuzz]

​@@Roshmore7 they already did, that's why they made that comment.

[@swansonjoe7121]

Literally Poor ppl just want to feel like they have something

[@katkam_]

Another problem is that nowadays, there is no "mid range" quality + affordable. The shirt that is $50 is basically the same cheap polyester quality as the $10 one. You have to go quite expensive to get better quality which is out of budget for a lot.

[@RobinRaye-np3vw]

Right? I really wish they talked about the role that planned obsolescence plays into this. With grocery stores and landlords price gouging us, it makes sense that people would be hesitant to spend $100 on a sweater. And then when that sweater starts fraying after 6 months because you didn't know which brands to trust, you're in serious trouble

[@wandervoltz]

This is a HUGE issue! Thanks for bringing it up!

[@ling636]

Polyester varies in quality. A $5 polyester shirt from Temu is not the same as a $35 polyester from Under Armor for example.

[@TheTransitmtl]

Not really, Uniqlo, Simons in Quebec, buy from brands directly.

[@ZahidHossain-lz2td]

ok let's say there's a t-shirt made of 50% cotton, 20% acrylic and 30% polyester. How much are you willing to pay for this? and please mention the place you live in as prices may vary due to the currency

[@phillip7731]

"Capitalism drives innovation!" The innovation:

[@Sinaeb]

Capitalism drives innovation in how to make more money

[@peterg6695]

what's a better system than capitalism?

[@The_8d-Maestro_1987]

@@peterg6695 Simple instead of allowing unlimited expansion force companies to work in zones under your supervision and also tell em that out of your profit between 1 to 10 percent is to be handed for investment depending on your profit either yearly or monthly and lastly limit the amount of stuff a company can make in other words dont make shredded pieces of clothes style make proper clothes. Small market hybrid capitalism under supervision of the people

[@soaringstars314]

And it all goes back to Ronald Reagan

[@mingistech]

@@peterg6695Arch Linux

[@Xeonerable]

Shein saw single-use plastics and thought "Oh yeah? Well we can pollute better than that!"

[@UTTPOFFICEROFCNNSUCKS]

WHO ASKED+UTTP IS WAY BETTER THAN YOU

[@UTTPOFFICEROFCNNSUCKS]

WHO ASKED+UTTP IS WAY BETTER THAN YOU

[@UTTPOFFICEROFCNNSUCKS]

WHO ASKED+UTTP IS WAY BETTER THAN YOU

[@d1j16]

Avg American: 68 items/year(?) Me: looking at my newest item, a shirt, from 2 years ago, and wondering what the devil is wrong with people.

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

Average vs median. This is whale-enomics. The people who do this are addicts.

[@tHebUm18]

For real. I'm in my 30's and still wear some clothes I got as a teenager. I don't get it.

[@bellathemusicaddict]

The average is similar in Germany. I love shopping and fashion but I will never get close to 60 items per year

[@zrodger2296]

I think I've bought 3 items of clothing in the last year.

[@crusherven]

Yeah, it's really hard to understand. I have clothes that are 20 years old. But I guess I'm also not "stylish" by any means.

[@wordburd5683]

I was a dry cleaner for over 20 years. I can tell you that the actual million and billionaires do not buy fast fashion. They buy slow fashion and wear them to death. The richest guy I waited on would wear his dress shirts and khakis until the hems were getting ragged as well.

[@WeatherInOrlando]

King Charles and Princess Anne often appear in public in clothes that have visible repairs in them, or even look worn and a little scruffy. Why? Because they don't worry about "looking poor". We should all stop worrying and patch + repair our clothes. Maybe it would start a trend.

[@ether4211]

That's called the Sam Vimes Boot Economics - poor people pay more for clothes because they wear out faster while rich people can afford to invest in quality items that last

[@Ashnesss]

Royals don’t wear designer clothing in public because some of the public, doesn’t want to pay taxes to British royals anymore. Your clients were either unusual billionaires who didn’t know other billionaires much OR you thought they were billionaires, when in fact, they were not. Billionaires have their suits made from saville row in London, Switzerland, Italy, etc. They are invited to fashion shows, sample sales and know all upcoming designers. They buy at designer mid range and high end range which means £300 - £ anything. It’s not true that they don’t shop till they drop. They’re known for having 50 white dress shirts, 50 blue dress shirts, 100 coats and jackets, hundreds of pairs of shoes and enviable bag collections. They buy jewellery that costs hundreds of thousands with rare gemstones. That’s how expensive jewellers stay in business. They have collections of of exclusive and limited designer bags. Design houses make special collections for multi millionaires and billionaires which include embroidery, rhinestones and feathers just so that they stand out and don’t have bags, shoes and accessories which the masses buy from the designers. They have the numbers of haute couturiers and have custom gowns made for various occasions. They have destination weddings. Luxury homes in different parts of the world. Some have private jets and yachts. Their friends spend in the same way, if not more extravagantly. This isn’t considered extravagant for them because they grew up with it, are used to it and are surrounded by it 24/7. What is expensive for others is peanuts for them. They have companies that keep increasing in revenue and profits. They have stocks and various forms of passive income. What others find shockingly expensive, is peanuts for a multi millionaire and billionaire. It’s like buying a bottle of water. Closets of celebrities are nothing compared to multi millionaires and billionaires. How are you making the claim that they don’t spend?

[@edobwoy]

The biggest spenders are MODERN WOMEN especially in brands like SHEIN. It's where they seek happiness and it has been proven that women spend more on fashion than men

[@JM-uv5xi]

Guess what ad popped up on KZbin right after I watched this video?

