I don't know if I am the first Bangladeshi to comment here. But in case someone else hasn't said it here before me, I will just try to address the Western consumers of Bangladeshi clothes, " please watch what you are buying." I know a lot of "educated" Bangladeshis will tell you the garment industry is increasing our GDP. But unfortunately, based on my experience that GDP has little to do with the whole country's economic situation. Bangladesh was an agricultural country before this fast fashion madness in the West. I am sorry to generalize, but that's the truth of it. Growing up, I didn't see a polluted Dhaka city that was unthinkable crowded by garment workers from the rest of the country. Neither did I see the incredible rise of wealth- gap. Both these are the blessings of fast fashion. Those things aside, just on the humane issue, when you buy these clothes, you keep feeding this evil chain. If you could just see the working conditions of those factories, you would feel like you are wearing other people's lives for two weeks. An average factory worker can work for 2 to 3 years before getting sick. There are 2 toilets for about a 120 female workers on a floor, and same for men. Not to mention, to catch a restroom break is incredibly difficult. When there's a sudden order for a bulk of clothes, the factory owners lock the workers in the building for the night. And yes, they don't pay overtime for these "sudden" needs. There's more, these workers are generally women. Because men tend to ask for "a little more", you can pay women less and control them easily. So factories prefer female workers. On the safety issues, I am guessing you have at least heard of Rana Plazza. Well, there has been many fires in many garment factories throughout decades. Rana Plazza just took enough lives to catch the attention of the media worldwide. Numerous times fires in garment factories have killed people, or injured them. I remember passing a garment factory everyday on my way to school. And for those seven years, I have never seen that factory's 'immergency exit' open. It just used to be there. One time as I was coming back from school our rickshaw stopped, there was a crowd of people in front of the building, they were scared and fighting. some were trapped inside the building. There was a fire in the building, some workers ran out and the security locked the door with the rest inside. The manager said, "there is no fire. The workers will steal our clothes". So some of those scared workers were trapped inside while the others were wailing outside. Luckily, that fire didn't kill anyone. But not many were as lucky. there have many such incidents that escaped the notice of international media. After leaving the country, I see people buying Zaara, H&M etc clothes. Many people are unfortunately addicted to buying new clothes. In class, as our teacher was explaining why we should not buy unneccesarily, I noticed many people don't want to hear it. They say, "I am just one person, if I stop buying, it will do nothing". But it does matter. As long as you keep buying, they will keep producing in the same brutal way. Yes, you are one person, yes, it's our country's duty to enforce labour law, yes, other people will keep buying it, but can you honestly say that you wouldn't mind if your home was burning and your neighbour came with a cigarette to light from the fire? If you say you would, then don't add even a single drop of fuel into this already huge fire. This is more serious than it looks to you from outside - I know. And the money you pay gets in the pockets of Bangladshi rich men, whose families live abroad in luxury, you are not improving the economy here, either. So please, don't buy cheap clothes to feel good and throw them in a month. Sorry for the huge comment. But I hope it reaches at least one person.
+mahbuba akhtar hi there. Your testimony is so important that I will pin it to the top. Thanks so much for taking the time to write all this. Keep spreading your message: it reaches more people than you think & awareness for this situation is increasing, little by little. Take care. 🌞
mahbuba akhtar I read through all of your comment and I researched about what you've said. Thank you for posting this as you have changed my mind about buying from these places. I rarely purchase anything from those stores but now I won't even think about it and I don't think I could after reading this.
Yes darling you are correct . But just to mention that non fast fashion brands such as hugo boss and louis vuitton dolce etc etc, are tailoring their clothes in countries such as Moldova for example (geographic europe) and then sew the label in Italy for example and say Made in Italy. So not only fast fashion brands are not worth their price also other high- end, much more expensive brands are doing the exact same thing! they just hide it a little smarter
Burberry for example produces lots of things in Bosnia where I am from. I saw the made in Bosnia&Herzegovina tags in their shops in Vienna myself. It's not part of EU, but it's still geographically Europe, and while people working in the factories probably don't suffer horrible conditions, I dont think they are payed over 400 to 500 € per month. That's what someone with higher aducation makes here. Doctors, attorneys or so can go to 1000 to 1500 € per months at best.
@@melancholica999 You are absolutely right. And numbers should not matter, it's the quality of life. I'm a double college graduate and could never get a job in Serbia as I did not want to accept to work for less then minimum wage. I would be more than satisfied with 400-500 a month. That was never on offer. So, just because these seamstresses are paid less then a Parisian worker, does not mean a company is necessarily doing anything bad.
@@MegaTinni In the video, Justine said higher price doesn't necessarily mean higher quality. It could also mean higher markup. It's also unrealistic to expect people to make their own clothes. Not everyone has the skill or even the interest to make their own clothes. What if I said why not fix your own car?
If it's good *and* new, it won't be cheap. That's the reality of it. That's why the second hand market is *really* important if you want to be responsible.
@@PT111111 That is why I wrote to spend your money on a QUALITY piece ;) True, an expensive piece is not always a quality piece. But a quality piece will always be more expensive than a fast fashion piece. Always. I will never fix my own car. It's not in my interests. I also never watch youtubers that have channels about the subject. I assume followers of Justine are easier to persuade to make fashion than I am to persuade to fix my own car :)
I'm surprised that using the services of a tailor never comes up in a discussion about building your wardrobe ethically. We so need to bring those back!
@@Commentator541 but what would be the point of altering fast fashion when it won't last you that long? Sometimes tailoring can be the same price as the garment or at least a large portion of it.
@Jake Dean I know, I own one :) I still suck at tailoring, but even so, I think that the few garments I made myself are far better than the majority of the ones I bought. Even if I spend quite a lot anyway because decent quality fabrics aren't exactly cheap I never regret it because I don't feel like I'm compromising. Even though I still can't make exactly the clothes I want to wear, I'm closer than ever before.
I am from Bangladesh . I know how much they torture those cloth labours to work hard in very minimum wage . I am glad that u talked about it . And specially you are talking about extreamly matarialistic behaviour . u are not only a good and talented youtuber but also a very wonderful human being . hope to see you someday . I love you girl . Tnx a lot :) lots of love
But what will be if they wont have this job. Is it better to be tortured or to not be able to feed kids and die from hunger. I just dont see whats offered in replace of taking their chance of income. If they work there, means they dont have better choice and thats last opportunity. Please correct me if im wrong.
@@alemanalondon these companies could pay their employees a living wage (which would still be much vcheaper than the US), and have them make higher quality clothing at the same time. People will pay if you force it.
@@alemanalondon I agree. This is the problem with situations like this. If there was no demand the factories would close and how would they feed their families then? It may seem easy to solve one problem, but doing that creates many more.
Jessi Hollander I agree that documentary I saw two years ago and it was shocking. Sadly if we move out those manufacturing the people have zero income and can’t survive at all.
"Made in Europe" isn't a guarantee for good quality and work ethics. A great deal of the clothes by big (even luxury) companies are made here in Bulgaria, where seamstresses work 14 hours a day and make 200 euros per month.
Alexandra hence why in my family we really value what we have as a lot of work has gone into making those garments which people in the west tend to overlook.
The clothes made in Bulgaria are of a very good quality and the work ethic of the workers is usually very high. The problem is that they are not paid enough for the quality they produce and for the time they spend at work.
@@jaebird789 the cost of living in Bulgaria is not low at all with a 200 EUR salary. If you wish to do a normal grocery shopping with average quality of the food it will take you between 25-50 EUR per week (may be even more). Then comes the bills and what-not. Life in Bulgaria is expensive when you get a minimum wage salary!
I bought a Sandro skirt last summer. The original tag was 150, but I must admit I got it in the 2d sales -60 euros, the ¡most I could possibly afford- and, guess what? It was also made in China. The same happens with most of supposedly no-fast-fashion brands, like Maje, Fornarina, Guess, Bimba y Lola, Dolores Promesas, Adolfo Dominguez, Religion, Free People Desigual or Highly Preppy. They all manufacture in non-western countries because the costs are much lower and with the final product price, the profit margin is absolutely huge. It's funny how HM, Zara, Primark, etc get to be the bad guys when all these other brands do the same, are more expensive, but don't get the credit for the negative publicity. When I make an effort to buy something a bit more expensive, I expect it to be better quality and more ethical, but in the end, my feeling is that it is all a fraud and I'm just paying for a status symbol.
I think the point is the quality. Just because it's made in China doesn't necessarily mean it's low quality. But the point of avoiding fast fashion is trying to find better quality clothes and more staple pieces so you don't add to the cycle. This way you're not constantly shopping more and throwing things away or donating them. Also, a higher price doesn't necessarily mean not fast fashion.
It's just like all the bad press that Coca-Cola has been getting for ages. "coca cola has a lot of sugar", "coca cola is poison", "coca cola makes you fat". Guess what? coca cola is not any different to any other soda, some have even more sugar than Coca Cola, like Mountain Dew or Red Bull. Have you ever hear that Fanta makes you fat? Or Pepsi also has tons of sugar? Weird, isn't?
This is hopeless... How can we ever escape the fast fashion trap? I’m seriously considering learning dressmaking and becoming my own seamstress, but I know nothing about fashion or about how to copy a design. I’m not designer material
I buy a lot of vintage clothing from the 30s - 70s because it has far superior quality at a fraction of the cost. One suggestion I can make to those who desire some freshness and variety in their wardrobe without making new purchases. is to organize a clothing swap with a group of friends and friends of friends.
I do too. I specifically look for made in the US Made in England, Made in Canada, made in Italy type labels even when buying vintage. Not because I am nice, but because its better quality. After a while you will not want to wear crap.
I live in Poland where thrifting is very popular. I get really high equality pieces of clothing (vintage, made in Europe) almost for free. I'm really concerned about fast-fashion industry, especially for the exploiting of people. High amounts of clothes are made unnecessarily, people do not need them. I am also mad when I buy something in chain store and it is totally damaged after several washings! Who needs that? There are so many campaigns about the environment, wchich big clothing companies are supporting, and I think it is total bullshit and hypocrisy. The only way to change this situation is to stop buying their products
I'm an American. I have a low income because I work for a non-profit which is literally non-profit at this point. I have been shopping in second hand stores since I was a small child with my mom. I honestly enjoy it more and I am able to dress as well as my colleagues on a smaller budget. I find that if I do a little research I know what better labels are so I try to buy things that no I couldn't afford at the original store. it's like I always say there's no point in buying Walmart at the Goodwill.
In our second hand stores all the things have different price ranges. You can buy something in bad condition or low quality for cheap. Everything else is so expensive, you can buy brand new item even cheaper. I live in Eastern Europe. Can't afford much. I buy online mostly from the USA or some other European countries, including fast fashion. In this case this is really value for money. For example, I have some Levi's jeans for $15 bought from USA. In a second hand store the price is about $18 for much worse new or even used jeans.
No way $18 is a deal, they are not even Levi's, they are from some fast fashion brands and low quality. Do you buy Levi's jeans online? I've bought more than 20 from USA online for $12-$30, for me and my family
In Pakistan most people get their clothes tailored. Both rich and poor. I remember when I was a kid my mother would store summer clothes during winters and vice versa and the same clothes would be worn for years. But so much has changed in the last ten years, ready to wear clothes have become a huge thing and surprisingly the unstiched lawn industry has gotten even bigger. The worst part is that all of these clothes are only good for a certain period of time. People feel ashamed to wear the clothes from last season. Everyone around me can look at a dress/suit and basically tell what brand it is from and how old it is. I just miss the times when I would see my mother and aunts buying or somehow getting an amazing fabric, took it to embroiderer (For special occasions) and then to the tailor. These clothes wouldn't just last a lifetime but through generations. It's really hard to find a good embroiderer now, back then everyone knew one. Thankfully it hasn't changed completely and many people still live like that but I am afraid that it wont last...
Ohh no worries..... when someone “bigbrain” say lets do smg “new” and “trendy” then the mass will take their old clothes or textiles to the tailors, when the tailoring will be on trend! I bet my life on it! It s sad but, this is how it is....
Even in the 80s and 90s Americans were getting thier clothes tailored, or more commonly mom or grandma was hemming our hand-me-downs and letting out dad's waistband 🤣. Very fast fashion started in the late 90s and has become normal it seems. I genuinely blame the cultural norms coming out of China; at least the ones that looks down on those less fortunate and deifies money. At least in the west, frugality and prudence are considered virtuous. I don't think I realized how wasteful the mentality of fast fashion can be until I met Asian students studying abroad who bought a huge amount of clothing just to throw it away at the end of thier study period. They bought it to take photos in. To show thier friends back home how trendy they were. I bought exactly two items of clothing while studying abroad, because we were so poor and I couldn't find a job, just a night shirt for summer and a pair of slippers. I had that nightshirt for 15 years after we returned home, btw. It was painful for me to leave behind some kitchenware I couldn't take in my suitcase or ship, I cringed so hard seeing skip after skip of clothing being carted off.
I haven't bought new clothing in years. Except undergarments. I feel good about that. In my youth I was a fashion horse! I've held onto my favorites and donated the rest. It's very freeing to simplify, and downsize. Creating a better Earth 🌿🕊🌍
How will you comment on the fact that nowadays EVERYONE produces in Vietnam, Morocco, India etc? Not just fast brands like H&M, but literally every brands I can think of. There's always cheap labour involved, whether it's a 10 euro jacket or a 1000 euro jacket. Also, the perception that made in EU is okay is half the truth. Eastern EU still involves cheap labour, although not as cheap as in the Third World countries. Brands that sell more expensive, only they can 'afford' to produce in the EU. I was in a Greek factory in Bulgaria (Eastern EU) that produces Rolmann, Hugo Boss and other similar brands, and we all know how expensive these brands are, yet the labour is really low paid. Main investment seems to be factory equipment. I can tell you that the whole production process of a Hugo Boss jacket (minus material and factory investment, basically the labour itself) is less than 25 euro and the only reason Rolmann is located in Europe is that they sell more high end clothing and the margin is high. So it seems boycotting brands that produce in places like Bangladesh means boycotting almost everyone and buying either super expensive stuff or local designers. Btw aside from all that, brands like Zara enrage me the most, that margin is so high it's comparable to that in the makeup industry.
+pastichka hi there, it is true that if you avoid brands that produce "unethically cheap", you will have to avoid many, many brands. I would say Eastern Europe is not as bad as South-East Asia because they have more laws protecting the workers. Hugo Boss is a special example: they have high prices and a good fit (good patterns) BUT they cut on fabric quality & sewing - so for me, despite the high prices, they are not what I would call a high-end brand. In the end, you need to have a look at each brand, one by one. There are certification & "fair" brand lists (which I talk about in my "ethical fashion" video) to help your research... But it is more work than just sorting brands based on price and label... And last but not least: THANK YOU, I love comments that are well-thought through, long and grammar-perfect. Have a great Sunday! 😘
Justine Leconte officiel Thank you for your reply! I just discovered your channel and I'm amazed by the quality of the content and the research you put into each video - I've watched a few so far and it's already clear you're doing a great job. Your 2016 trends video is very useful, I'm yet to watch your previous trends videos, but it sure these series are something you do very well. I agree, Eastern Europe is way better as it's in the EU, but unfortunately many workers are still exploited more or less. I guess it's unavoidable. Since I'm new to the topic more or less (I've thought about it, but never did more research; at some point I even thought buying either second hand and local brands/small fashion designers is the only way to shop ethical), I'll make sure to watch the Ethical Fashion video next! I'm pretty curious what's the margins in the fashion industry, as it seems that it's a pretty profitable business similar to cosmetics. Very interesting subject. Thank you for the compliment about grammar, I really appreciate it. And have a great Sunday too!
+pastichka I saw an exhibition once where they showed a low-cost shirt (blouse for women) from a fast fashion brand, it costs less than 1€ to produce and ship, if I remember correctly. So if the shirt gets sold for 15€ in retail, just add store & storage costs and the rest is their margin... I would say the margin is higher than in cosmetics - if you do take the fast fashion option.
