365betÌåÓýÔÚÏßÊÀ½ç±­

A new season is warming up. I’m excited to pack away my sweaters and pull out my summer wardrobe. Getting caught up in the thrill of sunshine and all the joy that the new season brings makes it easy for many people, including myself, to get carried away with seasonal purchases.

Each new season brings a desire, particularly in younger folks, to revamp their closet based on what is “trendy.� Where does this desire for a new collection of clothes and accessories come from, and is it sustainable? This summer, ask yourself if you really need to buy new pieces, or if the ones from last year can still serve you.

The fast fashion industry is lurking in the shadows as one of the top contributors to climate change. In fact, the fast fashion industry generates “more pollution than international aviation and shipping combined.�

Fast fashion businesses include companies like Shein, Forever 21, and H&M. Their constant rotation of products allows them to push ever-changing fashion trends. Due to the constantly shifting trends, the clothes produced are poorer in quality. These items, made mostly from nylon or polyester, are manufactured from fossil fuels. With this, the clothes are not sustainable, further contributing to the constant cycle of consumption.

Influencers on platforms like TikTok are promoting this unsustainable trend cycle.

One TikTok user posted a video stating: “What shoes are we wearing this spring/summer? Once I can’t wear my Uggs anymore I don’t know what to wear so pls help.�

This TikTok, with more than 1 million views and 120,000 likes, is a prime example of the current culture of overconsumption. By asking “What shoes are we wearing this summer?� the influencer, Abigail Mathews, is really asking: what will be the trendy shoe this summer? This type of mindset normalizes the cycle of fast fashion.

For those who enjoy buying clothes but also seek to be sustainable, shopping second-hand, or thrifting, is seemingly the answer. While second-hand stores are much more climate-friendly than shopping directly from fast fashion companies, it can also have some drawbacks.

While thrifting can be a more sustainable practice, there are still ways to overdo it. In recent years, thrifting has become increasingly popular, particularly among Generation Z. Instead of shopping in retail stores, many young adults turn to businesses like Goodwill, eager to hunt for hidden gems.

When people don’t look at clothing purchases as long-term, it leads to unnecessary and excessive spending. Many don’t consider the impacts of their purchases, especially if they donate their clothes. While donating clothes is better than simply throwing them away, it is also not a perfect fix. When more goes into thrift stores than can be bought, items still end up in landfills.

According to an ABC news article, even though only 5% of donated items end up in landfills, that still contributes to 17 million tons of textile waste annually.

Buying second-hand and donating personal belongings is not an excuse for buying as much as one pleases. Even when one donates, those items can still have an impact on the planet. It is important to always be mindful with purchases, even second-hand ones.

Overconsumption is not just prevalent with clothing and accessories. The culture of overconsumption is present throughout our society.

While reusable water bottles are one of the easiest ways an individual can practice sustainability, certain habits make the use of reusable water bottles not sustainable at all.

Many different reusable water bottle brands have cycled in and out of popularity. The Stanley Cup-craze is the most recent example. Before Stanley Cups, it was HydroFlask, and so on. While one reusable water bottle could last a lifetime, many individuals buy new ones every few years as the trend cycle keeps shifting.

Who sets these trends of popularity? Should we let advertisers and influencers define our preferences? Shouldn’t we set our own preferences and simply decide that the ‘coolest�/‘trendiest� bottle is the one that someone has had the longest?

When it comes to something like a water bottle, is it really necessary to follow the trends? Overconsumption needs to be tackled at every level.

Nothing is truly disposable, it all ends up somewhere. Every single purchase has an impact.