[@haidenlotze7530]

💀

[@NOVAFrederick]

God bless Vanced.

[@yasu3d]

UBlock Origin and Project ReVanced are your friends :)

[@michaelgourvitch5323]

The problem with a lot of other brands compared to fast fashion is that some of those brands, like Nike, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, P&K etc. etc., that definetly dont have fast fashion prices and promote themselves as leading brands in certain areas, still develop their clothes for very cheap. While this doesnt justify buying from Shein, it basically makes a person, who doesnt have the time to reasearch every single brand, just confused about what brand is a quality product, made to last created by well paid workers and what is just pure marketing / branding but behind it the same cheap stuff.

[@sarahcookies5566]

Exactly! It looks like there’s no possibility od buying new stuff affordably while being ethical

[@handlemonium]

And yet the sheer overbuying practices by consumers of clothes in general still means I can find stuff from "premium" brands half off from the used, secondhand, and sidehand markets.

[@KeeseToast]

All these brands have socialized the cost of environmental impact. Shein is only worse than everyone else because they use this fact to promote overconsumption. Just companies operating in a capitalist environment

[@brittanymlanders]

I wanted to add to the conversation that the prices at thrift and secondhand stores have also gone up to the point that Uber fast low quality fast fashion companies like SHEIN end up being truly the most affordable option for many.

[@melunz8138]

this is not the reason the vast majority of people buy from shein. why constantly bring up this argument

[@carolineleboeuf2722]

Thrift stores offer a reasonably sustainable and ethical alternative to fast fashion, considering the fair wages and the effort involved. While some items may be pricier, they still provide accessible options. The issue with fast fashion lies not in the necessity of clothing but in the desire to constantly conform to trends, leading to massive waste.

[@SofiaPea22]

I think people just need to buy less clothes. It’s not normal to completely change your wardrobe every 3 months or even every year. Consumerism is the issue. There is no reason why someone needs boxes of new clothes every year.

[@brittanymlanders]

@@carolineleboeuf2722it’s a multi-faceted issue. It can be inclusive of all points being made. You and I agree that thrift stores are often a cost conscious and sustainable alternative… but does the average consumer? Are SHEIN customers (data wise) considering what fast fashion is doing the planet to begin with? If not, they wouldn’t choose a thrifted alternative over a SHEIN one regardless. So price point would be one of the other only draws for them to make that switch. As well as the option to “buy today, take home today” vs. wait a week for SHEIN to ship to home.

[@pseudonamed]

But you can get clothing that is WAY better quality at a thrift store, that will last longer (despite having already been worn.. although many things have never or rarely been worn and were just impulse buys).

[@sd-ch2cq]

'those pricier items WILL last longer' That's my whole problem: most expensive clothing is cheap clothing with a bigger mark-up. (There may be some exceptions, but they are hard to find and usually have an extremely limited selection of styles and sizes)

[@Mica_T]

Yeah we need to train people to be able to spot good and bad fabric and sewing.

[@rachelsnee8926]

Yep, 30-40 years ago there were mid range brands that were still well made, in natural fabrics, and lasted for years. Most of those brands were sold from department stores, which have been put out of business by fast fashion, and even big brand names at 10 x fast fashion prices are made of polyester (even if it's a bit better quality and better made). Apart from rare finds in thrift stores (which are more expensive, and packed with fast fashion brands that are nearly as expensive as buying the new) there is pretty much no alternative...

[@lowelindberg3234]

@@rachelsnee8926 uniqlo

[@Ashnesss]

LOL no it’s not. No company that has been in business for years, can afford to sell their products at ridiculously high prices if it doesn’t match quality. Price always matches quality. You don’t wash it properly or you use the material incorrectly. If you use silk in humid weather and machine wash it, you it will wear out.

[@luluthenudist]

Agreed. Higher price no longer equates quality.

[@user-zh4yx2sm8g]

I’ve been making my own clothes, from sustainable fabrics. And let me tell you. It’s expensive, money expensive and time expensive.

[@leenanoor9571]

Exactly, if you’re in a store and you ask someone “would you make this for $20” not even 10% would say yes.

[@Sarahyz]

We the people have the power to change the status quo simply by BUYING LESS. And putting corporates like Shein accountable for their social and environmental impact.

[@morningmadera]

we the people can't even afford to BUY MORE. and we the people are not the ones who buy a shirt, wear it a few times and throw it away

[@user-nd1cm5xt7p]

​@luke5100 I don't agree with you. How can it be exploitation if people making clothes chose this job? You can say that they were forced to work there because they had no other option, but without the company that had created the job there wouldn't even be this option in the first place

[@c4tac133]

@luke5100That’s only partially true, we do have power, we just need to use it. These companies need us to survive. Systemic change is useless if people do not support it. We need people to be aware of their power as much as we need change.

[@themodernshoe2466]

​@@user-nd1cm5xt7pCorporations have come in and taken land and resources from many people and then offered them jobs working that same land or resources. Or they are modern day slaves, where their visas and freedoms are held ransom for their work

[@louistran016]

the people also have the power to buy more and empower Shein economic engine, in turn destroying American brands with obscene markups and overpriced thrift stores

[@TheMedicatedArtist]

Don’t forget that the rising cost of everything (food, rent, gas, etc.) makes fast fashion more lucrative for companies. And cheap prices usually mean low quality. So the second it breaks, customers come right back. To a lot of people, it’s better to just keep replacing a cheap product than investing in a higher quality, more expensive product.