Justine Leconte officiel I was trying to guess the cost of a single clothing item based on what I saw in that factory, but I guess I can't calculate it. But I remember vividly (it was 8-9 years ago) how the whole process of making a suit was broken into small sections where a worker is doing only one small part. For example, a small patch of fabric on the inside of the front part of the suit is sewn by only one worker, who does that all day long and has a quota to fill (like 100 patches an hour). Each patch sewn costs a fraction of an eurocent (I forgot the numbers, I only remember this worker showing me the piece of paper where she keeps track on stuff and where it's written how much it pays, and it was something like 0,8). Some workers later complained the factory bosses raise the requirements for stuff sewn in an hour so you have to work faster to earn your money, otherwise you get fined. Anyway, if the process is divided like that, it gets way more cheaper for sure, as it requires less trained and professional people for most of the time the suit is made. And if there's, say, 30 similar to the patch sewing process steps, they all will cost less than an euro to make (minus of course stuff like other high paid workers in the factory that will monitor the process or cut the fabric and operate the software, the factory itself, the fabric etc.). And that's a suit. I'm still curious though if the margin is higher or lower, in general, in cosmetics. After all cosmetics are way smaller, so costs for shipping drop the overall price. The actual product that costs money to make is also really small quantity; the less is package. Will try to read more about that some day. Overall, one thing is for sure. Most of the money we pay for cosmetics and fast fashion is actually marketing money :))
The country you live in really influences your choices in clothing. In Turkey (where I'm originally from) buying second hand is considered "poor" and "dirty", almost nobody goes for recycled clothing. Fast fashion is everywhere, and it is difficult to find ethical brands. Even if you do, they are way out of my budget as a student. I moved to New Zealand 3 years ago and here people are all about recycling and buying second hand, I just love it! I haven't bought a new piece for a very long time. When I feel like new clothes, I just stroll through shops like salvation army or save mart, they have really good stuff! The only pieces I don't want to buy second hand are underwear, sports gear and running shoes. It's surprising what you can find in second hand shops, I've seen many upscale fashion brands just waiting to be picked. When everyone is into second hand, you don't feel bad about it as well. I wish second hand culture was more popular in Turkey...
The same in Mexico, even is a poor country the middle class would never buy second hand, they reserve that for the poor, but buy a lot in fast fashion¡
I live in in Turkey now and you're absolutely right!In the us where i used to live so many people would shop and donate to goodwill or whatever thrift shop. Here it's like no one uses 2nd hand.There are only a few places to get them. Some bazaars do sell unsold and used clothing though.They're not super popular though.I remember going through a pile of clothes and people looking at me like i'm disgusting.(Bazaar clothing pieces actually seem clean.Everything i got smelled like detergent.)The only place that 2nd hand is popular is 2nd apps.
Middle class emerged very recently in Turkey, hence why fast consumption is a sign of higher social status. this will all settle down at the next major crisis, whether it will be economical or environmental. that's what happened in France, thrift shops would have never been so trendy if it hadn't been for the 2008 economic crisis. before that, everyone was crazy about new clothing.
I made a chart of all the summer clothes I own and the number of times I wore them. I found that I had around 50 clothes ( tops, trousers, skirts, dresses, gym clothes etc) and I didn't wear all of them equally and frequently. The chart helped me realise (1) the clothes that I wear usually. These are the kind of ones that I should buy more, because they are the ones that actually get worn. (2) the price vs value of the clothes in terms of number of uses. Making a clothes chart seems like a time consuming chart, but it helps understand you behaviour better so I encourage all to try it, understand your fashion sense, improvise on things that you want to and be a responsible consumer. :)
Thank you for making this good video. Some will not like it, because they enjoy still the fast fashion lifestyle. But how can we be happy, when other people suffer for our comfort? We have other choices. We have to take responsebility becaus the companys will not change, if we not change our shopping behaviors. Real style comes not from a huge wardrobe made of poor fabrics.
And there's another aspect to fast fashion; it's bad for the environment. Fast fashion is so poorly made, that people refuse to buy it to sell as second-hand clothing. It will be literally thrown away just after being worn a few times.
@drexciya123: Or, if it is donated, it's often sent to "third-world" countries, where its availability has destroyed the garment-construction industry. Why go to a tailor or a seamstress when you can just go to the clothes piles of donations from "thrift" organizations and grab more clothing?
I live in one of the countries that both produce and receive these donated clothes, Guatemala. I have no political argument to make but do have experiences to share. First, for anyone traveling here one can often find wonderful high quality vintage pieces among all the sun faded tshirts and discarded fast fashion in clothing mercados.. Often new clothes with price tags still on make it here but these are often from the GAP etc. Men button up shirts are a particular bargain here if you know brands of women's clothes you can buy new or gently used very upscale designs and fabrics of items not dated. This is how my husband and I shop as we are larger and taller than the local population who are mostly tiny, so it is easier to find nice quality things in our sizes. The main sorrow I feel is that the local high quality traditional backstrap loom weaving is dying out as street wear for locals. Local women wore beautifully hand loomed all cotton huipile blouses with traditional designs but have in the past decade shifted to the "fast fashion" wear and super tight lycra pants they see on singers and celebrities in the media. Now when one walks down the street in small towns people look more like they do everywhere and that is very sad as the unique traditional culture is disappearing : foods, transportation, clothing, everything is disappearing and soon will be gone as I observed over my lifetime in Mexico. This makes travel less interesting than it was , the homogenization of the world. There are good effects and not so good ones with modernization and cultural transference of technology etc.
It's definitely worth it! I'm also a designer, and I've stopped shopping at shops like these mainly because I felt that the price for many of their clothing was ridiculous and expensive, and most of the pieces are poor in quality, and I know the costs were extremely low. I like to say I would rather spend 20 bucks at the fabric store on great fabric than paying 20 bucks for some polyester shirt that has "flawless" on it. Not to mention sewing your own clothes means everything will fit according to your body.
I do sew some of my own clothes, but most of the fabric we can buy is made in developing counties and those fabric mills probably have many of the same labor issues as the sewing sweatshops. It becomes another challenge to find ethically produced & eco-friendly fabrics.
Look on the internet for fabrics made in Europe. The manufactures have to follow laws for the employees to not deal with dangerous chemicals. I also have bought fabrics from Africa. These vendors where from coop and again no dangerous chemicals.
If you have not bought your sewing machine yet. Look for a older model made in metal, they are sturdy and will give you years of good service. Give yourself a time line to do so because you will always push it and never sew. I do know what I am talking about! I need to give myself dates for my goals. I have been sewing almost all of my summer clothing this year. Time to unfold the winter stash now.
I have bought a great sewing machine swiss made (i'm swiss so try to support the last local stuff that we maybe produce... lol). With the exact same idea I've done some pieces. Now I do for my son and husband some stuff but this takes really time and cost is twice expensive then quality or ethical brand. But this is a really nice and playfull activity! love it!
I am pleasantly surprised to hear a fashion designer disseminate this kind of advice. I love your videos - no b.s. nonsense, always informative and solid advice. Even my husband stops to watch because he says you offer so much important information. Merci beaucoup! 👍💜😀
at least in the u.s., thrift stores are full of fast fashion. they get some donations from the people in the community, most of whom are buying their clothes from fast fashion retailers exactly as you described here. they also have donations directly from those retailers. from what i understand though, the bulk of their donations from individuals either end up as textile waste in landfills or else get baled and sold to rag traders, who ship them to developing countries for resale. there is so much of fast fashion clothing that there's nowhere for it to go! it's getting harder and harder to find good quality used clothing. what i used to find in thrift stores for a good price is now culled by pickers who sell it to "vintage" stores who sell it at a high price point. new good quality or ethically produced clothing is priced out of reach for many people and typically comes in very limited sizes that imitate the high end fashion world (US 2-10 or 12). i sometimes think we will have to go back to what was done generations ago, and learn how to make our own clothes. however the pace of life now is such that few people have the time to learn and accomplish this. also, finding good quality, long-lasting fabric at a reasonable price could be a challenge! eta: i just thought of another challenge. a lot of fast fashion is targeted to an age group that has grown up in tandem with it, and those buying habits are part of their culture. there is also the rise of fashion you tubers in the last 4 years or so, which has become part of its marketing arm.
+mala106 hi & thanks for your thoughts: the argument of fast fashion being a habit that goes together with a generation is a very good point. Can we get the next "new generation" to behave differently so that they don't get used to buying fashion this way, in the first place?
mala106 I agree. I enjoy thrift shopping and look for high quality fabrics in clothing as well as cuts of pants that fit better than how modern clothing is cut. However, when I go thrifting, recently I see so much cheaply made modern fast fashion clothing! I can sew at a novice level but even when I go to the fabric store, where is that fabric coming from? I have had a few sewing disasters as well which have resulted in me having a garment in my sewing closet that unwearable and awaits being salvaged. I would love for a fashion designer to create a televised challenge in which the average American has to actually make their own fibers, make their own fabric, dye it, and sew a garment. That would be a real eye opener! Most of us only need 2 jeans, a few t-shirts, maybe two nice outfits, a light jacket, and s coat. We work so hard to buy a bunch of trash we don't actually want.
I think it depends which thrift shops you go to. I'm from an area with tons of thrift shops. There are 2 types: 1. The really cool ones with actual vintage clothing & 2. Plato's Closet/Clothes Mentor/Style Encore/Uptown Cheapskate/Pink Flamingo etc. are the "buy clothes on the spot boutique style franchised consignment stores" that focus on more fast fashion though each manager/owner operates a bit differently and some are better than others in terms of quality & also taking vintage v.s just buying clothes within 1-5yrs & what age range they're targeted toward but some of those places only want items w/i a year that are from fast-fashion places.
Formerly I did make some of my clothes however it is harder now than ten or twenty years ago to find good quality fabric to make things with. So one may spend hours sewing well only to produce a garment from not nice enough quality fabric. For me it was no longer worth my time though I knew how to do all but suit jacket /coat tailoring at a high level of skill. It is the same with hiring a seamstress or tailor, the problem then becomes where to find the fabric worth paying the price of having it made up. For me gently used clothing but being very picky has helped. Whenever I see something of high quality fabric that I love vintage I buy it even if it does not fit...I can find fabulous buttons that way, I have made evening bags, silk scarves, camisoles etc this way. Even if all you ever do is replace cheap ugly retail buttons with nice ones you will upgrade the look of your blazers, jackets and shirts...learn to sew a button on properly to leave the proper amount of "breathing" space for the button....that one thing will upgrade an item. Then learn to make vertical darts in the back of shirts if you want a closer fit...again that will make a big difference in the fit. Learn how to hem properly by hand. Sit watching your fav. show and hem once you get the hang of it. Proper fit and good quality fabric makes all the difference and you have a garment worth keeping.
What is so sad though, is that some people, in "wealthy" countries mind you, are too poor to buy ethically made clothing. Also, thrift shopping doesn't work for everyone (in France, second hand shops are not really a thing, nor are they in Italy as far as I know, online is not always a good idea either, with shipping, sizing/quality/whatever else problem, or when you need something in particular, like a good quality, waterproof winter coat or a swimsuit or whatever), and I can see in Australia, thrift shops sell a lot of crap from the fast fashion industry which yes, will not bring anymore money to the fast fashion company but which is not good quality anyway and might promote that brand. There is a whole shift that needs to happen where people stop wanting so much, stop feeling so low if they can't have as much as they supposedly want or as much as what the neighbour has and where it is totally fine to wear the same things over and over ; the amount of people who wear things once and then throw them out/give them/sell them is astonishing and the amount of people who think wearing a piece of clothing more than once before washing is unhygienic (which means that if you have less clothing and wear it more often some people might think you're gross) isn't better. If that all happens and if people are treated better and paid accordingly, with everyone being able to afford the basics, bought ethically, then it'll be great and we should abandon all fast fashion companies gladly. But until then, it is not entirely realistic. BUT, if people can afford it, then yes, they should most definitely buy ethically made clothes. For my part, yes, I used to buy fast-fashion, though not quite a rate so high as what we can see on TH-cam or in Australia and the US). I didn't throw all of it out, I still have some tank tops from h&m that I bought probably 7 years ago. I also bought more ethically made clothes from time to time. And because I used to buy more, take care of my clothes and not throw all of it out (I have a lot of basics), I have now totally stopped buying clothes, unless it's necessary for work. Which is good because I don't have the money to spend on extras like that, and most definitely would not be able to afford ethical clothing. In an ideal world, fast fashion would die off and everyone would buy ethical products (and not just for clothing), but right now, it is unfortunately not possible for everyone, same as an organic, healthy, balanced diet is not affordable for everyone.
PS : I do applaud all the efforts you and other people make to inform and educate people on this matter because it is very important, both environmentally and socially. It just makes me mad that it is not a viable option for all.
+Camille thank you for all your thoughts! I agree with everything you say, I'd just add one thought to the discussion: before fast fashion existed though, everyone was still buying clothes, even people on a limited budget :-) Fast fashion changed our "spending priorities" overall, making us think that we don't have budget for more clothing while e.g. we still go out for dinner or spend money or other product categories. And so since virtually everyone can afford fast fashion, people have lowered the mark of what they are willing to pay for clothing... That's what's crazy about it, it moved our perception of what is a "right" price to pay for a piece of clothing... Have a great day & thanks again for sharing 😊
Oh yes definitely, there's a good portion of the fast fashion buyers who just have their priorities wrong. I see some of the younger girls I work with, spending all of their money (being in high school, they don't pay for anything) on clothing ! And the worst thing is, fast fashion in Australia isn't even as cheap as in Europe or the US ! And it makes me so angry, and sad, that they buy new things all the time but then chuck them after 2 uses, or let things just sit in their wardrobe. They sometimes do the same with makeup, crap jewelry and food. And if you tell them to buy less but better, they will say it's not fun or they can do whatever they want with their money. It's so frustrating. But the people I was referring to were the ones who really cannot afford ethical fashion, like me for example, for whatever reasons. And there are still a lot unfortunately. When being poor a few decades ago meant you only had 3 outfits that you kept for several years, it was socially accepted in a way, because that was the norm, but now, because of fast fashion, people still expect you to wear a different outfit every day when you go to work, and if you don't, some people might comment that you're dirty. And what can you do if you can't spend more that $40 on a tshirt, once a year ? It won't buy you ethical clothing, just really expensive fast fashion, which is worse than the cheaper kind, because the quality isn't better, as you stated in your video, but the company is making even more money. If there wasn't so much economical inequality, we could all do the ethically, environmentally and socially right choice. And if marketing wasn't as aggressive and in your face as it is, people would certainly not feel the need to always more more more. In the end, I find this topic, as well as organic food, minimalism etc, very good at pointing out what is now terrible in our society. It's a lot deeper than what people might imagine when they think "fashion" !
I completely agree with both of you. I also wanted to mention that when fast fashion didn't exist, or even prêt-a-porter, not was just socially acceptable for poor people or people in a limited budget to wear their 3 outfits again and again; but most people would make their own clothes as well, and patch them up over and over. Until not so long ago it was a common thing that the women in the family would know how to sew. My grandma for instance is a great dressmaker and even my mom went to a school to learn proper sewing (eventhough she never really used those abilities later haha). I have just knitted a couple scarfs with my grandma's help, mind you haha
I wasn't aware of the effects of "fast fashion". This was a very enlightening video and it broke my heart (in a good way). I have bought fast fashion but hardly massively, and will pay a lot more attention when shopping. It does make you realize why it is indeed worth it to pay more for quality fashion. Thank you.
