Wearing Your Ethics: Finding Alternatives

     Although fast fashion pervades mainstream retail, alternatives do exist. For instance, shoppers looking for something unique can support small businesses through websites like Etsy.com, an online marketplace which allows artisans to sell their products easily and reliably. The click of a button allows you to find diverse, beautiful pieces which could never be found on the racks of a department store, and with a bonus of knowing exactly where your money is going: to support talented individuals and provide them with the means to continue with their craft.

     Those looking for a lower price point often turn to vintage or secondhand stores, where hidden treasures abound—all it takes is a good eye for quality and a little time to search the racks. With luck you can leave with a shopping cart full of clothes at prices cheaper than the deepest recesses of a Wal-Mart clearance bin, and at thrift stores such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army the proceeds go to charity. If the idea of digging through piles of unwanted clothes is not appealing, there are many “boutique” style second-hand stores which use lavish décor, fashion-forward staff, and brand-name clothes to alleviate the “bargain basement” stereotype. Buying used clothes does not only provide the opportunity to experiment with different looks and creative styling, but also it is better for the environment. When you buy from thrift stores, you save beautiful, well-made clothes from the landfill—it is hard to find a better excuse for impulse shopping.

 
     While the eco-conscious mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle” finds its application in second-hand shopping, the options do not end there. The popular store American Apparel, founded by Don Charney, manages to sell a stylish range of clothing at prices comparable to fast fashion retailers while still maintaining the label of “sweatshop free”. The business model is surprisingly transparent—refreshing in an industry rife with shadowy dealings, outsourcing, and obscurity. According to an NPR article by Amy Walters, “From his top-floor office, Charney and his staff figure out what's selling well and quickly, then fill in the sewing managers one floor below. The quick process means the company's supply has a much better chance of matching demand. The American Apparel factory is so nimble, it can get 1,000 T-shirts out the door in a single day,” (Walters 12). This demonstrates that alternatives to fast fashion do not need to be very slow at all. Although at times it may be impossible to abstain from the sugary-sweet gratification of fast fashion, there are many available options which make ethical shopping not only easy but delightful.

Work Cited

Walters, Amy. "Fast Fashion's Challenge: Making Money With 'Made In The USA'." NPR.org 13

     Mar. 2013. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. <http://www.npr.org/2013/03/13/174199449/fast-fashions-

     challenge-making-money-with-made-in-the-usa>.

Miscellaneous post,  431 words.