[@dejahosein5011]

You’re so right. And then there’s the “slow fashion” companies who sell things so expensive claiming it’s recycled materials and other environmental claims but then 1 year later and the product is damaged. How are we gonna encourage people to make better choices when my fast fashion swimsuits 5/6 years later are holding up better in terms in longevity

[@askellpositive]

americans hating on chein and temu just like tik top

[@mariesmith9508]

We also need to talk about lack of transparency in labelling for online retail. I have issues finding out if shirts are even cotton or not, which is absolutely ridiculous considering we legally have to have that to be sold!! I've sent back shirts sold for $80+ because they turned out to be a cheap polyester. I don't want to buy things that will get destroyed after a few washes, why isn't there more push towards things that last longer? I hate having to find new things that look good on me all the time

[@mrggy]

Planned obsolescence is the worst. My grandparents got a toaster as a wedding present in the 50s. They used it all throughout my dad's childhood and mine and it still works like new. When my grandparent's moved into assisted living, my aunts and uncles all fought tooth and nail over who got the toaster. That thing will outlive us all. You'd never find something of that quality made nowadays

[@maresgoez]

"Shop like a billionare" Meanwhile actual billionares wearing the same style of shirt for years.

[@marietailor3100]

I think we’ve got a few problems here: 1. We broke. No matter how you play it, if you need a tank top or a t-shirt and you don’t have one, buying one from a fast fashion shop is probably going to be the easiest thing for you to do. (This is especially true if you’re a person whose body type isn’t strictly “average”). 2. Even if you can afford to buy something nicer/better quality, it’s hard to tell what is and isn’t good. For example, some things at H&M and at Zara are durable. But let’s be real - Zara ISNT EVEN CHEAP! So when you’re trying to figure out what’s over-priced brand-based luxury and what’s good quality, you kind of just shrug. 3. The internet makes it EVEN HARDER to know when you’re buying fast fashion and when you’re not. With the death of malls, a lot of us have to go online when we’re looking for something we need. But then there are all these sites you may or may not have heard of that have various brands listed on them. Are those in-house brands? Unclear. Some of these fast-fashion sites try to trick you into believing the quality isn’t terrible by charging more than they need to. My point is, I can’t blame consumers for this one. It’s too complicated and impractical to really get a sense of what actual prices should be and what they can expect. Moreover, while “fashion” isn’t a need, clothes are. And everyone’s favourite solution of thrifting can be deeply impractical for lots of groups of people - ex. those with allergies esp. pet allergies; people who need a specific clothing item (do they have a button down dress shirt in you size that will work with your uniform?); people who don’t have cars (in my experience, you have to be able to go to 8 thrift stores in a day to make it work. The bus is not great for that); finding similar items for different people; and so on. This issue to me is a classic regulatory one. It’s not one that can or should be reasonably solved by consumers but needs to be solved by governments since industry wont do it on its own.

[@jimjimogen]

take some responsibility for your consumption. no one is saying you need to get a $200 t-shirt if you're broke

[@null_matrix1467]

@@jimjimogen I suggest re-reading the comment you replied to. I don't think you have fully understood what they said.

[@hulpesergiu]

I think you are missing the point, the problem is not buying a tank top for 5$ because you are poor, the problem is buying 20 tank tops that you are going to throw away next year because they are "out of style"

[@marietailor3100]

@@hulpesergiu I think I have to respectfully disagree? You’re right that re-purchasing tanks tops is the issue. But when you spend $5 on one, it’s likely fast fashion and you’ll HAVE to spend another $5 to replace it in a few months. Then, even if you can afford to spend $30 or $40, you can’t tell if it’s the kind that will hold well over time or if it won’t. It could be the same quality as the $5 one putting you back in the same position of having to repurchase. While higher prices can sometimes indicate longevity and quality, the lack of assurance leads even some who could afford it to opt for cheaper fast fashion items because if they’re going to end up with clothes that are bad anyway, they’d rather not pay more for them.

[@hulpesergiu]

@@marietailor3100 I have to respectfully double disagree, I have t-shirts from H&M that have lasted me for years, I don't have any fashion sense or buy a lot of clothes, so I wear them till they either have holes in them, or are discolored because of too much washing or turn yellow in case of white t-shirts. A half dozen t-shirts and two pairs of jeans will last you quite a long time. So I'm not really sure why you have to replace a tank top after a couple of months. TEMU quality is horrible, but H&M or similar is decent for simple items in my experience.

[@blaster915]

People wages have stagnated, and the only folks offering affordable options have horrific working conditions. Add on their push to change the mentality in advertising to keep buying over and over and we have this situation we are in.

[@DyslexicMitochondria]

Honestly these sweat shop workers would be starving if it wasn’t for the fast fashion. It’s easy to judge sitting in your cushy couch in Oregon but these countries have people literally starving. Could the work conditions be better? Yes. Is working there better than starving? Also yes.

[@trumpputinkim]

@@DyslexicMitochondriathat’s what western people fail to see. It’s not just black and white. The reality is so nuanced

[@chloetherainbowqueen3025]

Fr, those cheap options often cost more in the long-term as well, people can't afford boots and clothing that are meant to last/higher quality so we need to keep buying new when the old breaks often spending more long-term

[@KyleKartan87]

I like to quote Terry Prachett's boots theory a bit freely here which goes a bit sumplyfied: "You havew to be able to afford to be poor. While rich people can afford a good pair of boots which lasts them a long time, poor people have to buy cheap ones which they have to replace very often". Beeing poor often leads into a vicious circle.