The best made clothing I ever purchased was when I lived in Germany in the 80’s. Clothes were German made and on the expensive side. I noticed Germans had fewer clothes but the clothes they wore were much better made than what Americans were wearing. I still have a couple skirts and dresses from that period that are too small now but I keep them to remind me what well made clothes look like. I agree with the comments on ethics here, but looking at my closet, I don’t see how I can purchase better made brands not made in the countries you mention. My more expensive and well made clothes: Talbots, Ralph Lauren, Misook, and Tommy Bahama are made in the countries you mention- the same countries my cheaper brands (Macy’s house brand Charter Club, for example). My most expensive coat, Basler, was made in Ukraine...where some Zara clothing is also made. I find it amazingly difficult to find affordable clothing not made in the countries listed in the video. Last comment: Factory ethics and quality differ within countries and from country to country. I can compare quality differences. Unfortunately, differences in how workers are treated isn’t sewn in the garment.
I'm from the U.S - thank you for this video . It's a great reminder as there is SO much fast fashion here. It's hard to find ethical , quality clothing without paying a house payment for it but you inspired me to try harder.
I noticed some expensive (suppose to be high quality) clothes don't last that long anymore neither now a day. They are also trying to cut corner to sustain the business.
For the most part buying expensive clothing is not about quality it is about status symbol. For example, people buy Gucci because the status it gives the person but try to justify it by saying it is high quality.
You won't be ready to pay much at all, because then you can sew your own... No, seriously, since I've been sewing my own stuff I've stopped buying from retailers almost completely, because my own clothes fit me better. I can't stand badly-fitting clothes any more. I'm spoiled now ;-)
@@trinelangohr6661 Very true haha. I am making my own dresses and people are surprised at how well they are made, they do not believe that I have made them. Now I can not buy any dreses. I look at them and think: "They do not even have a lining and they look very cheap and they cost a lot, I can make them better". But I'm going to be realistic here, sometimes the dress I make costs me more. In time (I'm slow), efford (I'm a perfectionist when I'm sewing) and in materials (sometimes materials are more expensive) Sorry my english :)
@@mayrajscortes I'm fascinated and admire those who have the skill to make their own clothing. Do you design? I figure following a pattern will cause the same issue as purchasing ready-to-wear items with fit.
This is one of the topic that makes me personally frustrated - It pains me to know about the true, unfair production and the fact that the majority of my wardrobe consists of fast fashion pieces. But it is what I can afford with my budget and it's just up my street, style-wise. I think another issue is the mentality that finding 'a bargain' is considered a plus, while spending on a 100+€ piece with student budget makes people want to put one in asylum. I don't even dare to step into high end store, terrified they'll charge me for the air I'd breath there. Also, our market(in Slovenia) is fairly small, there's just not much choice to go about. In my defense, I must admit I hold on to my clothes for years- if I like it, I'll wear it. One day though, I aspire to have the wordrobe I can be proud of, style, quality and production wise. I'm more into classic than trends anyways. Besides, I believe a small, exclusive collection is in a way liberating. Easier to chose from, less storage space required, and a clean consicence. I am considering sewing my own clothes as well. Thank you for the video, Justine! Love the quality of your content. Subscribed ;)
Many of my clothes are fast fashion, too as of right now, but what I've noticed is that really investing into something can save you quite some money in the long run. My ethically made winter boots cost me 120€ (which isn't even that much tbh, they're from a small local manufacture so you don't pay extra just for the brand), but they're as good as new even after three years of intense use - and I tend to ruin my shoes quickly, which is why I initially thought buying expensive ones would be a bad idea. Also sometimes you can re-cycle or save stuff instead of throwing it out, so you don't have to buy a replacement. Like, instead of throwing away a light-colored shirt when it gets discolored around the neck and armpits, you can just dye it a darker color. I haven't bought a pyjama in years bc I always just use my or my siblings' old clothes to sleep in. At the end of the day, however, we need to remember that it isn't the fault of us 'small' people that the laborers have to work under terrible circumstances - the rich owners of the firms are at fault for that! Upping the pressure on them to pay fair wages etc is a way to get active, too, even if you can't afford to buy more expensive clothes. Don't take on the blame those greedy CEOs should be facing!
I watched a documentary on fast fashion on Netflix, these practices are damaging on the people who produce the garments, in some cases their very lives are at risk. The huge environmental damage from the factories waste. It’s just deplorable! I think the Documentary is called something like Fashion the true cost, or something similar. Thank you Justine for making this video! People out there open your eyes!
Hi, just one correction or addition to the "Made In" - it does not always point the country of the last "manipulation" - in some cases, the named country is the country from which the most expensive part of the product / assembly is. For example - I work for a company in Czech Republic (EU) and we process / assembly from our sister company in Austria (EU) and we must mark the product as "Made in Austria" even though it is assembled and packed in Czech Republic. Similarly, we have a product which is assembled with a part purchased from China - our part costs 1 €, the chinese part costs 1.25 € and the product thus is marked as "Made in China" - regardless the fact that it is partly produced and fully assembled in Czech Republic... So then - who knows, where were the products produced? :-D :-D
I love your video and explanation. I just want to say that fast fashion is making a negative impact in Europe too. I am from Romania and there are Romanian factories making clothes for Inditex and they treat their workers just as bad as the ones in Asia. The label says made in the EU, but the women sewing the clothes together work for 12 hours a day, are not allowed breaks and also don't get paid the amount they should if they get paid at all. The actual employers are Romanian and they blame the big companies for paying so little. I am really happy to see this eine talked about though and I really hope this message will be shared more so that we as consumers can change the market.
I just watched the TED-X talk and man I feel so enlightened! I had no idea it was this extensively horrid. I still need to learn where to shop and the labeling on clothes. I guess I will be reading a lot.
Unfortunately even if something is “made in USA” it could have been sweatshop labor. There are places like this in downtown Los Angeles. You can search for ethical clothing brands. Secondhand is also great because you are still getting a “new” item, but the money you would have given to a big chain goes toward a local charity instead. A majority of my kids’ clothes and about 1/5 of mine I would guess are thrift. It also frees up money while you patiently save for better quality/ better sourced items.
I love how you made this video. You tell us about what you think is right, but you don't scream, you don't judge, you don't force anyone to do it your way. You give us knowledge, you give us your opinion and tips that we can use if we want to change the way we organize our own fashion. You are a wise, kind woman. Im starting to get addicted to your channel
Rather than avoid buying clothing made in Bangladesh I would prefer to buy products that were made in Bangladesh and other countries by workers who get a fair pay and healthy working conditions. The goal shouldn't be to put all these textile workers out of work. They won't be helped by us buying from Europe only, as far as I understand. I would love to buy clothes produced in Bangladesh in a nice and safe factory by workers who get decent wages, reasonable working hours, holidays and health care. As consumers, we need to follow most of your advice and focus more on quality and less on the price and fast trends. But when it comes to the origin of products, we would need more transparency on HOW things are made, not only country of origin. I have to admit that I don't spend much time shopping and most of the time don't spend enough time to investigate the source of products. Often you are tired and stressed and maybe need something quickly. I try to avoid trends though and have my own system to make my clothes easy to combine. I buy dresses in different patterns of black and white + denim, that can be combined whit all of my sweaters and cardigans. And those can be in bold colours and good quality - silk, wool etc because I know I will always have something to combine it with. (Previously I might by a sweater or jacket in a lovely bold color but wear it rarely because I had few matching items.)
Smaller labels often will make a point of how they ethically source even from countries like Bangladesh. It's a safe assumption that larger businesses do not, though~
Free People makes its clothes in India, responsibly and with good wages - they show it also in the documentary in Netflix. So the solution is not to not buy from these countries but to know which conditions the workers have. For example, in Elda-Spain there’s a lot of illegal factories with very bad conditions just because of the high demand in shoes. So not all EU countries produce fair.
If you live in Eastern Europe than even "fast fashion" is expensive compared to your ridiculously low wage, not to speak about other more ethical labels. And because fast fashion is expensive, we treat it like you treat expensive clothes -- we buy them sparingly, and use them for decades. I think the issue is with people living in wealthy West European style countries who "waste" clothes, for a lack of a better term. But they waste everything else as well: food, household items, electronics, cars, you name it. I just wanted to share this as another perspective, because I did not feel like your reasoning applied to poor people. No, poor people can't buy expensive ethical clothes or organic produce for that matter -- even if these things are better for the planet, poor people can't afford to be choosy. Being able to be choosy is a privilege, and it doesn't make wealthy people better people than poor people in my opinion.
They have clients, we can buy those things, but we don't trow them out that easily. We pay for a Zara dress approx. 10% of our salary, we wore it for years, not for 2 weeks. If everyone buy one or two item per month, thats enough client for these stores.
MsPomeranianlover i agree. That's how it is. I watched this fast fashion documentary on Netflix and haven't brought any piece of clothing for 4 months now. But i haven't ever consider shopping as something fun to do every week or even every month. That was always a privilege to buy just a jacket or a pair of trousers
I was thinking the exact same thing. Which is why, I sometimes feel bad when people comment that we are supporting child labour and all the horrors, but I don´t really have much of a choice do I ? Thrift shops in my city are mostly really old and overused clothes, like the ones I already own...why would I want to pay for those? And to me, Zara is expensive....it´s a luxury :( And I am not even in the poorest section of the population, that says a lot :)))
Yes Zara is expensive even at sale prices here. Even common people dont buy them, only during the holiday season, some often buy fast fashion brands to show off that they have money
Andreea C basically they don't even come to E Europe...at least in my country (technically not even E Europe) we don't have primark, forever 21, the urban outfiters,...they calculate that 1. they build a shop in for example italy and expect ppl from neighbouring countries to drive there or 2. they build for example only 5 Zaras for the whole country and again rely that ppl will drive there from all over the country and that costs them less money than putting zara in every major city and that's basically how they survive.
Don’t know why showed up in my feed. I have zero interest in fashion or its industry. But your videos are so good and captivate my attention - you have a new subscriber.
I purchase all my clothes at thrift stores. I can't remember the last time i bought something new (I've found things with tags often while thrifting). I see no sense in spending more and I feel very well dressed. I also wish to minimize and reduce how much I have.
Great video..Agree with all the points. I have recently reduced my fast fashion purchases a lot and always try to buy used classic pieces by good brands. I strongly believe that all these companies should improve the work environment in those countries where the clothes are manufactured. I recently learned from a documentary that in countries like Bangladesh the economic situation is so bad that people are willing to work in any harsh conditions for their daily food.
As someone working in the Supply Chain of a very large clothing company (not exactly fast fashion but almost) I can say you make a lot of good points. The fast fashion retailers have indeed created a number of bad habits of consumptions and it's on us consumers to think and act differently. However, I really have to call out 2 things which are often misconceptions about the industry. 1. As tempting as it is to accuse H&M and Zara (or Uniqlo for that matter) of wrongdoings, they are way more compliant and ethical than most people would think. The Rana building disaster as been a huge turning point for all big players in the industry. Since that tragic event and led by pressure from the public opinion, all top retailers have been working hard on building more compliant, ethical processes, creating long term partnership with suppliers and offering much better transparency about their supply chain. The H&M and Zara of this World are under so much scrutiny that they have no choice but to raise these standards, and they have. Factories in Bangladesh, Vietnam, China etc. that work with the fast fashion companies have to go through extremely more complex audits that guarantee not only safety and compliance but also sustainability and higher levels of education and opportunities to workers. 2. You make a point about these companies producing 'en-masse' to reduce their cost and simply waste what has not been sold. Actually, it's not really like that. There is something called Responsive Supply Chain and Fabric platforming that allows brands to simply buy large volumes of fabric and work on developing collections with that same fabric. Cost saving is made on long term partnership with mills to hold that fabric that will be used for more than one style and season and also by producing small quantities of garments with that fabric and adjust the style/design depending on the response from consumer. No companies out there is welcoming any sort of inventory wastage as a good strategy to reduce cost. All in all Justine, it's important to say that Fashion is not evil. It's certainly not perfect yet but it's going towards the right direction by become everyday more ethical, and by improving their back end processes (data management, responsiveness, vendor empowerment, IT systems) rather than purely compressing the cost of 'little workers' in Asia (which, granted had gone way to far and out of control until the April 2013). I hope this POV helps. Thanks for your videos Justine, and for sharing your passion so well.
+MrGweilohk thank YOU for sharing your insider knowledge as well! Very good points. It is a fact that with every "industrial accidents", industries learn. The absence of any reaction would be seriously sick! Isn't it weird that in new business models, companies always tend to go too far... until an external trigger forces them to find a kind of better balance?... After Rana Plaza, the working/safety conditions in Bangladesh improved, for instance, but then H&M launched their organic cotton collection... and the sourcing of the raw material was proven to be unethical & extremely water-consuming (do you maybe know more on that matter?). It means that the mindset hasn't necessarily changed, only adapted as far as the public opinion could see/judge. And you are right: there are more fast fashion brands that just those 3-4 big ones that keep getting into the spotlight. Definitely. I believe that information is key to bring the balance, from the consumers' side. I would love to know which company you work for - but it is ok if you prefer not to mention it. Have a great day & thanks again!
Yep, I agree with you, solutions come often after a major (often tragic) accident. It's true for safety on aircrafts, regulations on pharmaceutical companies, finance and banking policies, government laws... and to your point, probably even more so for new business models. Regarding H&M's case on organic cotton, I don't know enough about the situation to give you an answer. I can only assume that they did have a good intention for an ethical sourcing but went too fast with it and did not do a proper diligence work on the vendors they were sourcing materials from. For sure they would have preferred not to get any bad publicity with this, so that has most likely helped them improved their sourcing policies, and knowledge. The leitmotiv in companies of our industries is to work on new solutions that will improve the ethics and sustainability of our products. Mentalities are slowly changing... it's getting there. There might be some hiccups along the way, but this industry has done so much in the right direction in the last 3 to 5 years. One might argue that it's only to satisfy the public opinion, but even if so, it's a noble enough reason to improve a business. Interesting question. Look, even if I work in this mass market industry, and I believe in it its values and intent, I still think it's very refreshing to hear opinion leaders like you that sit at the other end of the 'fashion spectrum' promoting more exclusive and conscious shopping and authentic fashion. Thanks for this nice convo :)
Honestly, my main motivation to make TH-cam videos is the discussions, smart comments & further thoughts I get back from all my very-smart viewers. So yes, I am happy to share my views, but I also get a lot back! :-)
I'm so glad I found your videos! I recently started the KonMari process and I was so disappointed in two levels. Firstly, so little of my wardrobe was in good enough condition to donate or sell because the fabric or hems were too damaged to repair. There are recycling services but seeing the volume of my discarded wardrobe that could no longer be used as clothing was sobering. Secondly, I consciously chose not to refer to the process as a "purge" or "overhaul." I was making long term decisions on clothing I loved and wanted to wear for a long time. Because I have less clothing, I'm seeing and washing each piece more frequently and because I really love everything I take time to follow care instructions, store appropriately, and check items over for damage that needs repairing. And, to my horror, I'm watching garments I love disintegrate much more rapidly than what seems reasonable. I'm desperately trying to mend and extend the life of garments that seem held together on a wish and a prayer rather than any kind of stitching and the fabric wears through no matter how gentle the washing and drying process. Your video on clothing quality was also so helpful and, after checking through my wardrobe, even pieces from brands I thought were good quality and ethical had all the red flags of poor quality fast fashion. It's so frustrating to have invested in more expensive clothing hoping to build a sustainable and ethical wardrobe only to find I was terribly naive. I'm so pleased to have some guidelines to follow as I start to replace items as they become unwearable, though!
hi Justine, you are the only you tuber i cant stop watching. you are so natural and clean without tones of make up and the most important stuff is : you have knowledge about fashion,color(you actually made me start to acknowledge about what me under tone is,thanks), body type, clothing...... i just cant stop watching you, i like you so much and pls keep doing.
And THIS is why I stopped buying stuff from these kinds of lines like 8yrs ago because 1. I'm not 19-25yrs old 2. I don't want to wear cheap clothes 3. EVERYONE and their mother has the same stuff on...where's the originality? 4. I can't afford super expensive but I don't buy clothes just for the sake of it... I have been giving away clothes and when I move to Spain I plan on selling a lot of them and they're of a decent standard as far as budget conscious clothing goes. I've had these pieces for almost a decade and they're still good.
