The lies that sell fast fashion

[@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

[@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.

[@seanea5663]

What are some things to look for that indicate quality?

[@kaylaEA_]

@@seanea5663how the clothes are constructed. Look at the seams, loose threads?, fabric quality and content.

[@foreverbuuu6098]

there are KZbin videos on how to identify correct stitches. To begin with, I recommend checking the labels and that the seams are at least straight...and not with threads​@@seanea5663

[@ZombiBunni_]

⁠@@seanea5663things that are made from natural fibers are a good start - and be sure to check the percentages. Some things will *say* they’re a “high quality cotton or wool” blend, but the percent will be something absurd like 2% natural to 98% polyester. They also use different names for different types of polyester, so it’s worth keeping a little checklist of less desirable materials. That isn’t to say you should ONLY get 100% natural fibers, but the higher the % the better And this isn’t something I can convey over text well, but stitch work & finishes are REALLY important. Hanging threads & unrolled/unfinished hems can become bad problems - it’s likely to unravel the garment in the wash or entirely destroy the cloth it’s made out of (in the case of unfinished hems). Stretch fabric/elastic bands need to be sewn with zig-zag stitches, or else they’ll rip apart from the tension. There’s more than this, but there’s another youtuber named wangjenniferr who inspects the quality of on-rack clothing items to teach people how to inspect for quality like this ❤ Her visuals may help more than words alone

[@ringinn7880]

@@seanea5663 I have heard a straight stitch means it's cheap. Also all items should be hemmed so they can last longer.

[@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

[@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

[@fearless6947]

@@edobwoy exactly, women just like to group men into this and use words like we, we, we, we.

[@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

[@marinavaqueiro1893]

if you already have items (like swimsuits) that fit you and are in good condition, there's no need to buy a new item

[@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.

[@Joan-n7c]

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.

[@49lucky]

I buy 2nd hand Poshmark eBay etc I haven't bought new in over 40 years.

[@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

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@sarahcookies5566 for a lot of big brands that's true. However there tends to be mid-sized companies in each kind, ie socks, shirts, dresses, etc; and a lot of them can guarantee that they pay their workers fairly and use good materials. You just can't fill your entire wardrobe from one place, you have to shop around a bit and find which one you like for each type of clothing.

[@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.

[@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).

[@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

[@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 :)

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

Temu's?

[@Valentino016]

Temu

[@maresgoez]

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

[@user-zk8ed4kd2b]

However, the shirts the billionaire wears are made of the best materials and sewn using the best practices available.

[@jonathanstevens1722]

Fast fashion is a woman issue. Women competing with woman. Women need to take accountability, and responsible and self reflect. Woman drive fast fashion. Men’s fashion doesn’t exists and it’s even woman that complain about men dressing boring or wearing the same thing.

[@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

[@АндрейВаганов-в2з]

​@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]

​@@АндрейВаганов-в2зCorporations 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

[@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. 👍👍

[@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.

[@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

[@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?

[@dougdoug9223]

How do you even figure out the brands with durable clothing? Were you able to find them?

[@gwynethelodie4575]

I highly recommend everyone gets a custom piece of clothing done by a tailor if they can. Going through the process of getting measured, picking out the fabrics, waiting for the garment to be sewn, and doing the fitting before taking that garment home, it really gives you a sense of how much care is put into making it. On top of that, it'll probably fit you better and be something you want to keep for a long time. It is more expensive yes, but it's worth the price and makes that piece feel even more special

[@dougdoug9223]

How do you know if a tailor is good or event eh fabric is as well for someone who has no idea of this topic and is tired of clothes hardly making it to a year

[@dougdoug9223]

How do you know if a tailor is good or event eh fabric is as well for someone who has no idea of this topic and is tired of clothes hardly making it to a year

[@gwynethelodie4575]

@@dougdoug9223 I would say in general if you have clothing made by a tailor, the quality is going to last you a very long time. Also you can bring in photos of a style you like, the tailor can show you similar fabrics they have, and you can ask their opinion. They're experts after all.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?