[@mscottjohnson3424]

​@@DyslexicMitochondria Why are they starving?

[@izy0321]

It blows my mind that the shirts I bought as a teenager you can actually get for CHEAPER from Shein while literally everything else has gotten more expensive

[@nnkk7742]

It's all that slavery. Great for the consumer. 👍👍

[@juliegolick]

I shop exclusively at thrift stores for clothes and had never heard of Shien before this video. That said, the high-cost items you find at higher-end department stores ALSO don't last that long! I've bought (thrift store) jeans from across the retail spectrum, and I will wear through ALL of them at the inseam in about 4 months. Some maybe a little faster, but even the "expensive" ones last me less than a year. And if I had to buy those expensive brands retail, there's no way I'd be able to afford to replace them before they wore out. When I go to The Bay (a pricy retail store here in Canada), "fashionable" shirts can be hundreds of dollars, and STILL don't look that well made! Or they're SO specific to the current trend that there's no way you'd be able to wear it in a year or two. Until there's a real alternative for well-made clothes, it's hard to justify spending more than bargain-basement prices.

[@matthijsnorg9281]

There is a difference between "high-end" being name brands that just inflate prices. And clothing stores that sell good quality clothes. Also worth considering different, sturdier types of clothes depending on your use

[@Grrranola]

I'm in a similar situation as you, my thighs will eat through a pair of pants in a handful of months. I will take an iron on patch or extra fabric and just stitch/patch an extra layer on the inside of that area to withstand and friction when I'm walking.

[@mariahspapaya]

There are certain clothing brands where you are only paying a higher price for the name brand and not the quality. It also depends on how often you use these things. I had a pair of heels that cost me $20 and lasted me 6 years, I wore them to the ground. Another pair of adidas cost me around $100 and after constant use after 5 years they are starting to break. I would say both of those are relatively good investments. I found a pair of banana republic jeans at a thrift store for $20, fit me like a glove and have lasted me years now - still looked good as new. A $50 blouse from urban outfitters and the strap broke after maybe wearing it 6 times. It really can vary so much on the material and how often you wear/wash it.

[@growingmelancholy8374]

Consider bespoke and make use of local tailors to repair if you are unable to repair yourself.

[@starkk19]

This! Expensive != Long-lasting durable. I had cheap finds that lasted as long as expensive ones. An overgeneralization to assume every cheap clothing is flimsy and expensive ones are sturdy.

[@TheStickCollector]

That's why i don't buy new clothes very often. Most of them are used/clearance anyways

[@JoshuaMartin992]

If you are buying new clothes they aren't used lol

[@Charlie-gf4mv]

@@JoshuaMartin992 new for them...

[@Jrdoesitwell]

​@@JoshuaMartin992 read the comment again, slowly...

[@trinomial-nomenclature]

My sister had a friend that never wore the same outfit twice and we (including her) were by no means overly wealthy (not even close to being rich), I have no idea how she managed. And here I am, still wearing clothes I bought over a decade ago.

[@perpetualgrimace]

As someone who does not care about fashion, I was unfamiliar with this trend. As someone who lives under capitalism, I was not surprised to hear about this trend.

[@Marie-jz1qw]

I also see that for the plus size community there aren't enough clothes being made ethically, so they usually have to tend towards less sustainable options

[@cfromnowhere]

Diet culture is definitely fuelling fast fashion. The idea that you can get thinner permanently by strong discipline and squeeze yourself into that pretty dress is the biggest lie ever told to women. After weight cycling puts all you lost back, you have to abandon the smaller clothes and buy larger clothes again. Clothes are meant to fit people, not people force themselves to fit the clothes!

[@user-to2rf1rj5v]

0:30 note that "sales", otherwise known as revenue, is not the same thing as profit. A profit is what you have when you subtract revenue from all of your expenses, overhead, and taxes.

[@jacobeuhus1183]

Ha I just commented this. Guess I should have scrolled farther before posting my comment!

[@kate56ful]

30b in sales is still a lot, whether or not shein makes profit. A lot of people are still buying their products which lead to waste.

[@FindecanorNotGmail]

Billionaires don't shop "fast fashion". They buy items with quality

[@tHebUm18]

In fairness, to them a $5000 dollar suit is less expensive than a 12 pack of socks for $5 to the average person. When your money is effectively unlimited for tangible goods, cost is completely irrelevant.

[@Avantime]

Billionaires buy the kind of quality stuff you can never afford in your life.

[@SoftTofu123]

because billionaires buys and goes through quality stuff as if they are fast fashion. non-billionaires want to do the same frequency of rotation, but they can only afford cheap stuff.

[@igisanchez265]

why would i want to be like a billionaire?