One thing you did not mention in the video is the reason why some of us buy these fast fashion items despite them being unethical and damaging for the environment: The price. When you are a student or a person coming from a low income background, you don't consider these things. At the end, the price we pay for these seemingly "cheap" clothes is much higher but we don't see it immediately because all we want is to look good without spending a fortune. I would love to wear designer clothes, especially from smaller designers like yourself who are so involved in the production of their lines. I just can't afford it.
Yes Priscilla you are spot on. We have young people in our office who say the same thing. So what they do is shop for second hand items. They are learning to save money to buy something they really want but it's also hard because advertising tells them that you're cooler when you wear different clothes for different occasions and take pictures in different outfits. So hence the disposable nature of fast fashion, not to mention how dirt cheap it is. It's all so complex, but if you do get to the point of higher disposable income then you at least know where to begin :)
i cant even afford some of those fast fashion shops. i can never buy anything from h&m or topshop/forever21. im stuck in primark and supermarket clothes
Amen. At the end of the day I really don't think it's a matter of lack of personal ethics but a systematic economic issue. Being able to not rely on fast fashion is a privilege a lot don't have. Coming from a low-income household, it's pretty much the only choice we have to have clothes that look decent and don't cost a fortune. And even then, my family doesn't shop often and we don't treat our fast fashion purchases as one and done. We wear them as long as possible even if it's not in "trend" and minor tears can just get sewn up for the most part. Same for shoes. I shop at thrift stores, get hand-me-downs, and splurge on local boutique stuff when I can (which isn't often) but for the most part I rely on fast fashion not by choice.
I just found this video. Growing up there was a stigma about 2nd hand clothes, but a friend taught me to look for the good second hand shops and to stop by regularly. I've found new Ann Klein shoes, cashmere sweaters and silk blouses for ~90% off original price. I do recommend it. And think of this - what can go wrong? Walk in with $25 and you can walk out with several items. Don't like them? Donate or throw away with no guilt. Very low cost and risk 😉
Justine you have one of the very very best channels on youtube! Thank you, you are a gifted teacher! I love all your videos and would love to support your label. I live in Silicon Valley, CA and we are very concerned about the ethics of fashion. I worked as a illustrator in the fashion industry in Los Angeles and an illustrator in textiles in San Francisco. Those jobs went to Mexico and China respectively 10 years ago. Designers and artists also lose the game when companies seek cheaper labor. Problems humans are working to solve: food, clothing, and shelter. You are working on the clothing, thank you.
Good for you Justine, you are helping all of us to understand the clothing market and showing us ways to correct the wrongs and also to be better consumers. You are starting a movement in the right direction. Thank you, Kathy 65yrs
i make my own garments , my mom always told us about the reality of fashion industry since she was a designer her self , i used to be mad at her when i was a teenager for letting me buy clothes from fast fashion brands but since i became a designer myself i know now that she was right about all of it
I´m from Brazil and accidentally found your chanel. But I really believe what you said. We don´t need so many clothes to be happy and beautiful! Thank you for opening my mind :)
Id been following a huge number of vloggers lately, but yours is one I’m keeping and the rest goes to the bin. Thank you for getting us aware of what’s really behind fashion.
Before watching this video, I had no idea how fast fashion brands get a low price tag. I’m surprised by all the sacrifices that ensure the low price. As you mentioned, the sacrifice of many people has been sugarcoated as “efficiency” or “economy of scale”. I’ve been buying clothes of fast fashion brand. Whenever I bought the clothes from them, I thought the price is quite expensive compared to the quality. If I afford to buy other clothes, I will never choose fast fashion brand. In fact, the reason that I bought threads of fast fashion brand was because I felt it was like a grocery shopping. It was not for clothes but for pleasure of buying. Your video makes me think about the sacrifice that is behind production process. Thank you so much for making this video.
I haven't bought any "new" clothes in over two years, and I've barely noticed. I do go clothe shopping occassionally, but always in charity shops (our thrift stores). The only time I've been a little bit sad about it was when I wanted to change my style and couldn't find anything that would work in these second-hand shops. But then again, I've never been one to wear what's "in", and just tend to cycle through a series of tops with the same two pairs of jeans.
Most premium and luxury European brands whose clothes are manufactured in Europe are made in countries like Romania and Bulgaria where the workers get the minimum salary (around 200 Euros per month), no paid holidays and are on the boundary of poverty. So it is very hypocritical to say that just because clothes are manufactured in Europe it automatically means that the workers have good working conditions.
I'm from Romania and it's true that the basic wages are around 250-300 euros per month but that's basically for every industry not just the textile, and they have paid holidays (as far as I know) and healthy working environment and can't be compared to those Asian countries in my opinion
oh and I forgot to add, that it doesn't necessarily mean that the stuff they produce here is good quality, I guess it depends on the factory or the buyer..
I'm sorry sarahh, but have you been in a factory in Romania to see it for your own or you just say that? When you work 8 hours a day, in toxic fumes, with no protection equipment is healthy? Is it healthy to not get extra money for toxicity from a company who exports fancy shoes all over Europe? So maybe, we can not compare that to what's happening in Asian countries, but it's still the same thing.
I haven't been to a factory to be honest I've just heard from other workers. I'm not saying you're wrong, you probably know better, and I guess it depends on the factory too.
It was also a vicious cycle where media , entertainment industry talk about climate change, child slavery then slap you in the face by promoting fast fashion and trends because they are being sponsored by these labels. I am now a minimalist and have not bought any clothes from the mall ,thrift shop,etc. for a year.Thanks for the upload , very insightful .
I have been careful about buying new clothes and shoes for most of my adult life, I am 65, perhaps working in textiles created an early awareness. I watched this video after being taken out for a meal as a birthday treat. My dress is one of my favourite ones, it is over 12 years old but still looks great. The majority of my wardrobe are items I have made, including underwear. However, an aspect I have not checked upon is where the fabric comes from. Thank you Justine for pointing this out. One factor I would like to add to this is taking care of how one washes one’s clothes. This can increase the lifespan of clothing so much. Also if I get tired of a garment I alter something about it, which is something my Gran, a seamstress, would do to our ‘hand me downs’, clothes that were passed down from older siblings and cousins, something was altered each time which made it more special for whoever was receiving it, we were allowed to choose the alterations, it was such fun.
The one thing I do with the clothes I buy from such shops, is that I rip it apart and use it in a different way, once I feel the item no longer suits me. I'm learning to draft my own clothes from existing pieces of clothing that already fit me. Also, I'm trying to buy less and less from such brands because I'm only perpetuating the mistreatment.
Ok. So I'm from Latin America but grew up in the USA and this made me cry. You are so right about the working conditions in third world countries. I am a first world consumer who never thinks of these issues but who is actually connected so people who this does affect. In the one hand, it does offer work and pays more than regular wages to unskilled worker (who acquired a skill through these foreign industries) but the corruption and lack of policies that protect the workers working environment is real, it's Charles Dickens real. Thank you for bringing this out and making it uncomfortable for those of us who consume these products. If all of us stop paying lower prices for something that should be higher and give people a good way of life H&M and Zara wouldn't have a place in this world. I want to mention that the people who manufacture these clothes can't afford our idea of discount prices. They can't afford the discount clothes they make. I was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in NYC. My family comes from a small fishing town in San Cristobal and many work in such factories
Thank you so much for sharing. The comment section and hopeless excuses everybody has for shopping in the mall is mind blowing! Now more than ever we have so many choices and Thrift and consignment is really where it’s at!
Thank you for addressing this in your channel, I think the disposable culture that is cultivated does not need to exist and ideally we would do best to try to source our clothing, toys, hobbies, and even food as ethically as possible. Whether that means something made by a person down the street, or buying from a small company or designer like you across the globe, let's keep our wealth in our own hands instead of funnelling it upwards in exchange for cheap crap made by exploiting the labor or other human beings.
Excellent video. I completely agree. I think the sustainable fashion movement is gathering real momentum and I am sure it will be mainstream in 5 - 10 years, like recycling household waste is now. I made a vow in Sept 16 to buy no new clothes (apart from shoes and underwear) for a year. And it's fine! I have the advantage of being able to sew and it is my ultimate aim to have no clothes in my wardrobe that I have not made myself, or refashioned from thrift stores, or bought from independent designers with good eco credentials. It will take a while but it's good for the environment, good for fighting against poor labour conditions abroad, good for the local economy and good fun. Keep up the great work Justine.
Thank you for addressing this crucial topic! I admire your ethics. In addition to the important problems you highlighted, the voluminous waste created by fast fashion is another of its evils.
I need to let you know how your thoughtful, intelligent, well-researched discussions about fast fashion have changed my perspective, and to let you know the value of the work you're doing on this front. I wasn't running off to Forever 21 or Primark or any of those places out of boredom. I fit no stereotypes. But I had no. Idea. HOW bad this situation was. Since watching this video, and all of your others, I've completely reshaped the way I approach shopping. I usually thrift (love thrifting, anyway), but even with new purchases, I will not buy any item that I cannot verify is manufactured ethically. If they cannot publicize their manufacturing standards in specific, concrete language, they cannot have my money. There's a great episode of Patriot Act about fast fashion, and while that show has its own issues, I would recommend that episode to anyone looking for more education. It will be a long time before I feel like I'm getting it "right". But I will keep trying, as I have been for a year now since I found your channel, and I will keep watching documentaries and reading and paying attention. I will keep looking for the best ways to recycle my unwanted old clothing, purchase new or thrifted items intentionally, and think always of the person on the other side of the sewing machine. I don't care if it sounds dramatic; learning about the traps of fast fashion (and the shady practices behind plenty of luxury brands!) has changed my life. Thank you for doing this work. It's important and meaningful, and it IS creating change.
After reading the first couple of chapters in the novel "Gomorrah" (Roberto Saviano), I am not sure anymore that buying things that are "made in Europe" is also an indicator of good quality. And things that are made in China do not necessarily indicate bad quality either. Pretty much anyone can make cheap stuff.
My favorite clothing brand sources the wool from local farmers, and makes the simple garments in a little factory out the back of the store, employing local people. It was so shocking to see something made completely locally that they became my favorite brand then and there. They might be 3x the price, but they're so much higher in quality and I can wear the clothing knowing the people who made it are living well.
I am from China and live in UK now. Your video is so insightful. It's a bit sad that vintage/ second hand shops aren’t popular in China . And the booming of Chinese e-commence really encouraged people to shop more rather than shop more wisely.. Thank you again for the videos!
Yay, I've been poked by people everywhere for being rotating the same clothes too often, also, using them for 5+ years straight. Good to know there's more people who think that''s what clothes are primarily for.
Very informative. But what are some designer brands that I can look into purchasing that don't support this and are good quality? Also I am on a budget, I know you mentioned thrift shopping but any other suggestions? I live in the US, if that helps.
Justine, first of all, thank you for making videos about your passion and topics like this. I was shocked that this video was 2 years ago and felt I bought some from fast fashion shops without thinking twice. Cheap doesn't definitely mean a good choice because of these companies' way of doing business. I also felt like you were about to cry at the latter part of this video discussing the Bangladesh incident. Shows you have a good heart. Nice to know that designers like you still exist.
The snobbish attitude I see in the comments is overwhelming.I don't know where you guys live,but as a young adult from Greece I can ensure you that people DO NOT always have a choice.There is nothing such as "fast fashion" here.People do not spend 100 euros on zara clothes every week.Actually,middle class people can barely afford the fast fashion clothes,that's why they only shop twice a year,and when they do,they do not spend more than 100 euros for 4 pieces.Poor people,on the other hand,shop once in two years.We buy from "fast fashion" brands,but we maintain our clothes for a long time,cause we need to use our salary to pay for our bills,rent and education.Not to mention that most families have at least one unemployed member.How can a teenager justify to her mom that a 200 euros t-shirt is a better option than a 10 euros one?And how can o mother justify to her family a 200 euros t-shirt when they don't even have that extra 200 euros to spend for clothes in the first place?You will now say "save money".First of all,there is no money to be saved,since you have plenty of other REAL needs,and secondly,what am I going to wear for the rest of the year?Am I going to starve myself or going around naked just to buy a fancy 100 euros t-shirt?Many people here are also referring to thrift shops.Well,thrift shops are not very popular here,and in south-eastern europe in general as far as I am aware.Even if you find one,it mainly sells fast fashion clothes,cause people here cannot afford designer clothes!It's just the truth guys!The point is to look polished,clean and presentable and you can look like that if you buy fast fashion clothes and maintain them.As for the "ethical" aspect of the situation,I'm sorry,but I'm laughing at the ignorance and the hypocritical altruism many western people present.My father works in a small european paper factory and you have no idea how terrible the conditions are.It's a very unhealthy environment,where locals and inmigrants are getting exploited every day.And guess what:that's the case in almost every factory!But I see people wiping their butts with these paper towels while pointing their finger to the rest of us for our "privilege" and our "unethical" behaviour.Give me a break.Every single item in your home has probably been manufactured in a terrible environment.The only solution is to start producing everything yourself,which is pricy,extremely time consuming and overall impossible.I am well aware that shopping from fast fashion shops it's not a good thing to do,but I cannot afford being picky and snobbish about clothes,which are not even that important in the first place.
I also live in Greece and can tell you that in Athens there are plenty of second hand shops to choose from. More and more every year- from high fashion brands down to the kilo shop. We also have the internet available to us to shop for second hand items. Your exaggeration of 100 euros for a t-shirt is silly. Designer clothing does not mean ethical (fair to people) or sustainable (fair to the environment). With a bit of research I have found everything I need from ethical companies including new organic cotton ethically made men's shorts for less than 40 euros with shipping. That is less than my boyfriend could find in Zara's for a decent pair of shorts. Another example is ethical sneaker companies such as VEJA, which will cost you about the same or less than a pair of Nike (Greece's favorite shoe company). You are also pointing out that your father is poorly treated at work, so why would you give your hard earned money (most of which goes to the filthy rich CEO of the company- not to those stuck in modern slavery picking cotton (often children) or to the people whose homes who are uninhabitable because their water is contaminated from chemicals or dried up from factory use or to the workers sewing the clothing- I can go on and on about who is suffering while some rich probably white man is stuffing your money in his pockets) to these companies! There are better alternatives. Yes, changing our learned habits is an effort, but I will argue that options are out there. Support those trying to do good otherwise nothing will change. Buy from a Greek company to support your own country! I help run a Greek business and we are slowly changing our suppliers to those more environmentally conscious, because if we all do this then we can slowly better this disaster of a system which just allows the rich to get richer. The more you support these fast fashion (and other greedy) companies the more they will thrive and continue down this destructive path. I can tell you that the more you change your habits (refill your own water bottle, stop buying unnecessary chemical cleaners, buy fewer and better made items of clothing etc.) YOU WILL SAVE money in the long run, be happier, and contribute less to the destruction of the planet and to our own people. I can bet everyone here spends plenty of time on the internet. Do your research. Read peoples blogs with suggestions on where to shop. Look for sales, but STOP supporting greedy companies which use and abuse their workers and the environment. Please! The choice is yours. Also- living two hours by boat away from Athens I am shocked that we have about 1 Greek person per year coming to look for a job. We are a long standing business constantly in need of workers and all I hear is how high unemployment is, which is confusing.
