Tien-Jen

Clothing is one of the largest polluters in the world and much of the clothing worn and unworn end up in landfills. When I think of why we end up buying excess clothing it makes me think of the quote by Dave Ramsey: ‘We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.’ We are told by advertising and media to buy more in order to attain a certain kind of lifestyle or to be perceived a certain way. It’s more valuable to embrace your own personal style and wear clothing that will be worn throughout the years.

Both fast fashion and luxury brands produce clothing that have been made by children or women in poor working environments and are paid a miniscule amount. Those who create these products are barely paid enough whereas the corporations earn hundreds of millions of dollars. We don’t need so much in this world to be content, however, the increasing amount of dissatisfaction is from the false belief that we need more things to feel fulfilled and accepted.

We live in a world of excess production and consumption of materials, where much more care is often put towards appearances and money rather than how we treat others and our environment. In the past year, I’ve began selling and donating things I no longer wear or use. I realised we don’t regularly wear the clothes in our wardrobe. If I left the house on a chilly day I’d put on the same rain coat. Fashion allows us to express our own sense of style. It becomes a part of our identity but it shouldn’t have to cost the earth.

Art by Renée Gouin