005.
Overconsumption: fashion's biggest problem
INSPIRATION
A SELECTION OF ALL THINGS THAT INSPIRE US
At the heart of all the problems faced by the fashion industry, and so by the sportswear industry as well, is overproduction. People buy too many things for a low price, which brands have created with inferior quality, or even planned obsolescence, so people keep on buying more. As seasons come and go, products are getting in and out of fashion, creating an almost infinite amount of demand for the next new thing.
02.swapping products
03.repair when possible
What can you do?
We always say to everyone around us; first check what you have in your closet. Sometimes we forget the great pieces that we have laying around and with a little imagination, we can style them different to create a new look. Maybe if you don’t fit in a certain piece, you can give it or swap it for something else with a friend. This is also happening on a larger scale with swapping events, which is a great way of still getting that feeling of buying something new. If you have a product that you love, but it is damaged, go to a local tailor and get it repaired.
If those options are not suitable for you, buying secondhand is also a great way to minimize the impact that your shopping behavior has. The rise of the secondhand market is a great trend and shows that more and more people become aware of the impact that creating new products can have. A drawback of this is that sometimes people again buy too much stuff because secondhand can be quite a lot cheaper than new products, so you might be more inclined to buy faster or buy more. This can also take away from people who might have a smaller budget and can only afford things that are secondhand. This overconsumption of second hand buying can also have negative social side effects.
04.just like a gamble addiction
It also is deeply rooted in some ancient parts of our brain that likes to hunt and obtain things. When you are shopping it can feel like you are “on the hunt” and when you buy something it can give you a short dopamine rush that we’ve probably all felt before. Sadly this feeling can fade away quite quickly, creating an ingrained cycle of wanting to chase to quick bursts of happiness that websites like Temu have taken advantage of in the greatest ways. Gamifying the shopping experience through personal promotions and gamble like pop ups, which keep you engaged and can get you addicted to shopping. This, of course, ties into deeper problems in our society when it comes to dopamine addiction through our phones or gaming for example, but many of the other things where this expresses itself are not as harmful for the environment as fashion is.