I am in the same boat that I can't afford 'ethical' fashion but I feel strongly that this should not mean that the issue should not be raised. If we did that with everything, nothing would ever improve. I think everyone needs to make a call regarding what they can reasonably do about issues they care about. I am currently trying what I can reasonably do to use less plastic and what that has shown me is that I need to do things differently to how I did them before and that's not always easy or convenient but it's worthwhile. Whilst I have never been into fast fashion I have to confess I can be a little bit of an impulse clothes buyer on occasions, but I am trying to get a handle on that because I feel my way forward is to really only have those clothes I really need. I have watched quite a few of Justine's videos and like them a lot but I also know that my life situation is very different to hers in many ways so what works for her would not really work for me at times. But that's ok and it doesn't mean I cannot appreciate points she makes (and hey, she influenced me to finally, in my fifties, to drink a lot more water - tap water, no plastic bottles involved. That's just plain amazing!). So do whatever you can reasonably do everyone! As they say in advertising: 'every little helps' (it sounds very trite, but it is absolutely true! Sending many good wishes to everyone out there!
FINALLY!! WELL SAID! sometimes i feel like they are so arrogant. i know we want a better and fair world, but for someone in middle class even Zara ist so expensive for us. we buy cloths maximum 10 pieces per 1.5 year!!
j m have you got any idea how many strikes and protests take place in Greece due to bad economy, tax rises, salary cuts and corrupt goverments? Truth is that most middle class families are in tough financial situation, even though this doesn't mean we starve or anything! And yes, we don't shop regurarly, like every week or month-some people shop twice a year, some when the seasons change and some more. My parents haven't bought a proper new clothing piece for at least four years because education and bills are pretty expensive, so this is how they mostly spend their wages. So, yes, believe it or not, this is an actual situation that a whole country might end up to!
I remember growing up in the 80s and 90s even though there were already some cheap/fast fashion brands, still there was only a spring, summer, fall and a winter collection and usually whatever you bought would be favorite pieces for that season but also would be still wearable easily for the next 3-5 years to come, qualitywise and fashionwise. What is happening now I have to say is not only disgusting (from a ethic point of view, even though I am sure it was bad already before but we just didn't know back then) but also way too overwhelming. As a teen I was used to consider a long time before buying a piece. Sometimes it would take me 2 months and several try ons before i had finally made the choice (and gathered the money) to buy a specific piece. Just this summer I had bought a polo shirt on a whim, found it very nice, and thought 2 weeks after 'hmm, i'll get it in a few more colors'. nope, it was not supposed to happen. Even though it was a spring collection piece and it was still early spring, it was already out of store and not available anymore anywhere. Next round of spring items was out. Walked out of the store without buying anything. It is ridiculous. This super fast turnover is just a way of creating FOMO (fear of missing out) and it only leads to us collecting pieces in our wardrobes that we never really wear and once we start wearing them they fall apart within barely a season or are washed out cause they are not meant to last. After all, you are supposed to buy the next round of clothing. Another way to fuel this urgency to buy new pieces again and again is in my opinion how fashion is made in a way that you cannot well combine pieces of 5 years ago with nowaday pieces. For example, when I was a teen jeans went up to almost your belly button and we wore crop tops with it. But then the low cut jeans got into fashion and suddenly if you wore any of your short tops you actually were quite naked, so tops needed to be longer and everyone needed to buy longer tops. Now the high waisted jeans are rolling around again and if you don't want the button of your jeans to bulge under your long shirts you better get yourself some new crop tops. Nice how that works, isn't it? I can only urge people to not buy into all of this. Get to know your body and find which style fits best with your personal proportions. Don't run after every trend even if FOMO seems to be so real. Do invest in a few good quality well combine-able pieces you really love rather than a wardrobe full of flimsy rags that you won't wear for the most part. I know it's hard, but the fashion industry (and it's nothing but that, an industry) will continue its sinister ways under which millions of people suffer as long as it's profitable for them, as long as it just works. They'll always find away around any regulation. Where there's greed, sadly there is also a lot of creativity about how to make a profit no matter what. All we can do is try and not play along too much or if possible not at all.
This time last year I bought myself a sewing machine so that I could start to make my own clothing, both to learn a new skill and because I no longer agreed with fast fashion methodologies. My next step is to take the fabric I source very seriously. Great video, thank you - I just stumbled upon your channel and LOVE it!
I must say that once I stopped buying fast fashion, I don't miss them a single bit. It has saved me so much pressure weaving through their ginormous online stocks and keeping up with their sales/promotions. I'm starting to feel comfortable with the collection I already have and only add quality, timeless pieces to it when really necessary. Cutting down shopping really reduces decision fatigues, which is an even better feeling than receiving a package or catching a promotion.
i used to think "well that's how things are" but that's just a way of saying "this sucks but i dont know what to do so i wont do anything". when i was 20 and i traveled to Bolivia and Brazil and all i knew was confirm in the worst kind of way. I live in Latin america and every country u see have been exploited by big usa corporations so i started doing my own clothes, after a few years (im now 24) im very good at doing basic stuff so when i buy it's just to buy really complex and generally expensive garments and i can spend a little bit more for all the money i save.
Hello, Justine! I don’t buy fast fashion things for about 5 years, because I can sew. Often, when I look at the price tag of a particular item and its composition, a formula for buying fabric pops up in my head, so it’s often much cheaper to sew a thing from a better fabric. Since childhood, my parents taught me not to spare money on quality things. Now I am creating a basic wardrobe of 10 things, choosing the right colors. I’m also concerned about the topic of ecology, which is polluted by garbage and things from fast fashion. I agree with you more than ever! In my memory, often stores with original quality turn into fast-fashion stores to earn money, and it makes me sad
Love this video! I stopped buying from fast fashion chains a year ago because of ethical reasons and because I found that just because clothes are cheap, doesn't mean that the massive amounts you buy don't add up to a ridiculous cost. It's better to just save and invest in mid-range, ethical clothing lines. If you can't afford it, an even better option is to shop at thrift stores that recycle fast fashion and other brands, and sell them at an even lower price. That way you're not really contributing to the vicious cycle and you can still buy clothes on a budget.
Tbh I used to but "fast fashion" but only like...twice a year? Lol, having 33 pieces of garment per season is actually a looot to me. I've only recently started to buy from aritzia, which I heard is a more ethical, quality store, but only because I could more afford it. Still shop like twice a year tho lmao.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but.. 1. Sometimes, given the financial situation, there have been times that fast fashion items were the only clothing I could afford ( thrift stores are not available in all the countries /cities). How I managed to make the best of it was by buying simple/basic cuts and taking care of the clothes very, very well ( hand washing and line drying). I still have items I've bought 4/5 years ago for less than 10 dollars that are in good to excellent condition. Buying from fast fashion brands doesn't necessarily have to mean 'unsustainable' if you can make it stretch. 2. I'm not a big believer in spending a lot of money on things I could wear for 10 years. Human body changes, fashion apatite and circumstances change ( I may be a executive of a company in 10 years but would the clothes I spent a fortune on when I was an intern hoping for longevity work for me then? Not really. I may have children within a 10 year time span that would most definitely alter my body, so would the jean I spent 200 on still fit?) I believe the trick is in moderation. If I can only afford to pay 20 for a dress and there are no Thrift stores in my country to buy second hand, I will buy fast fashion. But I will buy sensibly and take care of them as best as I can so I don't fall into the viscous 2-week cycle and contribute overly to a toxic industry.
@@piyusarkar3065 and not all thrift stores have good quality items either. Some may be able to visit a different store in another city, but not everyone. It all depends on personal circumstances.
@@NiesLife exactly. And most thrift stores stock clothes that looks older and more used than my own old clothes, so why invest there? And it's really funny but it's kinda a common joke in India that a tshirt's life is in 4stages: 1st brand new for going out, 2nd used and wearable at home, 3rd wear for holi (festival where we play with colors) and 4th finally for dusting and cleaning So, yeah we Indians do reuse until it exist 😅😅😅
Start your own thrift store then :) (I would, but we have one in almost every corner already) we also have some stores here that GIVE clothes for FREE. I don't know how they manage, but I think this is a very nice thing to do :)
Totally agree! I think instead of forcing yourself to purchase more expensive items (the price difference is also huge), just be a smart, considerate consumer. Buy things that could potentially last a good while. I support the idea of this video but everyone is in different situations.
I love that you’re raising awareness about this important topic. However, fast fashion is a phenomenon that’s affecting High end clothing as well. How many collections they do really need to launch each year! You have Ready-to-wear, Pre-fall, Resort, Couture... And many labels now allow purchase of their garments as soon as the models leave the runway! Where is the limit on ethic pricing? When high quality brands start charging exorbitant amounts of money just so only the elite is able to flaunt their creations... So the lower income population has to spend on lower quality clothes to dress up decently... The issue is complex...
You are so right about these issues, however it is getting more difficult to buy fashionable clothes from mainstream stores. Even our flagship British store uses overseas labour. This makes me so sad as a former factory seamstress
Catalina Fariña I was always frustrated that a H&M store wasn't located near me, now I'm happy to know better. I'm lucky to have many good second hand shops nearby. after learning through this video, I will hopefully shop smarter. you are NOT an idiot! we are all learning!
I was so excited when H&M branched out (years ago) and was there when they opened in my area. What a letdown! The quality was terrible. I bought a couple of things and after a few washes, they were a tattered mess. Same with Forever 21. Even the name puts me off- I don't want to be "forever 21" 😂 I feel more confident at 41 then I did 20 years ago.
Hello from Spring Lake, MI, USA! I cannot stop binge watching your videos! This one in particular is so interesting to me. I enjoyed the content very much as I have recently stumbled upon the idea of slow versus fast fashion. In some ways, I have been a participant of the slow movement for years - unwittingly. We are a family of nine so buying second hand was more of a necessity at one time, but now I must admit that we continue to enjoy thrift and consignment shops so,ply because we want to. All of our kids, ages 20-8, as well as my husband and I, have wardrobes that are 75% second hand, yet filled with high quality, good looking, and stylish clothing. I am really glad that my kids see the value in this, and glad that we can contribute to a more economical, ethical and environmentally friendly way to enjoy fashion. Not to mention, it’s a lot of fun. On another note, at 41, I have a pretty good idea of what suits me and what I like in terms of clothing, and love your French styling tips. Dressing well is important to me and I think that you are a really good resource for helping me refine my skills and my wardrobe even further. I’m not a minimalist by any means, but I am learning to slow down a bit when it comes to m y purchases.
Wow! Knowledge is responsibly! As a mom to 4 kids, the thrift store and hand me downs from kind friends have made up a huge part of our wardrobes. At first this was for obvious economic reasons but as time passed I realized that it was also better for the environment. To me, the only time I can justify buying a name brand is at the thrift. Thanks You for sharing.
For the last year or so i have been very self conscious about the fact that my tag says made in China, Mexico, or some other place where i just don't know who made it and wondering how they live off of pennies. I feel guilt when i buy that $5 shirt just because its cheap; this video has made me think even more about where my clothes are made and the people who make them. Thank you for making this video.
Love your videos! I especially enjoy hearing more about fast fashion. There is very little out there about 'fair trade' vs 'free trade' in clothing options. Any/all extra information you share is much appreciated! Thank you
+Lauren Vassilico I did a follow-up video about how & where to find sustainable fashion. But that's it for now... Though I might tackle this topic again, as I get many questions about it. Interested? Do you have specific questions?
Thanks, I checked the second video out just now. I've only started this type of research, so I unfortunately don't have additional questions at this time. My husband and I live in a sort of tiny home (250 sq ft), and I consider my wardrobe to be capsule, even though it isn't of the upmost professional grade. I also had to make some health changes, and I've lost about 18 lbs. All this to say that I will need to go shopping for new clothes soon...hence my recent interest in "good shopping." So. Yes, I'm definitely interested in this topic, and I appreciate your work on it!
@justine...I accidentally came accross your channel a few days ago and I have been binge watching ever since. I love your view on fashion and beauty how calmly you deliver you opinions. You do good work and I thank you. All the way from South Africa.
I would love you video to be shown in high school. It drives me crazy to see cheap clothing. The cost is so much more than the 10 euro tag. I now purchase second hand (hey I live in Italy and it is usually nice fabrics) or I sew my clothing with fabrics sold here (only natural fibers).
Thank You Justine you have changed the way I think about clothes shopping . Oh and by the way you have a beautiful, genuine and contagious smile and I love to learn from you, I am 68 Year's of age so never too old to learn .
Thank you, Justine. You make good points and I fully agree that we, as consumers, would all benefit from being more aware of what's going on around the world. That said, I have pieces in my wardrobe that are literally 10-12, even 15 years old, and some of them came from fast fashion brands that I purchased when I was a low-income student. Being informed helps a lot, however, many consumers around the world also have personal economic and other circumstances they do not control, especially when it comes to fashion choices - free access to diverse information sources is just one example. It's a complex issue, with multiple layers of issues underlying it.
Thank You Justine for speaking on the topic of Fast Fashion and the inhumane treatment of workers. I'm so glad I found your youtube channel. 2019 has become a the year of next level transformation for me. Making better choices to improve my health, wellbeing, and that of my family has always been an interest of mine. And have sought out positive healthy change for years. But now, I CLEARLY see why I can and should reduce my wardrobe and replace with quality. I don't know why I didn't notice it before. I live in Southern California and have shamefully always purchased fast fashion because its convenient, easy to wash and if my kids stain or rip something I just throw it out. I never even thought about how fashion touches our lives everyday. And the people who suffer to make it. I'm sensitive to only purchase organic foods, and buy natural products. I've recently started the KonMari Japanese tidying method on my home. And now I have more reason to remove fast fashion from my home. And buy ethical clothing. Your video provided that key piece of information missing from my mind link to reach the goal of owning a beautiful ethical wardrobe, and feeling good about releasing bad clothing. I'll be sharing this video with my friends. Your honesty and sincerity really comes through your videos. You are really doing a great job. And your videos apeal to many age groups. My teen girls have watched your videos too. Thank you.
It’s so refreshing to see a youtuber address this important topic. Thank you for the intelligent and thoughtful video. It’s difficult for most of us to say no to such inexpensive and cute pieces; it sometimes takes the experience of having your clothing fall apart because of poor quality to begin to think about all the damaging aspects of fast fashion. I appreciate you!
I don't know if I am the first Bangladeshi to comment here. But in case someone else hasn't said it here before me, I will just try to address the Western consumers of Bangladeshi clothes, " please watch what you are buying." I know a lot of "educated" Bangladeshis will tell you the garment industry is increasing our GDP. But unfortunately, based on my experience that GDP has little to do with the whole country's economic situation.
Bangladesh was an agricultural country before this fast fashion madness in the West. I am sorry to generalize, but that's the truth of it.
Growing up, I didn't see a polluted Dhaka city that was unthinkable crowded by garment workers from the rest of the country. Neither did I see the incredible rise of wealth- gap. Both these are the blessings of fast fashion.
Those things aside, just on the humane issue, when you buy these clothes, you keep feeding this evil chain.
If you could just see the working conditions of those factories, you would feel like you are wearing other people's lives for two weeks. An average factory worker can work for 2 to 3 years before getting sick. There are 2 toilets for about a 120 female workers on a floor, and same for men. Not to mention, to catch a restroom break is incredibly difficult. When there's a sudden order for a bulk of clothes, the factory owners lock the workers in the building for the night. And yes, they don't pay overtime for these "sudden" needs. There's more, these workers are generally women. Because men tend to ask for "a little more", you can pay women less and control them easily. So factories prefer female workers.
On the safety issues, I am guessing you have at least heard of Rana Plazza. Well, there has been many fires in many garment factories throughout decades. Rana Plazza just took enough lives to catch the attention of the media worldwide. Numerous times fires in garment factories have killed people, or injured them.
I remember passing a garment factory everyday on my way to school. And for those seven years, I have never seen that factory's 'immergency exit' open. It just used to be there. One time as I was coming back from school our rickshaw stopped, there was a crowd of people in front of the building, they were scared and fighting. some were trapped inside the building. There was a fire in the building, some workers ran out and the security locked the door with the rest inside. The manager said, "there is no fire. The workers will steal our clothes". So some of those scared workers were trapped inside while the others were wailing outside. Luckily, that fire didn't kill anyone. But not many were as lucky. there have many such incidents that escaped the notice of international media.