[@Ashnesss]

Billionaires have their suits made from saville row in London, Switzerland, Italy, etc. They are invited to fashion shows, sample sales and know all upcoming designers. They buy at designer mid range and high end range which means £300 - £ anything. It’s not true that they don’t shop till they drop. They’re known for having 50 white dress shirts, 50 blue dress shirts, 100 coats and jackets, hundreds of pairs of shoes and enviable bag collections. They buy jewellery that costs hundreds of thousands with rare gemstones. That’s how expensive jewellers stay in business. They have collections of of exclusive and limited designer bags. Design houses make special collections for multi millionaires and billionaires which include embroidery, rhinestones and feathers just so that they stand out and don’t have bags, shoes and accessories which the masses buy from the designers. They have the numbers of haute couturiers and have custom gowns made for various occasions. They have destination weddings. Luxury homes in different parts of the world. Some have private jets and yachts. Their friends spend in the same way, if not more extravagantly. This isn’t considered extravagant for them because they grew up with it, are used to it and are surrounded by it 24/7. What is expensive for others is peanuts for them. They have companies that keep increasing in revenue and profits. They have stocks and various forms of passive income. What others find shockingly expensive, is peanuts for a multi millionaire and billionaire. It’s like buying a bottle of water. They buy exotic skin, real leather, mohair, cashmere, mulberry silk, horse skin, fur, etc. The kind of quality that is unmatched and can last. They have expensive washing machines, ironing boards, steamers and sometimes entire laundry units like dry cleaning units, at home. They have systems in place that keep all their luxury under optimum temperature. Closets of celebrities are nothing compared to multi millionaires and billionaires.

[@Wanderlauch]

You're not "shopping like a millionaire" anyway. You're just buying a lot of fancy looking garbage.

[@hasky9813]

68 new items a year?! What is wrong with people 😂

[@SkyeID]

I don't know what's wrong with people, last year, I bought 1 shirt.

[@heitoroliveira5166]

I don't know, but i saw my father just got 35 new itens in a month span just for me, and he doesn't eve know my taste or if wanted new clothes. I won't even count how much he got for himself, and he's already had a wardrobe full of itens he barely or never used before.

[@Malaika924]

Here's thing, though: WE'RE STILL BROKE! Sometimes it's not about "shopping like a millionaire". Sometimes it's about needing something but only being able to afford those prices. Walmart doesn't even go that low anymore!

[@Starcrash6984]

I absolutely love this video... but Climate Town did it better. His video is a must-watch.

[@yvan2563]

"Fast Fashion Is Hot Garbage"

[@MayraRebeccaZamora]

Unfortunately for me, shein is probably the only place where I can find clothes that fit and they last as well. Until i find a brand that is inclusive of other body types that are not size 6 or smaller and that is environmentally conscious and treats their employees well, I don't have many options.

[@mike8055]

Unfortunately we live in a consuming-society, where we have to spend, spend, spend in order to keep the cycle going. People want new products, convenience, fast and cheap! Regardless of what it is!

[@Chrissepisje]

Billionaires don't shop cheap throwaway garbage.

[@Lalit-yw2tb]

Price is everything. Morals have a price. And it clearly shows, get a tshirt or jeans for $5. That is the price. These companies are not going to suddenly have a change of heart and say, "Oops, we wronged you by not telling you the actual cost, here's the actual cost of this t-shirt that you bought - $25". Now, we all know what you are going to do. You are not going to stay as their customer. These companies can only go out of business if some new company comes along and offers a good quality product at the same price, practically impossible. Or there is regulatory action on these companies. But, hey who cares as long as I can get that item for cheap.

[@zUJ7EjVD]

A high price is basically guaranteed to make things more ethical, because an increase in the amount they pay Burmese fashion workers becomes negligible compared to the lost sales of a PR disaster. Of course, this is assuming they claim to be more ethical than industry norms and so a PR disaster would actually occur.

[@johnl.7754]

The truth hurts but you’re right.

[@markhernandez95]

yall behaving like fast fashion is new. since i was a kid, GAP has been selling t shirts for 3 for $10.

[@ckhound1]

Not saying this changes anything, but $30 billion in Sales does not equate to $30 Billion of profit. Profit would be sales minus all expenses.

[@ckhound1]

Also, this kind of misses the mark on what the normal consumer makes lol. Like sure, something from Gap or another company may be "better" environmentally, but people can't afford half that stuff. And heck, ive got a pair of shoes and shorts from H&M from 3+ years ago that have held up better than a brooks brothers shirt I got.

[@joymagomba2104]

Overall profit would be revenue minus all expenses

[@danycashking]

I think the point is the sheer volume, and with the context that because their products are priced so cheaply, that figure is even more impressive relative to a more expensive fast-fast store like H&M

[@CitizenVan]

@@ckhound1 You, who has worn something for more than 3 years, is not the target audience for the message of the video. This is more speaking to people who have bought in to fast fashion trends. According to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, the average number of times a garment is worn before it is discarded is 7 to 10. If you're wearing stuff way more than seven times, you're probably not part of the problem, so don't stress out too much about it.

[@foxernator]

Their Net is around 2b IIRC

[@agcaoiliproductions9580]

Most of my clothes I wear are still from high school, the only time I really had to shop was when I started an office job, since then I just play round with everything I own to make outfits. No hauls here.

[@mikeh5399]

To me, buying durable clothes is kind of a privilege. I know that a cheap pair of shoes, for example, is gonna break down in a year. But if I don’t have the savings or credit to buy a good, durable pair, I kinda have no choice. On top of that, in the first world, buying new objects is less expensive than getting them repaired. Fast fashion will ultimately cost me more, but is usually the only choice I have for something as essential as clothes.

[@breonnaw6623]

I agree. I think this video lacked that perspective.

[@c4tac133]

You’re right

[@felixlpilon]

This is why I make sure to drink all my pay.

[@ebridgewater]

Amen, brother. Let the birds buy their clothes, we will stick to amber nectar.

[@felixlpilon]

@@ebridgewater You don't know me. I could be an owl for all you know.

