Modern consumerism and aesthetics

Hello all, I'm back again. :-) 

In the last few years, think 2019-2022, the idea that every fashion needs a label or to fit an 'aesthetic' has been on a rise. Many popular 'style' influencers online especially push the idea that one needs to fit into an aesthetic to fit in, and when multiple people who dress in different 'aesthetics', in comes in the rise of consumerism. When people buy clothes in high quantities to fit into the newest trends, Corporations that produce those clothes start to mass produce clothing that will only be popular for so long, and the cycle continues. These clothes flood second hand markets, landfills, etc. The need to consume to fit into fashion niches are unsustainable. 

An example I think of when we talk about consumerism based on aesthetics is fast fashion sites, like Aliexpress, SHEIN, etc. It's been proven time and time again that they are mass producing clothing and items through essentially slave labor, and the clothing is made with cheap, dangerous chemicals and materials that will not last with use, yet people still continue to purchase heaps of clothing from there. Why? Again, rapidly changing fashion trends and the desire to fit in creates unhealthy consumerism. People often don't care about the people who make the clothing they wear, because all they care about is trends. They don't care who is harmed or poisoned while making their clothing that they will wear twice, and throw out or donate. The cheaply made clothing pollute second hand markets. As someone who thrifts for most, if not all of my clothing, It's really tough to find clothes that aren't falling apart SHEIN clothes. Most of my thrift stores are fast fashions, church clothes, and kiddie clothes. Its hard to find good clothing that I'll actually like and wear. 

On apps and sites like Tiktok, Youtube, Pinterest, etc, Many people either promote or follow these quickly changing trends. One day they like preppy outfits, next streetwear, and the next is 'alternative'. The quickly changing trends also affect people who've liked these fashions for a long while. Like myself, I've always loved the goth subculture, but with it being popular now, it's hard to get good clothing for cheap. With the rise and fall of these trends, people buy and sell the clothes rapidly, creating a harsh environment in the market. Clothes that were once 50 dollars are now 100+ because of the demand. Its harsh for those who don't now can't afford the harsh, inflated prices. (This same thing applies to housing, but complaining about landlords is for another day...)

In the end; The rise and fall of trends creates waste and greed, hoarding, creates harsh work environments for factory workers, and is ultimately unsustainable. The idea that you need to fit into every new trend that rapidly changes is stupid, and wasteful.