After leaving the country, I see people buying Zaara, H&M etc clothes. Many people are unfortunately addicted to buying new clothes.
In class, as our teacher was explaining why we should not buy unneccesarily, I noticed many people don't want to hear it. They say, "I am just one person, if I stop buying, it will do nothing".
But it does matter. As long as you keep buying, they will keep producing in the same brutal way. Yes, you are one person,
yes, it's our country's duty to enforce labour law, yes, other people will keep buying it, but can you honestly say that you wouldn't mind if your home was burning and your neighbour came with a cigarette to light from the fire?
If you say you would, then don't add even a single drop of fuel into this already huge fire. This is more serious than it looks to you from outside - I know. And the money you pay gets in the pockets of Bangladshi rich men, whose families live abroad in luxury, you are not improving the economy here, either. So please, don't buy cheap clothes to feel good and throw them in a month.
Sorry for the huge comment. But I hope it reaches at least one person.
+mahbuba akhtar hi there. Your testimony is so important that I will pin it to the top. Thanks so much for taking the time to write all this. Keep spreading your message: it reaches more people than you think & awareness for this situation is increasing, little by little. Take care. 🌞
Thanks for speaking up on this issue and replying.
Keep up the good work! :)
mahbuba akhtar I read through all of your comment and I researched about what you've said. Thank you for posting this as you have changed my mind about buying from these places. I rarely purchase anything from those stores but now I won't even think about it and I don't think I could after reading this.
Thank you. And you also changed my mind just now. I have been frustrated and thinking "people don't care". ;)
mahbuba akhtar thank you so much for sharing your experience and information. this issue does matter to me and I am spreading the word.
Yes darling you are correct . But just to mention that non fast fashion brands such as hugo boss and louis vuitton dolce etc etc, are tailoring their clothes in countries such as Moldova for example (geographic europe) and then sew the label in Italy for example and say Made in Italy.
So not only fast fashion brands are not worth their price also other high- end, much more expensive brands are doing the exact same thing! they just hide it a little smarter
Burberry for example produces lots of things in Bosnia where I am from. I saw the made in Bosnia&Herzegovina tags in their shops in Vienna myself. It's not part of EU, but it's still geographically Europe, and while people working in the factories probably don't suffer horrible conditions, I dont think they are payed over 400 to 500 € per month. That's what someone with higher aducation makes here. Doctors, attorneys or so can go to 1000 to 1500 € per months at best.
"geographic europe" lol :D Is there any other Europe?
@@bialynia The European Union. Not every country that is geographically in Europe belongs in the European Union. There is a hell of a difference.
@@melancholica999 You are absolutely right. And numbers should not matter, it's the quality of life. I'm a double college graduate and could never get a job in Serbia as I did not want to accept to work for less then minimum wage. I would be more than satisfied with 400-500 a month. That was never on offer. So, just because these seamstresses are paid less then a Parisian worker, does not mean a company is necessarily doing anything bad.
yes, they cut corners too, imagine that a fast-fashion brand is designed to work like that and make it at 6x the speed and 10x the scale
Dear Justine, can you pleas make a video on afordable brands, which are NOT fast fashion?
buy less (so you can spend more on a quality piece) and , why not, make your own
@@MegaTinni In the video, Justine said higher price doesn't necessarily mean higher quality. It could also mean higher markup. It's also unrealistic to expect people to make their own clothes. Not everyone has the skill or even the interest to make their own clothes. What if I said why not fix your own car?
If it's good *and* new, it won't be cheap. That's the reality of it. That's why the second hand market is *really* important if you want to be responsible.
@@PT111111 That is why I wrote to spend your money on a QUALITY piece ;)
True, an expensive piece is not always a quality piece.
But a quality piece will always be more expensive than a fast fashion piece. Always.
I will never fix my own car. It's not in my interests. I also never watch youtubers that have channels about the subject. I assume followers of Justine are easier to persuade to make fashion than I am to persuade to fix my own car :)
Buy clothes that are made in your own country
I'm surprised that using the services of a tailor never comes up in a discussion about building your wardrobe ethically. We so need to bring those back!
Or at least having a person alter fast fashion to make it fit you. So many fast fashion items just don't fit right.
@@Commentator541 but what would be the point of altering fast fashion when it won't last you that long? Sometimes tailoring can be the same price as the garment or at least a large portion of it.
That would cost us more and sadly some if us don't have that much money
@@vivalachoba That's true, but the same can be said about any ethical fashion.
@Jake Dean I know, I own one :) I still suck at tailoring, but even so, I think that the few garments I made myself are far better than the majority of the ones I bought. Even if I spend quite a lot anyway because decent quality fabrics aren't exactly cheap I never regret it because I don't feel like I'm compromising. Even though I still can't make exactly the clothes I want to wear, I'm closer than ever before.
I am from Bangladesh . I know how much they torture those cloth labours to work hard in very minimum wage . I am glad that u talked about it . And specially you are talking about extreamly matarialistic behaviour . u are not only a good and talented youtuber but also a very wonderful human being . hope to see you someday . I love you girl . Tnx a lot :) lots of love
shompurna gunjan 👍👍
But what will be if they wont have this job. Is it better to be tortured or to not be able to feed kids and die from hunger. I just dont see whats offered in replace of taking their chance of income. If they work there, means they dont have better choice and thats last opportunity. Please correct me if im wrong.
@@alemanalondon these companies could pay their employees a living wage (which would still be much vcheaper than the US), and have them make higher quality clothing at the same time. People will pay if you force it.
Its all greed.. they could pay more to their employees and still have a looot of profit.
@@alemanalondon I agree. This is the problem with situations like this. If there was no demand the factories would close and how would they feed their families then? It may seem easy to solve one problem, but doing that creates many more.
Shoutout to the Netflix documentary The True Cost, it was fantastic in providing information about fast fashion as well!
Such a good doc. I know so many people who said that doco forever changed how they view fashion.
Jessi Hollander I agree that documentary I saw two years ago and it was shocking.
Sadly if we move out those manufacturing the people have zero income and can’t survive at all.
@@anna_m59 if you are buying from more ethical sources someone else is getting a job, it's not a zero sum game.
For me to wear a T-shirt etc someone needs to die ? That makes me guilty to 😔
Going to watch it
"Made in Europe" isn't a guarantee for good quality and work ethics. A great deal of the clothes by big (even luxury) companies are made here in Bulgaria, where seamstresses work 14 hours a day and make 200 euros per month.
Alexandra hence why in my family we really value what we have as a lot of work has gone into making those garments which people in the west tend to overlook.
It's the same in Serbia.
Alexandra But the cost of living in Bulgaria is very low. It’s all relative
The clothes made in Bulgaria are of a very good quality and the work ethic of the workers is usually very high. The problem is that they are not paid enough for the quality they produce and for the time they spend at work.
@@jaebird789 the cost of living in Bulgaria is not low at all with a 200 EUR salary. If you wish to do a normal grocery shopping with average quality of the food it will take you between 25-50 EUR per week (may be even more). Then comes the bills and what-not. Life in Bulgaria is expensive when you get a minimum wage salary!
I bought a Sandro skirt last summer. The original tag was 150, but I must admit I got it in the 2d sales -60 euros, the ¡most I could possibly afford- and, guess what? It was also made in China. The same happens with most of supposedly no-fast-fashion brands, like Maje, Fornarina, Guess, Bimba y Lola, Dolores Promesas, Adolfo Dominguez, Religion, Free People Desigual or Highly Preppy. They all manufacture in non-western countries because the costs are much lower and with the final product price, the profit margin is absolutely huge. It's funny how HM, Zara, Primark, etc get to be the bad guys when all these other brands do the same, are more expensive, but don't get the credit for the negative publicity. When I make an effort to buy something a bit more expensive, I expect it to be better quality and more ethical, but in the end, my feeling is that it is all a fraud and I'm just paying for a status symbol.
Guess is fast fashion!!!!
I think the point is the quality. Just because it's made in China doesn't necessarily mean it's low quality. But the point of avoiding fast fashion is trying to find better quality clothes and more staple pieces so you don't add to the cycle. This way you're not constantly shopping more and throwing things away or donating them. Also, a higher price doesn't necessarily mean not fast fashion.
It's just like all the bad press that Coca-Cola has been getting for ages. "coca cola has a lot of sugar", "coca cola is poison", "coca cola makes you fat". Guess what? coca cola is not any different to any other soda, some have even more sugar than Coca Cola, like Mountain Dew or Red Bull. Have you ever hear that Fanta makes you fat? Or Pepsi also has tons of sugar? Weird, isn't?
tee cee i high price doesn't equal quality either!
This is hopeless... How can we ever escape the fast fashion trap? I’m seriously considering learning dressmaking and becoming my own seamstress, but I know nothing about fashion or about how to copy a design. I’m not designer material
I buy a lot of vintage clothing from the 30s - 70s because it has far superior quality at a fraction of the cost. One suggestion I can make to those who desire some freshness and variety in their wardrobe without making new purchases. is to organize a clothing swap with a group of friends and friends of friends.
I shop for vintage on etsy mostly and sometimes ebay.
I do too. I specifically look for made in the US Made in England, Made in Canada, made in Italy type labels even when buying vintage. Not because I am nice, but because its better quality. After a while you will not want to wear crap.
I find good clothes at online consignment store swap.com
totally agree my self I'm wearing a fetish sweater that my own mom was wearing in the 70's and every body are asking me about it I just love it
I live in Poland where thrifting is very popular. I get really high equality pieces of clothing (vintage, made in Europe) almost for free. I'm really concerned about fast-fashion industry, especially for the exploiting of people. High amounts of clothes are made unnecessarily, people do not need them. I am also mad when I buy something in chain store and it is totally damaged after several washings! Who needs that? There are so many campaigns about the environment, wchich big clothing companies are supporting, and I think it is total bullshit and hypocrisy. The only way to change this situation is to stop buying their products
I'm an American. I have a low income because I work for a non-profit which is literally non-profit at this point. I have been shopping in second hand stores since I was a small child with my mom. I honestly enjoy it more and I am able to dress as well as my colleagues on a smaller budget. I find that if I do a little research I know what better labels are so I try to buy things that no I couldn't afford at the original store. it's like I always say there's no point in buying Walmart at the Goodwill.
In our second hand stores all the things have different price ranges. You can buy something in bad condition or low quality for cheap. Everything else is so expensive, you can buy brand new item even cheaper. I live in Eastern Europe. Can't afford much. I buy online mostly from the USA or some other European countries, including fast fashion. In this case this is really value for money. For example, I have some Levi's jeans for $15 bought from USA. In a second hand store the price is about $18 for much worse new or even used jeans.
Beaux Arts hate to tell you Levi jeans do not sell for under $35 up to $100. in the U.S.......so 2nd hand where you live for $18 would be a deal
No way $18 is a deal, they are not even Levi's, they are from some fast fashion brands and low quality. Do you buy Levi's jeans online? I've bought more than 20 from USA online for $12-$30, for me and my family
We have so poor second hand stores. Sometimes I buy used items online. With $200 mounthly salary can't afford much
Oh I agree 100%. I buy second hand clothes.
In Pakistan most people get their clothes tailored. Both rich and poor. I remember when I was a kid my mother would store summer clothes during winters and vice versa and the same clothes would be worn for years. But so much has changed in the last ten years, ready to wear clothes have become a huge thing and surprisingly the unstiched lawn industry has gotten even bigger. The worst part is that all of these clothes are only good for a certain period of time. People feel ashamed to wear the clothes from last season. Everyone around me can look at a dress/suit and basically tell what brand it is from and how old it is.
I just miss the times when I would see my mother and aunts buying or somehow getting an amazing fabric, took it to embroiderer (For special occasions) and then to the tailor. These clothes wouldn't just last a lifetime but through generations. It's really hard to find a good embroiderer now, back then everyone knew one.
Thankfully it hasn't changed completely and many people still live like that but I am afraid that it wont last...
I hope as long as there are people still doing this and encouraging it, then perhaps it would last a little longer! :)
So true!!
Yeah true 😐
Ohh no worries..... when someone “bigbrain” say lets do smg “new” and “trendy” then the mass will take their old clothes or textiles to the tailors, when the tailoring will be on trend! I bet my life on it! It s sad but, this is how it is....
Even in the 80s and 90s Americans were getting thier clothes tailored, or more commonly mom or grandma was hemming our hand-me-downs and letting out dad's waistband 🤣. Very fast fashion started in the late 90s and has become normal it seems. I genuinely blame the cultural norms coming out of China; at least the ones that looks down on those less fortunate and deifies money. At least in the west, frugality and prudence are considered virtuous. I don't think I realized how wasteful the mentality of fast fashion can be until I met Asian students studying abroad who bought a huge amount of clothing just to throw it away at the end of thier study period. They bought it to take photos in. To show thier friends back home how trendy they were. I bought exactly two items of clothing while studying abroad, because we were so poor and I couldn't find a job, just a night shirt for summer and a pair of slippers. I had that nightshirt for 15 years after we returned home, btw. It was painful for me to leave behind some kitchenware I couldn't take in my suitcase or ship, I cringed so hard seeing skip after skip of clothing being carted off.
I haven't bought new clothing in years. Except undergarments. I feel good about that. In my youth I was a fashion horse! I've held onto my favorites and donated the rest. It's very freeing to simplify, and downsize.
Creating a better Earth 🌿🕊🌍
How will you comment on the fact that nowadays EVERYONE produces in Vietnam, Morocco, India etc? Not just fast brands like H&M, but literally every brands I can think of. There's always cheap labour involved, whether it's a 10 euro jacket or a 1000 euro jacket. Also, the perception that made in EU is okay is half the truth. Eastern EU still involves cheap labour, although not as cheap as in the Third World countries. Brands that sell more expensive, only they can 'afford' to produce in the EU.
I was in a Greek factory in Bulgaria (Eastern EU) that produces Rolmann, Hugo Boss and other similar brands, and we all know how expensive these brands are, yet the labour is really low paid. Main investment seems to be factory equipment. I can tell you that the whole production process of a Hugo Boss jacket (minus material and factory investment, basically the labour itself) is less than 25 euro and the only reason Rolmann is located in Europe is that they sell more high end clothing and the margin is high.
So it seems boycotting brands that produce in places like Bangladesh means boycotting almost everyone and buying either super expensive stuff or local designers. Btw aside from all that, brands like Zara enrage me the most, that margin is so high it's comparable to that in the makeup industry.
+pastichka hi there, it is true that if you avoid brands that produce "unethically cheap", you will have to avoid many, many brands. I would say Eastern Europe is not as bad as South-East Asia because they have more laws protecting the workers. Hugo Boss is a special example: they have high prices and a good fit (good patterns) BUT they cut on fabric quality & sewing - so for me, despite the high prices, they are not what I would call a high-end brand. In the end, you need to have a look at each brand, one by one. There are certification & "fair" brand lists (which I talk about in my "ethical fashion" video) to help your research... But it is more work than just sorting brands based on price and label... And last but not least: THANK YOU, I love comments that are well-thought through, long and grammar-perfect. Have a great Sunday! 😘
Justine Leconte officiel Thank you for your reply! I just discovered your channel and I'm amazed by the quality of the content and the research you put into each video - I've watched a few so far and it's already clear you're doing a great job. Your 2016 trends video is very useful, I'm yet to watch your previous trends videos, but it sure these series are something you do very well.
I agree, Eastern Europe is way better as it's in the EU, but unfortunately many workers are still exploited more or less. I guess it's unavoidable. Since I'm new to the topic more or less (I've thought about it, but never did more research; at some point I even thought buying either second hand and local brands/small fashion designers is the only way to shop ethical), I'll make sure to watch the Ethical Fashion video next! I'm pretty curious what's the margins in the fashion industry, as it seems that it's a pretty profitable business similar to cosmetics. Very interesting subject.
Thank you for the compliment about grammar, I really appreciate it. And have a great Sunday too!