[@D_isco_D_ancer]

Ive never been a consumerist person regarding clothes or anything for that matter. I dont get people who go three or four time a week to the mall to buy "clothes". My clothe last me till it gets destroyed and beyond that. Ripped T-shirt that I bought almost ten years ago I still wear daily. And I feel no shame for that.

[@naturalnashuan]

You should see the ratty second-hand bathrobe I'm proudly wearing 😂 Its discolored and falling apart at all seams and threadbare. So is my spouse's bathrobe. When it completely loses structural integrity it will transform to cleaning rags😊

[@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.

[@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.

[@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...

[@_all_around_us]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@nightgardheal]

And that's ok, but do you need to buy 68 new items per year ? The quantity is the problem mostly

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@ckhpersonal670]

@@heitoroliveira5166 relatable... i never buy my own clothings 😔

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@Wanderlauch]

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

[@Chrissepisje]

Billionaires don't shop cheap throwaway garbage.

[@djan0889]

As a relative of a billionaire. Yes ,they don't buy cheap throwaway garbage. They buy expensive throw away garbage.

[@DeniSoars]

Many people here are talking about how expensive brands are not producing quality garments. DUH! In those cases you’re paying for the BRAND, not the garment. Since people are not educated on how to detect quality and keep buying their products…THEY GET AWAY WITH IT. We need to massively spread this awareness and as consumers demand quality material again…with our purchasing power. And don’t be fooled, saving money now with cheap stuff makes you loose money in the long run

[@TheSapphireCat]

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

[@TotallyxKatiee]

I only shop at goodwill or I sew my own clothes. Even better, a thrift flip or create something using thrifted materials. I don’t like fast fashion and that’s why I choose to shop at Goodwill. I do buy new fabric from Joanna sometimes and I always feel guilty about it. I give clothes back to Goodwill if I don’t want it anymore.

[@naturalnashuan]

Even better than giving to Goodwill is finding someone your size and swapping clothes. Most of my clothes are thrift stores or stuff people I know didn't wear anymore.

[@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.

[@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.

[@fairycay]

do you necessarily have proof of this? if that were the case, why do they have things on their websites such as "5 left in stock" etc when they use the exact same fabric on literally millions of other clothing items that have many in stock?

[@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.

[@ngweso]

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

[@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.

[@lanafoster1870]

😭 not the shein ad before this

[@Starcrash6984]

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

[@yvan2563]

"Fast Fashion Is Hot Garbage"

[@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

[@dougdoug9223]

I don't understand

[@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.

[@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.

[@In_Our_Timeline]

"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.

[@sayorancode]

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

[@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.

[@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...

[@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.

[@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.

[@Red-in-Green]

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.

[@ckhpersonal670]

and so disusting!

[@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.

[@sicilyamarismcraven]

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

[@erdna97]

Small correction: Shein is making 30B in SALES, not profit.

[@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.

[@monicatoro2286]

I once bought two shirts in Temu, just wanted to check how te quality was. It was absolute trash, the clothes felt like made of paper; it made me regret it so much, not because of the money, but because of the labor and waste that purchase meant. That was 8 months ago and since then I've only purchased second hand things that are very good quality. Never again.

[@vornamenachname4343]

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

[@shannonhu189]

my problem with this video: - the holier than thou attitude - suggest some non fast fashion, ethical brands that are worth the money if you want to post a video like this? all you're doing is fear-mongering and providing zero solutions. - pricier items DO NOT mean they are made better. - I don't think we are buying with the intent of throwing out at all - I think we all want to have the comfort and luxury of AFFORDING things as a billionaire. we are struggling - she didn't even post haulers. those were just people showing style advice...

[@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.

[@janiceweaver6945]

Higher prices do not mean better quality. Quality comes in a variety of price points. SheIn, Walmart, Old Navy, etc all have good quality items.

[@brittany_geneva]

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.

[@itzanapplepine4168]

That's good, what do you want to talk about concerning the uprising in clothes inclusivity?

[@wendy5w]

Yes exactly my thought. I am 5 feet and buying clothes in traditional fashion brand is a struggle.

[@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

[@sayorancode]

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

[@markhernandez95]

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

[@Hakaze]

"Shop like a bilionaire" The joke is that the richest people seems to wear the same normal everyday clothing, all the time

[@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.