[@PakBallandSami]

"Capitalism is a force for good and brings innovation" the innovation and good things capitalism brings:

[@WhataMensch]

America is funding GINOCEDE

[@jdalbion]

Because of capitalism, you have OPPORTUNITY, to buy whatever you want and for very low prices. It's up to you to buy less. If there was socialism, you wouldn't even be able to buy it, especially for that low prices. You think people in North Korea are happy because they don't have mighty capitalism? So there is nothing wrong with capitalism, just people are exploiting it.

[@alexsmith-rs6zq]

⁠@@jdalbion why is the only other option socialism? This person commenting never mentioned socialism.

[@Ensensu2]

@@alexsmith-rs6zq People also equate socialism with dictatorships when that too is uncalled for.

[@user-gi7vi9gm4t]

@@alexsmith-rs6zq there is also communism but people tend to not differentiate between the 2

[@bratzoguibovich1490]

We need to stop consuming so much. And this trend of getting "shortcuts" for everything, from clothing to ponzi schemes.... its all about the same thing, denying accountability as consumers. If publicists and marketers will still do their thing, we need to counter attack, by adopting more healthy consuming patterns... movies, music, food, ideas....

[@matthijsnorg9281]

Sure we do, but it's also okay to acknowledge that normal people only have limited power

[@user-gi7vi9gm4t]

​@@matthijsnorg9281 depends on how many normal people :P

[@lawrenceheyman435]

Great summary at the end. I was never cool, so found joy in favourite clothing items. They grow on you over time and it's a bit sad when it's time to send them for recycling.

[@randaratliff4327]

Thrift stores are the new malls. 👀🔥✨

[@jennastephens1224]

I ensure that I don't support sweatshops by sewing almost all of my own clothes (and buying fabric thrifted a lot of the time). That way, the only labor I'm exploiting is my own

[@RaymondwLin]

Fashion itself is silly....Embrace inner Steve Jobs, pick 1 style and stick to it. Easier for the wallet and easier for the mind.

[@nnkk7742]

I see a red door and I want it painted black.

[@emmeoliver5007]

The most glaring solution to the fast fashion problem is promoting thrift stores. Thrifting is so much better for the environment, it’s so much cheaper, and a lot of stores even have NWT items for those who feel weird about wearing used clothes. I encourage everyone I know to thrift and buy secondhand. It’s just an all around better way to shop.

[@LiquidChamploo]

I barely ever shop but that statement about people regretting atleast 1 clothing purchase in a year is ridiculous. Even I can make that 1 mistake in 365 days, cmon now.

[@jaysonvilleza3901]

Most of my clothes are used until their end of life. I'm also a fan of hand me downs. But with books, I buy a lot. Haha.

[@Buntabunta937]

I’m glad my fiancee doesn’t care how I dress I haven’t got any new clothes in years

[@CourtneyCoulson]

For centuries most people wore maybe a dozen outfits in their entire lives. Now we wear a new outfit everyday. I have bought from op shops for years, but it still left me with a massive wardrobe and I only wore maybe 5% of those garments regularly. Here's my new approach: 1. Make my own clothes, which is what people used to do in the first half of the 20th century. 2. Never impulse buy. If I see something I like, I will walk away and if I'm still thinking about it later in the week, I will get it. 3. Pick a colour palette. I never have to stress about colour coordination or having those random items that don't go with anything. I mostly just wear green, with purple, pink and red in the minority. 4. Buy organic and ethically sources where possible. 5. Buy things that last. It might seem like a big cost upfront, but it's worth it.

[@Dreancatger]

The average American buys 68 new items of clothing per year? That’s mad. I don’t think I’ve bought that many pieces of clothing in my entire life! Unless we’re counting socks and underwear, then I might hit that figure over 5-10 years.

[@SkyeID]

did they mean the average American influencer? because I can't imagine the average person buying that much stuff.

[@thegenevasays]

Fast fashion is bad but one thing I never see anyone talk about is how much more size inclusivity there is in fast fashion. So many more options for the bodies that don’t fit traditional beauty standards.

[@IsaacFoster..]

I can't believe people have 40+ pieces of clothing in their closets.

[@virgilhawkins5680]

To be fair, if you count socks, undergarments, and shoes, it's not that difficult to have 40 items as an adult. Even if you don't count those, you may just have like 20 shirts (tee, long-sleeve, collared, polo, etc.), 10 pairs of pants, a suit or two, and a couple of belts. Women can also have purses and/or clutches.

[@mrggy]

​​​@@virgilhawkins5680 Plus dressing for the weather. If you live in a place with very defined seasons (especially if you have limited access to climate control), you need separate clothes for summer and winter. That drops you down to 20 per season, which is pretty reasonable, especially when you factor in coats and a couple pieces of formal wear

[@nnkk7742]

Capsule wardrobes are so last year. The real ones are nudists with single piece, trench coat wardrobes.

[@ohyeonkwon]

Wow this is really inspiring. Thank you for the video and the insight in it.

[@dezau]

I've literally never seen men shop from H&M, Zara or Shein. 🤷‍♂

[@hulpesergiu]

Maybe because men's clothes are usually on a different floor 😂

[@bubbie2982]

REJECT ALL TRENDS

[@growingmelancholy8374]

That is trendy.

[@Meg_A_Byte]

Amen! Seriously, trend is literally a consumerism scheme to get more money out of people. It's an artificially created tool to evoke a feeling, that one has to keep up with them to stay relevant.

[@Sivah_Akash]

I some miracle didn't get stuck into this fashion machine and only buy new items once they wear out every few years (that's still more than my grandparents who would have repaired it first to make it look new)! I wish I could say the same about my obsession with electronics tho! :(

[@AnnafromHungarylvNW]

Look into the Congo situation, it will be motivating...