+pastichka I saw an exhibition once where they showed a low-cost shirt (blouse for women) from a fast fashion brand, it costs less than 1€ to produce and ship, if I remember correctly. So if the shirt gets sold for 15€ in retail, just add store & storage costs and the rest is their margin... I would say the margin is higher than in cosmetics - if you do take the fast fashion option.
Justine Leconte officiel I was trying to guess the cost of a single clothing item based on what I saw in that factory, but I guess I can't calculate it. But I remember vividly (it was 8-9 years ago) how the whole process of making a suit was broken into small sections where a worker is doing only one small part. For example, a small patch of fabric on the inside of the front part of the suit is sewn by only one worker, who does that all day long and has a quota to fill (like 100 patches an hour). Each patch sewn costs a fraction of an eurocent (I forgot the numbers, I only remember this worker showing me the piece of paper where she keeps track on stuff and where it's written how much it pays, and it was something like 0,8). Some workers later complained the factory bosses raise the requirements for stuff sewn in an hour so you have to work faster to earn your money, otherwise you get fined.
Anyway, if the process is divided like that, it gets way more cheaper for sure, as it requires less trained and professional people for most of the time the suit is made. And if there's, say, 30 similar to the patch sewing process steps, they all will cost less than an euro to make (minus of course stuff like other high paid workers in the factory that will monitor the process or cut the fabric and operate the software, the factory itself, the fabric etc.). And that's a suit.
I'm still curious though if the margin is higher or lower, in general, in cosmetics. After all cosmetics are way smaller, so costs for shipping drop the overall price. The actual product that costs money to make is also really small quantity; the less is package. Will try to read more about that some day.
Overall, one thing is for sure. Most of the money we pay for cosmetics and fast fashion is actually marketing money :))
pastichka Tory burch purchased at Nordstrom with those hefty price tags, made in China!
The country you live in really influences your choices in clothing. In Turkey (where I'm originally from) buying second hand is considered "poor" and "dirty", almost nobody goes for recycled clothing. Fast fashion is everywhere, and it is difficult to find ethical brands. Even if you do, they are way out of my budget as a student.
I moved to New Zealand 3 years ago and here people are all about recycling and buying second hand, I just love it! I haven't bought a new piece for a very long time. When I feel like new clothes, I just stroll through shops like salvation army or save mart, they have really good stuff! The only pieces I don't want to buy second hand are underwear, sports gear and running shoes. It's surprising what you can find in second hand shops, I've seen many upscale fashion brands just waiting to be picked. When everyone is into second hand, you don't feel bad about it as well. I wish second hand culture was more popular in Turkey...
Aslinur YALINKILIC OZTURK Pity
i hear what you mean. my family is from india and i dont tell my parents i shop from thrift stores because they'd make a fuss.
The same in Mexico, even is a poor country the middle class would never buy second hand, they reserve that for the poor, but buy a lot in fast fashion¡
I live in in Turkey now and you're absolutely right!In the us where i used to live so many people would shop and donate to goodwill or whatever thrift shop. Here it's like no one uses 2nd hand.There are only a few places to get them. Some bazaars do sell unsold and used clothing though.They're not super popular though.I remember going through a pile of clothes and people looking at me like i'm disgusting.(Bazaar clothing pieces actually seem clean.Everything i got smelled like detergent.)The only place that 2nd hand is popular is 2nd apps.
Middle class emerged very recently in Turkey, hence why fast consumption is a sign of higher social status. this will all settle down at the next major crisis, whether it will be economical or environmental. that's what happened in France, thrift shops would have never been so trendy if it hadn't been for the 2008 economic crisis. before that, everyone was crazy about new clothing.
I am from Bangladesh and I thank you for sharing awareness. :)
I made a chart of all the summer clothes I own and the number of times I wore them. I found that I had around 50 clothes ( tops, trousers, skirts, dresses, gym clothes etc) and I didn't wear all of them equally and frequently. The chart helped me realise (1) the clothes that I wear usually. These are the kind of ones that I should buy more, because they are the ones that actually get worn. (2) the price vs value of the clothes in terms of number of uses.
Making a clothes chart seems like a time consuming chart, but it helps understand you behaviour better so I encourage all to try it, understand your fashion sense, improvise on things that you want to and be a responsible consumer. :)
Thank you for making this good video. Some will not like it, because they enjoy still the fast fashion lifestyle. But how can we be happy, when other people suffer for our comfort? We have other choices. We have to take responsebility becaus the companys will not change, if we not change our shopping behaviors. Real style comes not from a huge wardrobe made of poor fabrics.
+fraupurzel I fully agree...
And there's another aspect to fast fashion; it's bad for the environment.
Fast fashion is so poorly made, that people refuse to buy it to sell as second-hand clothing.
It will be literally thrown away just after being worn a few times.
@drexciya123: Or, if it is donated, it's often sent to "third-world" countries, where its availability has destroyed the garment-construction industry. Why go to a tailor or a seamstress when you can just go to the clothes piles of donations from "thrift" organizations and grab more clothing?
I live in one of the countries that both produce and receive these donated clothes, Guatemala. I have no political argument to make but do have experiences to share. First, for anyone traveling here one can often find wonderful high quality vintage pieces among all the sun faded tshirts and discarded fast fashion in clothing mercados.. Often new clothes with price tags still on make it here but these are often from the GAP etc. Men button up shirts are a particular bargain here if you know brands of women's clothes you can buy new or gently used very upscale designs and fabrics of items not dated. This is how my husband and I shop as we are larger and taller than the local population who are mostly tiny, so it is easier to find nice quality things in our sizes. The main sorrow I feel is that the local high quality traditional backstrap loom weaving is dying out as street wear for locals. Local women wore beautifully hand loomed all cotton huipile blouses with traditional designs but have in the past decade shifted to the "fast fashion" wear and super tight lycra pants they see on singers and celebrities in the media. Now when one walks down the street in small towns people look more like they do everywhere and that is very sad as the unique traditional culture is disappearing : foods, transportation, clothing, everything is disappearing and soon will be gone as I observed over my lifetime in Mexico. This makes travel less interesting than it was , the homogenization of the world. There are good effects and not so good ones with modernization and cultural transference of technology etc.
One of these days i will buy a sewing machine and start doing my own clothes. That could be a good solution to all of this.
It's definitely worth it! I'm also a designer, and I've stopped shopping at shops like these mainly because I felt that the price for many of their clothing was ridiculous and expensive, and most of the pieces are poor in quality, and I know the costs were extremely low. I like to say I would rather spend 20 bucks at the fabric store on great fabric than paying 20 bucks for some polyester shirt that has "flawless" on it. Not to mention sewing your own clothes means everything will fit according to your body.
I do sew some of my own clothes, but most of the fabric we can buy is made in developing counties and those fabric mills probably have many of the same labor issues as the sewing sweatshops. It becomes another challenge to find ethically produced & eco-friendly fabrics.
Look on the internet for fabrics made in Europe. The manufactures have to follow laws for the employees to not deal with dangerous chemicals. I also have bought fabrics from Africa. These vendors where from coop and again no dangerous chemicals.
If you have not bought your sewing machine yet. Look for a older model made in metal, they are sturdy and will give you years of good service. Give yourself a time line to do so because you will always push it and never sew. I do know what I am talking about! I need to give myself dates for my goals.
I have been sewing almost all of my summer clothing this year. Time to unfold the winter stash now.
I have bought a great sewing machine swiss made (i'm swiss so try to support the last local stuff that we maybe produce... lol). With the exact same idea I've done some pieces. Now I do for my son and husband some stuff but this takes really time and cost is twice expensive then quality or ethical brand. But this is a really nice and playfull activity! love it!
One time I told my mom that I wanted a few, high quality pieces in my wardrobe and she was so proud of me and now I I see why
I am pleasantly surprised to hear a fashion designer disseminate this kind of advice. I love your videos - no b.s. nonsense, always informative and solid advice. Even my husband stops to watch because he says you offer so much important information. Merci beaucoup! 👍💜😀
at least in the u.s., thrift stores are full of fast fashion. they get some donations from the people in the community, most of whom are buying their clothes from fast fashion retailers exactly as you described here. they also have donations directly from those retailers. from what i understand though, the bulk of their donations from individuals either end up as textile waste in landfills or else get baled and sold to rag traders, who ship them to developing countries for resale. there is so much of fast fashion clothing that there's nowhere for it to go!
it's getting harder and harder to find good quality used clothing. what i used to find in thrift stores for a good price is now culled by pickers who sell it to "vintage" stores who sell it at a high price point. new good quality or ethically produced clothing is priced out of reach for many people and typically comes in very limited sizes that imitate the high end fashion world (US 2-10 or 12).
i sometimes think we will have to go back to what was done generations ago, and learn how to make our own clothes. however the pace of life now is such that few people have the time to learn and accomplish this. also, finding good quality, long-lasting fabric at a reasonable price could be a challenge!
eta: i just thought of another challenge. a lot of fast fashion is targeted to an age group that has grown up in tandem with it, and those buying habits are part of their culture. there is also the rise of fashion you tubers in the last 4 years or so, which has become part of its marketing arm.
+mala106 hi & thanks for your thoughts: the argument of fast fashion being a habit that goes together with a generation is a very good point. Can we get the next "new generation" to behave differently so that they don't get used to buying fashion this way, in the first place?
mala106 I agree. I enjoy thrift shopping and look for high quality fabrics in clothing as well as cuts of pants that fit better than how modern clothing is cut. However, when I go thrifting, recently I see so much cheaply made modern fast fashion clothing! I can sew at a novice level but even when I go to the fabric store, where is that fabric coming from? I have had a few sewing disasters as well which have resulted in me having a garment in my sewing closet that unwearable and awaits being salvaged. I would love for a fashion designer to create a televised challenge in which the average American has to actually make their own fibers, make their own fabric, dye it, and sew a garment. That would be a real eye opener! Most of us only need 2 jeans, a few t-shirts, maybe two nice outfits, a light jacket, and s coat. We work so hard to buy a bunch of trash we don't actually want.
I think it depends which thrift shops you go to. I'm from an area with tons of thrift shops. There are 2 types: 1. The really cool ones with actual vintage clothing & 2. Plato's Closet/Clothes Mentor/Style Encore/Uptown Cheapskate/Pink Flamingo etc. are the "buy clothes on the spot boutique style franchised consignment stores" that focus on more fast fashion though each manager/owner operates a bit differently and some are better than others in terms of quality & also taking vintage v.s just buying clothes within 1-5yrs & what age range they're targeted toward but some of those places only want items w/i a year that are from fast-fashion places.
Formerly I did make some of my clothes however it is harder now than ten or twenty years ago to find good quality fabric to make things with. So one may spend hours sewing well only to produce a garment from not nice enough quality fabric. For me it was no longer worth my time though I knew how to do all but suit jacket /coat tailoring at a high level of skill. It is the same with hiring a seamstress or tailor, the problem then becomes where to find the fabric worth paying the price of having it made up. For me gently used clothing but being very picky has helped. Whenever I see something of high quality fabric that I love vintage I buy it even if it does not fit...I can find fabulous buttons that way, I have made evening bags, silk scarves, camisoles etc this way. Even if all you ever do is replace cheap ugly retail buttons with nice ones you will upgrade the look of your blazers, jackets and shirts...learn to sew a button on properly to leave the proper amount of "breathing" space for the button....that one thing will upgrade an item. Then learn to make vertical darts in the back of shirts if you want a closer fit...again that will make a big difference in the fit. Learn how to hem properly by hand. Sit watching your fav. show and hem once you get the hang of it. Proper fit and good quality fabric makes all the difference and you have a garment worth keeping.
What is so sad though, is that some people, in "wealthy" countries mind you, are too poor to buy ethically made clothing.
Also, thrift shopping doesn't work for everyone (in France, second hand shops are not really a thing, nor are they in Italy as far as I know, online is not always a good idea either, with shipping, sizing/quality/whatever else problem, or when you need something in particular, like a good quality, waterproof winter coat or a swimsuit or whatever), and I can see in Australia, thrift shops sell a lot of crap from the fast fashion industry which yes, will not bring anymore money to the fast fashion company but which is not good quality anyway and might promote that brand.
There is a whole shift that needs to happen where people stop wanting so much, stop feeling so low if they can't have as much as they supposedly want or as much as what the neighbour has and where it is totally fine to wear the same things over and over ; the amount of people who wear things once and then throw them out/give them/sell them is astonishing and the amount of people who think wearing a piece of clothing more than once before washing is unhygienic (which means that if you have less clothing and wear it more often some people might think you're gross) isn't better.
If that all happens and if people are treated better and paid accordingly, with everyone being able to afford the basics, bought ethically, then it'll be great and we should abandon all fast fashion companies gladly. But until then, it is not entirely realistic. BUT, if people can afford it, then yes, they should most definitely buy ethically made clothes.
For my part, yes, I used to buy fast-fashion, though not quite a rate so high as what we can see on TH-cam or in Australia and the US). I didn't throw all of it out, I still have some tank tops from h&m that I bought probably 7 years ago. I also bought more ethically made clothes from time to time. And because I used to buy more, take care of my clothes and not throw all of it out (I have a lot of basics), I have now totally stopped buying clothes, unless it's necessary for work. Which is good because I don't have the money to spend on extras like that, and most definitely would not be able to afford ethical clothing.
In an ideal world, fast fashion would die off and everyone would buy ethical products (and not just for clothing), but right now, it is unfortunately not possible for everyone, same as an organic, healthy, balanced diet is not affordable for everyone.
PS : I do applaud all the efforts you and other people make to inform and educate people on this matter because it is very important, both environmentally and socially. It just makes me mad that it is not a viable option for all.
+Camille thank you for all your thoughts! I agree with everything you say, I'd just add one thought to the discussion: before fast fashion existed though, everyone was still buying clothes, even people on a limited budget :-) Fast fashion changed our "spending priorities" overall, making us think that we don't have budget for more clothing while e.g. we still go out for dinner or spend money or other product categories. And so since virtually everyone can afford fast fashion, people have lowered the mark of what they are willing to pay for clothing... That's what's crazy about it, it moved our perception of what is a "right" price to pay for a piece of clothing... Have a great day & thanks again for sharing 😊
Oh yes definitely, there's a good portion of the fast fashion buyers who just have their priorities wrong. I see some of the younger girls I work with, spending all of their money (being in high school, they don't pay for anything) on clothing ! And the worst thing is, fast fashion in Australia isn't even as cheap as in Europe or the US ! And it makes me so angry, and sad, that they buy new things all the time but then chuck them after 2 uses, or let things just sit in their wardrobe. They sometimes do the same with makeup, crap jewelry and food. And if you tell them to buy less but better, they will say it's not fun or they can do whatever they want with their money. It's so frustrating. But the people I was referring to were the ones who really cannot afford ethical fashion, like me for example, for whatever reasons. And there are still a lot unfortunately. When being poor a few decades ago meant you only had 3 outfits that you kept for several years, it was socially accepted in a way, because that was the norm, but now, because of fast fashion, people still expect you to wear a different outfit every day when you go to work, and if you don't, some people might comment that you're dirty. And what can you do if you can't spend more that $40 on a tshirt, once a year ? It won't buy you ethical clothing, just really expensive fast fashion, which is worse than the cheaper kind, because the quality isn't better, as you stated in your video, but the company is making even more money. If there wasn't so much economical inequality, we could all do the ethically, environmentally and socially right choice. And if marketing wasn't as aggressive and in your face as it is, people would certainly not feel the need to always more more more. In the end, I find this topic, as well as organic food, minimalism etc, very good at pointing out what is now terrible in our society. It's a lot deeper than what people might imagine when they think "fashion" !
+Camille so true!!
I completely agree with both of you. I also wanted to mention that when fast fashion didn't exist, or even prêt-a-porter, not was just socially acceptable for poor people or people in a limited budget to wear their 3 outfits again and again; but most people would make their own clothes as well, and patch them up over and over.
