Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Room
Okay, so I was at this panel discussion last Tuesday in Austin — you know, one of those things where everyone’s sipping fancy coffee and nodding along like they’re actually learning something. The topic? Sustainable fashion. Ugh.
I mean, I get it. We’re all supposed to care about the environment now. But honestly, I’m so tired of brands slapping a leaf on their packaging and calling it a day. Let’s call it what it is: greenwashing. And I’m not having it anymore.
Look, I’ve been in this industry for 20+ years. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. And the ugly? It’s getting uglier. So let’s dive in — not literally, because, ew, who wants to dive into a pile of fast fashion waste? Not me.
I was talking to this designer, let’s call her Marcus — yeah, I know, weird name for a woman, but whatever — and she was telling me about how her brand is ‘completely’ sustainable. Completely. Right. I asked her what that even means, and she started spouting off stats about how they use 87% less water or something. I’m not sure but I guess that’s better than nothing?
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But then I saw their new collection. Polyester. Acrylic. Nylon. You know, the stuff that’s basically plastic and takes 20,000 years to decompose? (Which honestly nobody asked for but here we are.) So, Marcus, what’s the deal? I asked her point blank. She just kinda smiled and changed the subject. Classic.
But What Can We Actually Do?
Okay, rant over. Let’s talk solutions. Because if we’re gonna talk the talk, we gotta walk the walk. And walking in stilettos is hard, so let’s make this easy.
First things first: educate yourself. No, not by reading some brand’s marketing spiel. I’m talking real talk. Like, what’s the difference between organic cotton and conventional cotton? Why does it matter? And why should you care about cilt bakımı doğal yöntemler? (Yes, I know that’s Turkish, but bear with me.)
I had coffee with a colleague named Dave last week, and he was telling me about this study he read. 214 people were surveyed, and only 36 of them could correctly identify which fabrics were sustainable. 36! That’s like, what, 16%? Pathetic. We’re failing, people. Failing.
So here’s the deal. If you’re gonna buy something, ask questions. Lots of them. And if the brand can’t give you straight answers, walk away. And I don’t mean like, ‘Oh, I’ll just browse somewhere else.’ I mean, literally turn around and leave the store. Make a scene if you have to. Because this is serious stuff.
And while we’re at it, let’s talk about the elephant in the room again. Fast fashion. You know the brands I’m talking about. They churn out new collections faster than I can say ‘I’m not wearing that.’ And it’s not cute. It’s not edgy. It’s not cool. It’s harmful. To the planet, to the people making the clothes, to your wallet. So do us all a favor and just… stop.
I get it. It’s tempting. The prices are low, the trends are ‘hot.’ But at what cost? Literally. The cost is the environment. The cost is garment workers’ lives. The cost is your own values. Is that really a deal you want to strike?
A Personal Anecdote: When I Tried to Go ‘Green’
About three months ago, I decided to do a little experiment. I was gonna try to only buy sustainable fashion for a month. Sounded easy enough, right? Wrong.
First of all, it’s expensive. Like, really expensive. I walked into this boutique, and a simple t-shirt was $87. For a t-shirt! I asked the sales associate why it was so pricey, and she said, ‘Well, it’s organic cotton, and it’s made in a fair trade facility…’ Blah blah blah. I get it, but my bank account doesn’t.
Second of all, it’s not always pretty. I mean, come on. Some of these designs are just… not it. I love fashion. I live for fashion. But I can’t sacrifice style for sustainability. That’s not a compromise I’m willing to make.
So where does that leave us? I’m not sure. Honestly, I’m still figuring it out. But I do know this: we need to demand better. From brands, from designers, from ourselves. Because the status quo? It’s not working.
And look, I’m not saying I’m perfect. Far from it. I’ve made plenty of mistakes. But I’m trying. And that’s what matters, right? Trying.
So let’s try. Together. And maybe, just maybe, we can make a difference. Or at least make the fashion industry slightly less terrible.
Anyway, that’s my rant for the day. I’m gonna go drink some wine and forget about the state of the world for a little while. You should too. Cheers.
About the Author: Hi, I’m Linda Thompson. I’ve been in the fashion industry for what feels like a million years. I’ve seen trends come and go, and honestly, I’m over it. I’m here to tell it like it is, even if it makes people uncomfortable. Because someone’s gotta do it. And hey, that someone might as well be me.