[@Sjalabais]

Great video. I'll show it to my daughter that was supposed to be the better, next generation. Instead, she's following influencers paid by corporations rather than caring about what matters. It's a huge frustration.

[@lanafoster1870]

😭 not the shein ad before this

[@sicilyamarismcraven]

It's weird that a company can just run millions of ads and it results in so many sales

[@awesomebrotherhood7698]

It is not $30b annual profit but annual sales

[@vikt]

Yeah I noticed that too. It makes me wonder though, if this video got something as basic as this wrong, I wonder what other things they got wrong too

[@awesomebrotherhood7698]

These Vox shorts has been known to make mistakes, and they are also currently under budget, and her videos specially has some minor issues. Problem is that they do not proofread like proper investigative journalism due to manpower expenditure cap. And also I do not understand why they do not retake the shot even after they published it. In KZbin, you can republish something.

[@velichor]

Super informative video, but only reaches the tip of the iceberg with fast fashion. Thank you for spreading awareness of this issue and taking the time to do such a cohesive project on it.

[@RatzBuddie]

As someone that liked wearing overalls and Chucks at 5, this entire spectacle of 'fashion' is just baffling. This isn't "Keeping Up with the Joneses" level bizzare anymore, this is disheartening. The fact that modern "style" requires daily alterations and *disposable* *income* makes it absurd.

[@Cignole]

A bit too basic but it's good to get some education on this topic

[@soniashapiro4827]

Watching this reminds me that I haven't been thrift shopping in a while.

[@littlerascal6061]

As someone who studied sewing i think that something else needs to be addressed : people are not educated on how to recognize quality items, fabrics and techniques that make the clothing. I truly think that sewing classes in school would remedy some of the problems because it would allow people to appreciate quality and repair their clothes.

[@korvisus]

I don't watch influencers. I don't care about a new fashion that everybody wants. I just want things that look good on me. I don't throw out clothes unless I don't fit them anymore. It's very rare I throw clothes away. I do have a style and shop for that style... On shein. I'm broke. I can't afford expensive clothes. It's cheap clothes or no clothes.

[@LegionZGaming]

No, expensive item does not last longer instead company are profiting more from it except expensive material does this is why Shein and Temu works

[@matthewsaunders4820]

The average American buys 68 items of clothing a year? Wft!

[@SkyeID]

Then I guess I'm not the average American because last year I bought 1 shirt.

[@arothmanmusic]

One big difference with Temu vs. Zara or H&M is that they don't often even make the product until there are orders for it. They don't keep warehouses of stock hanging around like Amazon - they make it and ship it slowly because it doesn't necessarily exist yet.

[@TimothyCHenderson]

One of the more costly side effects of fast fashion is how it's ruined medium price pointed fashion as well. Most retailers are now selling poorer quality garments, even if they're a medium priced retailer. Fast fashion has poised the well for everyone.

[@chad9971]

Buy quality, not quantity. I have a few good quality clothing items that I can interchange and make different outfits. Like the video mentioned, you do have to shop around initially to figure out what your “style” is, but buy slowly. Once you have your “style”, choose to buy a 1-2 good quality pieces at a time instead of a big box of cheap clothes.

[@pseudonamed]

Yeah figuring out what's quality can end up cheaper in the long run, especially in footwear.

[@bdfgdfghdfhgfitdfyutdtydry]

Sales isn't profit

[@foxernator]

Their net is around 2b

[@terezaherrmannova8354]

I love that the before-video ad was for temu and the after-video ad was for Shein.

[@beatrizcascelli]

Great content and video, thanks for the outstanding reporting as usual!

[@KezzDaddy]

My shein jeans have lasted 4 years and counting. My jeans from levis and jeanswest cost 3/4x the amount and only lasted 6 months. Why would I shop any different?

[@arvberg9677]

try to find jeans in thrift stores..my levi's jeans, made in the 90s, are still alive and in excellent condition. i've been wearing them for 4 years already. and I have a shirt from an Italian brand that I've been wearing for 7 years. was found in thrift store in italy.

[@marymary25960]

As someone who wears one of the most common sizes in the US (women's jean size 6 to 10) I am not going to find clothes that fit me at the thrift store because they have already been purchased 😂 sometimes I can't even find my size in a regular retailer because it sells out so quickly Most of my clothes are from she inn and they have lasted for years. Whereas my old Gap pants would wear at the thighs in a matter of months. ​@@arvberg9677

[@Jacob-oc2qg]

One thing we overlook is some developing and poor nations rely heavily on manufacturing and exporting clothes , if we take drastic measures (which are quite impossible) we might see poverty rise up in third world countries

[@vornamenachname4343]

The real answer is laws…these companies should not be able to turn a profit.

[@The4711Life-cv8ey]

The H&M, Zara and M&S rip people off. The cost of clothes are trousers, shirts, denim jeans, cardigans hardly 3 to 8 dollars a piece. They sell them at 20 to 50 USD. For last 23 years I have been clothes less than 5 USD a piece. They last more than two years. Clothes made in Pakistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, China, India and Turkiye are super cheap and great quality.

[@georgesos]

"We" dont buy anything on line from these platforms.