[@leagolekganyane]

If we shouldn't buy from Fast Fasion retailers like H&M, Zara and Shein then where do you recommend we shop? Please don't say thrift.

[@MayaLuv-xp7ux]

Exactly because thrift shouldn’t be a persons only option just because they’re low income/ or on a tight budget. I do not want someone’s hand me downs.

[@Unrealistic_Fox]

The best way to shop without guilt is to shop on Vinted or some other online thrift store, affordable, not supporting sh1tty brands, and honestly just good for the environment since you bought something that would've otherwise ended up in the garbage

[@terezaherrmannova8354]

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

[@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

[@planckismus]

That’s amazing

[@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.

[@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?

[@tradecomfortforidentity]

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. ​@@tradecomfortforidentity

[@washyourmouthoutwithpope1334]

The point of this video was about overconsumption, not buying one or two Shein items.

[@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.

[@robertskolimowski7049]

The word addiction springs to mind.

[@selenasimmons6653]

We have been living in a disposable society for decades...it's not only clothes they treat this way...and until something has value to people it's only going to get worse

[@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.

[@sentiasatransformasi]

I think “shop like a billionaire” concept is very interesting. a typical billionaire doesn’t buy low quality stuff on shein or even care abt the latest trends bcs there are much more important things to think abt

[@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.

[@velichor]

The "Misinformation Machine" Timestamps: 03:13 Start 03:17 Sow Confusion 04:10 Promote Overconsumption 06:17 No Transparency

[@Buntabunta937]

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

[@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

[@naturalnashuan]

I would still wear second-hand clothes if I was grossly wealthy, just more unique used items.

[@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.

[@elfiot]

40+ is doable in a few years if your size is consistent and you have the privilege of being able to to afford a few new outfits every 3-6 months. The weird thing is buying 68 items every year and throwing out 28 of them within a year of purchase. Due to an eating disorder, I stayed about the same size from ages 12-19, and after entering recovery, definitely donated 40+ items in size 2 or smaller because I’d gotten some new clothes every 6 months for 7 years and that added up. How weird it is to have 40+ garments is definitely dependent on how long it took you to acquire them and if they correspond to different events and weather conditions.

[@washyourmouthoutwithpope1334]

I'd say I do, mostly thrifted, but that's actually because I refuse to throw out clothes. I'm definitely not in the "buys 68 items of clothing a year" camp, we're halfway through 2024 and I think I've bought around 4. If I don't like an item of clothing anymore, I find some way to DIY it. If it gets damaged, I repair it.

[@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.

[@soniashapiro4827]

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

[@ckhpersonal670]

Bless the pandemic

[@jonasendres8962]

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

[@Tots04]

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

[@Avantime]

Just a note: The expensive, high quality item might not be as high quality as you think. The $80 sweater likely has $30-40 retailer markup, and there are costs all around the supply chain - especially distributors and importers, and brand royalties. That $80 sweater may only cost the factory $20 to make, so in other words you're only buying $20 worth of quality. The higher the quality/price, the higher the markup. Once you get to luxury items, you're no longer buying quality, you're buying for exclusivity and social status.

[@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.

[@valcwf551]

I buy 90% of my clothes from second hand stores. The rest i buy very cheap, but I keep all my clothes for years, even repairing and altering them. Anything still good goes back to second hand shop, and no good gets turned into rags or something else useful. My two biggest pet peeves are disposable and forced consumerism (items built to break).

[@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

[@ckhpersonal670]

visualized news!

[@jayantiay]

this is also happen in people relationship with others, call it "fast-love", "fast-friendship", etc. Instead of taking care of them, repairing the bonds, people throw it away easily and find the new ones... then do the same thing all over again

[@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.

[@matthewbaynham6286]

The EU has plenty of quality standards for all sorts of different products. The EU needs to create quality standards for clothes so they last longer. Then stop people from just throwing away purchases they regreat, they shouod go to a second hand store.

[@randaratliff4327]

Thrift stores are the new malls. 👀🔥✨

[@Sew_OzzyWar_Made_This]

3:07 thanks for clarifying that is styles and not units... Cause the amount of units mentioned in each brand is sooooo high. It's ridiculous.