[@blazer9547]

Mostly bought by women. They can't mention that

[@soup983]

This video implies many inaccurate aspects of the global fashion industry and spreads misinformation in itself, which it's trying to debunk. I feel like the producers behind this video need to understand that just because something is made outside of North America does not mean it is made unethically or their labour is being exploited and "not paid a living wage," and presuming so if viewing the world in a very "Ameri-centric, western-centric" POV. More research should've been done before creating this video, as Temu, which is the Western version of an extremely large Chinese company "Pinduoduo," which manufactures most of their items inside China, allowing for cheap costs and labour, but just because it is inexpensive, doesn't mean its unethical. China's manufacturing ability, especially in clothing, is at the world's top. Living costs are low, and statistics show that 95% of people working in factories in the clothing sector in China are paid ethically and fairly. So, if you buy from Temu, you're likely to spend your money paying for something other than sweatshop labour, but rather the skilled labour of skilled workers from China. Suppose you buy from a slightly affordable "slow-fashion" brand. In that case, they are most likely manufacturing in China in the same factories that Temu shop owners source from since many designs and patterns can only be made on machines invented explicitly in China by Chinese manufacturers. So unless you're paying upwards of 400$ for a pair of jeans that clearly state they are pretty sourced from ex. California (which also has an extremely high rate of sweatshop workers, much higher than China, but that's a topic for another day), you're most likely supporting the same exact factory workers that you would be in Temu. Still, you're spending more money (and in this economy, cmon now...)

[@the_Fisher_King]

I think it was lasch who said that Americans think of themselves as temporarily embarrassed billionaires, so yeah that company marketing was spot on

[@staind2523]

I'm clearly not the target audience as someone currently wearing a shirt I've had since 2012. I had never even heard of these two companies. It does make me wonder though, when I do go to buy a new hoodie, where should I buy from? It's easy enough to find more expensive clothes, but that doesn't mean they last longer or have better labor practices. What are the brands that do consistently check these boxes?

[@Totsyama]

Buying long lasting clothes that aren’t just popular from a trend will be cheaper than fast fashion in the long run. Stop saying you only choose it because it’s the cheaper option

[@shuqingchen7543]

Don't disagree with the thesis but almost all of the information is recycled that was explained much better and more in depth in other forms of media. This one didn't contribute anything new

[@matthijsnorg9281]

That's kinda what news is though

[@ginger-ale7818]

Yesterday I DESTROYED all of my work shirts (washed them with lipstick then dried them, tried EVERYTHING to get it off and still failed). And I still felt bad throwing them away. I struggle with throwing away tiny off cuts from sewing projects. The idea that the fashion industry generates that much garbage is so deeply alien to me.

[@wendytube007]

I would love to agree with the more expensive price equals a better product but I do not. The last two years all I’ve seen is prices in higher end stores go up but the quality go down. Never have I seen so much polyester and bad sewing, so they’re all getting in on it now.

[@hayeonkim7838]

Thanks for useful and valuable video as always ❤❤❤

[@kielvostro]

This is why Tiktok should be banned.

[@AnymMusic]

this is why TikTok SHOULDN'T be. For every haul you'll have someone criticizing it.

[@Grrranola]

Tiktok has taught me many valuable sewing skills, like how to patch jeans, sew on a button that's missing, fabric maintenance, removing stains, etc. which has greatly extended the wear time for my clothing. Things my parents didn't teach me. Tiktok has short informative videos about many topics, which I have been very helpful to me and many others.

[@blazer9547]

​@@Grrranola there's homegrown youtube

[@topapo3661]

you know if tiktok gets banned sheik will just move to yt/instagram/facebook/twitter or… oh wait. theyre already doing that

[@BeliqueBlue]

In 2015, I watched the Minimalism documentary on Netflix. It was life-changing. I was never a big clothes person, but I haven't purchased many things I don't need since watching that. I highly recommend it.

[@OK-Computer]

I’m not saying there’s a direct alternative to this, but try to buy “premium” brands and since they’re not cheap, you can’t buy a lot. The quality is also better than fast fashion (while not amazing): CK, Ralph Lauren, Boss, Diesel, Lacoste, Fred Perry, Diesel and even Levi’s.

[@Galush_Music]

I tuned out as soon as the immediate answer wasn’t governmental regulation. Changing individual’s commercial buying norms is only ever a losing battle to put on a band aid.

[@GlassMunky]

Am I the only one noticing this is entirely women I don’t know a single man who buys clothes more than like once a year if that. Most guys I know are still wearing the same clothes from 5 years ago 🤷‍♂️

[@blazer9547]

If it was men who did this, they would've mentioned that

[@user-bg7nm4ez3i]

Yet it’s not all women, as I don’t buy clothes often like once in a blue moon and I still wear the clothes I’ve had for 6 years+.

[@TheSapphireCat]

I get so many temu and shein ads that I refuse to shop at either out of spite because they're so annoying

[@jonasendres8962]

There are people who are even proud buying something from shein. In what kind of world do we life here.. really sad

[@sidn515]

Men shop for clothes once a year, so....

[@WhataMensch]

Comment deleted again because along with fashion I said GAZA

[@IDFpartyboi972]

true

[@WhataMensch]

@@IDFpartyboi972 Yeah Vox maybe fix this issue with your totalitarian control of discourse

[@lechongkawaii3855]

I wish you talked about how people who can't afford to buy ethical clothing brands are shopping fast fashion because that's what they can afford. People from third-world countries love shopping fast-fashion brands because they are cheap and accessible.

[@AZ-ev3vp]

Yall are so out of touch😂 ... we still shop at those places because it still affordable, H&M and Zara are expensive , and the quality is not that different ..

[@nikmariealex]

H&M and Zara are also fast fashion 😂