Until not so long ago it was a common thing that the women in the family would know how to sew. My grandma for instance is a great dressmaker and even my mom went to a school to learn proper sewing (eventhough she never really used those abilities later haha).
I have just knitted a couple scarfs with my grandma's help, mind you haha
I wasn't aware of the effects of "fast fashion". This was a very enlightening video and it broke my heart (in a good way). I have bought fast fashion but hardly massively, and will pay a lot more attention when shopping. It does make you realize why it is indeed worth it to pay more for quality fashion. Thank you.
The best made clothing I ever purchased was when I lived in Germany in the 80’s. Clothes were German made and on the expensive side. I noticed Germans had fewer clothes but the clothes they wore were much better made than what Americans were wearing. I still have a couple skirts and dresses from that period that are too small now but I keep them to remind me what well made clothes look like.
I agree with the comments on ethics here, but looking at my closet, I don’t see how I can purchase better made brands not made in the countries you mention. My more expensive and well made clothes: Talbots, Ralph Lauren, Misook, and Tommy Bahama are made in the countries you mention- the same countries my cheaper brands (Macy’s house brand Charter Club, for example). My most expensive coat, Basler, was made in Ukraine...where some Zara clothing is also made. I find it amazingly difficult to find affordable clothing not made in the countries listed in the video. Last comment: Factory ethics and quality differ within countries and from country to country. I can compare quality differences. Unfortunately, differences in how workers are treated isn’t sewn in the garment.
I shop at second hand stores. You can find some pretty sweet outfits, but if it gets worn out, good luck finding another!
I'm from the U.S - thank you for this video . It's a great reminder as there is SO much fast fashion here. It's hard to find ethical , quality clothing without paying a house payment for it but you inspired me to try harder.
Don't forget swap and shop! If you get tired of a piece, swap with a friend whether it be a "trend" piece or classic, basic. Also, don't forget DIY!
I noticed some expensive (suppose to be high quality) clothes don't last that long anymore neither now a day. They are also trying to cut corner to sustain the business.
For the most part buying expensive clothing is not about quality it is about status symbol. For example, people buy Gucci because the status it gives the person but try to justify it by saying it is high quality.
I wear high end clothing and all the brands quality is amazing! Always stick with heritage high end brands
Try sewing you own garments once and then you'll reconsider how much you're ready to pay for clothing.
+OmenaOmega definitely...
You won't be ready to pay much at all, because then you can sew your own...
No, seriously, since I've been sewing my own stuff I've stopped buying from retailers almost completely, because my own clothes fit me better. I can't stand badly-fitting clothes any more. I'm spoiled now ;-)
@@trinelangohr6661 Very true haha. I am making my own dresses and people are surprised at how well they are made, they do not believe that I have made them. Now I can not buy any dreses. I look at them and think: "They do not even have a lining and they look very cheap and they cost a lot, I can make them better".
But I'm going to be realistic here, sometimes the dress I make costs me more. In time (I'm slow), efford (I'm a perfectionist when I'm sewing) and in materials (sometimes materials are more expensive)
Sorry my english :)
@@mayrajscortes I'm fascinated and admire those who have the skill to make their own clothing. Do you design? I figure following a pattern will cause the same issue as purchasing ready-to-wear items with fit.
@av5283471r Thank you so much. I hope you get better are sewing and enjoy your creations;)
This is one of the topic that makes me personally frustrated - It pains me to know about the true, unfair production and the fact that the majority of my wardrobe consists of fast fashion pieces. But it is what I can afford with my budget and it's just up my street, style-wise. I think another issue is the mentality that finding 'a bargain' is considered a plus, while spending on a 100+€ piece with student budget makes people want to put one in asylum. I don't even dare to step into high end store, terrified they'll charge me for the air I'd breath there. Also, our market(in Slovenia) is fairly small, there's just not much choice to go about. In my defense, I must admit I hold on to my clothes for years- if I like it, I'll wear it. One day though, I aspire to have the wordrobe I can be proud of, style, quality and production wise. I'm more into classic than trends anyways. Besides, I believe a small, exclusive collection is in a way liberating. Easier to chose from, less storage space required, and a clean consicence. I am considering sewing my own clothes as well. Thank you for the video, Justine! Love the quality of your content. Subscribed ;)
Many of my clothes are fast fashion, too as of right now, but what I've noticed is that really investing into something can save you quite some money in the long run. My ethically made winter boots cost me 120€ (which isn't even that much tbh, they're from a small local manufacture so you don't pay extra just for the brand), but they're as good as new even after three years of intense use - and I tend to ruin my shoes quickly, which is why I initially thought buying expensive ones would be a bad idea.
Also sometimes you can re-cycle or save stuff instead of throwing it out, so you don't have to buy a replacement. Like, instead of throwing away a light-colored shirt when it gets discolored around the neck and armpits, you can just dye it a darker color. I haven't bought a pyjama in years bc I always just use my or my siblings' old clothes to sleep in.
At the end of the day, however, we need to remember that it isn't the fault of us 'small' people that the laborers have to work under terrible circumstances - the rich owners of the firms are at fault for that! Upping the pressure on them to pay fair wages etc is a way to get active, too, even if you can't afford to buy more expensive clothes. Don't take on the blame those greedy CEOs should be facing!
It was an eye opener for me about some dark side of fashion industry. Fan from India, Meghalaya.
I watched a documentary on fast fashion on Netflix, these practices are damaging on the people who produce the garments, in some cases their very lives are at risk. The huge environmental damage from the factories waste. It’s just deplorable! I think the Documentary is called something like Fashion the true cost, or something similar. Thank you Justine for making this video! People out there open your eyes!
Hi, just one correction or addition to the "Made In" - it does not always point the country of the last "manipulation" - in some cases, the named country is the country from which the most expensive part of the product / assembly is.
For example - I work for a company in Czech Republic (EU) and we process / assembly from our sister company in Austria (EU) and we must mark the product as "Made in Austria" even though it is assembled and packed in Czech Republic. Similarly, we have a product which is assembled with a part purchased from China - our part costs 1 €, the chinese part costs 1.25 € and the product thus is marked as "Made in China" - regardless the fact that it is partly produced and fully assembled in Czech Republic... So then - who knows, where were the products produced? :-D :-D
+Miroslav Janicek thank you for this example!
True
I love your video and explanation. I just want to say that fast fashion is making a negative impact in Europe too. I am from Romania and there are Romanian factories making clothes for Inditex and they treat their workers just as bad as the ones in Asia. The label says made in the EU, but the women sewing the clothes together work for 12 hours a day, are not allowed breaks and also don't get paid the amount they should if they get paid at all. The actual employers are Romanian and they blame the big companies for paying so little.
I am really happy to see this eine talked about though and I really hope this message will be shared more so that we as consumers can change the market.
+Monica Celacu thank you so much for speaking up & sharing your knowledge about your own country! Information is key to change behaviours. Thank you 💙
I just watched the TED-X talk and man I feel so enlightened! I had no idea it was this extensively horrid. I still need to learn where to shop and the labeling on clothes. I guess I will be reading a lot.
Garlic Girl which Ted talk?
Lex the 1st I think she put a link in video. She did a TED talk on fast fashion and detriment to the workers.
Daria Andronesceau is a TH-camr that educates about fabrics and true sustainability.
Unfortunately even if something is “made in USA” it could have been sweatshop labor. There are places like this in downtown Los Angeles. You can search for ethical clothing brands. Secondhand is also great because you are still getting a “new” item, but the money you would have given to a big chain goes toward a local charity instead. A majority of my kids’ clothes and about 1/5 of mine I would guess are thrift. It also frees up money while you patiently save for better quality/ better sourced items.
you can still shop at zara and hnm but you shouldn't shop there every two weeks ..just buy pieces that would fit in your wardrobe
I love how you made this video. You tell us about what you think is right, but you don't scream, you don't judge, you don't force anyone to do it your way. You give us knowledge, you give us your opinion and tips that we can use if we want to change the way we organize our own fashion. You are a wise, kind woman. Im starting to get addicted to your channel
Rather than avoid buying clothing made in Bangladesh I would prefer to buy products that were made in Bangladesh and other countries by workers who get a fair pay and healthy working conditions. The goal shouldn't be to put all these textile workers out of work. They won't be helped by us buying from Europe only, as far as I understand.
I would love to buy clothes produced in Bangladesh in a nice and safe factory by workers who get decent wages, reasonable working hours, holidays and health care.
As consumers, we need to follow most of your advice and focus more on quality and less on the price and fast trends. But when it comes to the origin of products, we would need more transparency on HOW things are made, not only country of origin.
I have to admit that I don't spend much time shopping and most of the time don't spend enough time to investigate the source of products. Often you are tired and stressed and maybe need something quickly. I try to avoid trends though and have my own system to make my clothes easy to combine. I buy dresses in different patterns of black and white + denim, that can be combined whit all of my sweaters and cardigans. And those can be in bold colours and good quality - silk, wool etc because I know I will always have something to combine it with.
(Previously I might by a sweater or jacket in a lovely bold color but wear it rarely because I had few matching items.)
Smaller labels often will make a point of how they ethically source even from countries like Bangladesh.
It's a safe assumption that larger businesses do not, though~
Free People makes its clothes in India, responsibly and with good wages - they show it also in the documentary in Netflix. So the solution is not to not buy from these countries but to know which conditions the workers have. For example, in Elda-Spain there’s a lot of illegal factories with very bad conditions just because of the high demand in shoes. So not all EU countries produce fair.
If you live in Eastern Europe than even "fast fashion" is expensive compared to your ridiculously low wage, not to speak about other more ethical labels. And because fast fashion is expensive, we treat it like you treat expensive clothes -- we buy them sparingly, and use them for decades.
I think the issue is with people living in wealthy West European style countries who "waste" clothes, for a lack of a better term. But they waste everything else as well: food, household items, electronics, cars, you name it.
I just wanted to share this as another perspective, because I did not feel like your reasoning applied to poor people. No, poor people can't buy expensive ethical clothes or organic produce for that matter -- even if these things are better for the planet, poor people can't afford to be choosy. Being able to be choosy is a privilege, and it doesn't make wealthy people better people than poor people in my opinion.
They have clients, we can buy those things, but we don't trow them out that easily. We pay for a Zara dress approx. 10% of our salary, we wore it for years, not for 2 weeks. If everyone buy one or two item per month, thats enough client for these stores.
MsPomeranianlover i agree. That's how it is. I watched this fast fashion documentary on Netflix and haven't brought any piece of clothing for 4 months now. But i haven't ever consider shopping as something fun to do every week or even every month. That was always a privilege to buy just a jacket or a pair of trousers
I was thinking the exact same thing. Which is why, I sometimes feel bad when people comment that we are supporting child labour and all the horrors, but I don´t really have much of a choice do I ? Thrift shops in my city are mostly really old and overused clothes, like the ones I already own...why would I want to pay for those? And to me, Zara is expensive....it´s a luxury :( And I am not even in the poorest section of the population, that says a lot :)))
Yes Zara is expensive even at sale prices here. Even common people dont buy them, only during the holiday season, some often buy fast fashion brands to show off that they have money
Andreea C basically they don't even come to E Europe...at least in my country (technically not even E Europe) we don't have primark, forever 21, the urban outfiters,...they calculate that 1. they build a shop in for example italy and expect ppl from neighbouring countries to drive there or 2. they build for example only 5 Zaras for the whole country and again rely that ppl will drive there from all over the country and that costs them less money than putting zara in every major city and that's basically how they survive.
Don’t know why showed up in my feed. I have zero interest in fashion or its industry. But your videos are so good and captivate my attention - you have a new subscriber.
I purchase all my clothes at thrift stores. I can't remember the last time i bought something new (I've found things with tags often while thrifting). I see no sense in spending more and I feel very well dressed. I also wish to minimize and reduce how much I have.
Great video..Agree with all the points. I have recently reduced my fast fashion purchases a lot and always try to buy used classic pieces by good brands. I strongly believe that all these companies should improve the work environment in those countries where the clothes are manufactured. I recently learned from a documentary that in countries like Bangladesh the economic situation is so bad that people are willing to work in any harsh conditions for their daily food.
Nisha Nish it's true
Nisha Nish me too I recently watched a documentary that opened my eyes completely.
As someone working in the Supply Chain of a very large clothing company (not exactly fast fashion but almost) I can say you make a lot of good points. The fast fashion retailers have indeed created a number of bad habits of consumptions and it's on us consumers to think and act differently. However, I really have to call out 2 things which are often misconceptions about the industry. 1. As tempting as it is to accuse H&M and Zara (or Uniqlo for that matter) of wrongdoings, they are way more compliant and ethical than most people would think. The Rana building disaster as been a huge turning point for all big players in the industry. Since that tragic event and led by pressure from the public opinion, all top retailers have been working hard on building more compliant, ethical processes, creating long term partnership with suppliers and offering much better transparency about their supply chain. The H&M and Zara of this World are under so much scrutiny that they have no choice but to raise these standards, and they have. Factories in Bangladesh, Vietnam, China etc. that work with the fast fashion companies have to go through extremely more complex audits that guarantee not only safety and compliance but also sustainability and higher levels of education and opportunities to workers. 2. You make a point about these companies producing 'en-masse' to reduce their cost and simply waste what has not been sold. Actually, it's not really like that. There is something called Responsive Supply Chain and Fabric platforming that allows brands to simply buy large volumes of fabric and work on developing collections with that same fabric. Cost saving is made on long term partnership with mills to hold that fabric that will be used for more than one style and season and also by producing small quantities of garments with that fabric and adjust the style/design depending on the response from consumer. No companies out there is welcoming any sort of inventory wastage as a good strategy to reduce cost. All in all Justine, it's important to say that Fashion is not evil. It's certainly not perfect yet but it's going towards the right direction by become everyday more ethical, and by improving their back end processes (data management, responsiveness, vendor empowerment, IT systems) rather than purely compressing the cost of 'little workers' in Asia (which, granted had gone way to far and out of control until the April 2013). I hope this POV helps. Thanks for your videos Justine, and for sharing your passion so well.
+MrGweilohk thank YOU for sharing your insider knowledge as well! Very good points. It is a fact that with every "industrial accidents", industries learn. The absence of any reaction would be seriously sick! Isn't it weird that in new business models, companies always tend to go too far... until an external trigger forces them to find a kind of better balance?... After Rana Plaza, the working/safety conditions in Bangladesh improved, for instance, but then H&M launched their organic cotton collection... and the sourcing of the raw material was proven to be unethical & extremely water-consuming (do you maybe know more on that matter?). It means that the mindset hasn't necessarily changed, only adapted as far as the public opinion could see/judge. And you are right: there are more fast fashion brands that just those 3-4 big ones that keep getting into the spotlight. Definitely. I believe that information is key to bring the balance, from the consumers' side. I would love to know which company you work for - but it is ok if you prefer not to mention it. Have a great day & thanks again!
Yep, I agree with you, solutions come often after a major (often tragic) accident. It's true for safety on aircrafts, regulations on pharmaceutical companies, finance and banking policies, government laws... and to your point, probably even more so for new business models.
Regarding H&M's case on organic cotton, I don't know enough about the situation to give you an answer. I can only assume that they did have a good intention for an ethical sourcing but went too fast with it and did not do a proper diligence work on the vendors they were sourcing materials from. For sure they would have preferred not to get any bad publicity with this, so that has most likely helped them improved their sourcing policies, and knowledge. The leitmotiv in companies of our industries is to work on new solutions that will improve the ethics and sustainability of our products. Mentalities are slowly changing... it's getting there. There might be some hiccups along the way, but this industry has done so much in the right direction in the last 3 to 5 years. One might argue that it's only to satisfy the public opinion, but even if so, it's a noble enough reason to improve a business. Interesting question. Look, even if I work in this mass market industry, and I believe in it its values and intent, I still think it's very refreshing to hear opinion leaders like you that sit at the other end of the 'fashion spectrum' promoting more exclusive and conscious shopping and authentic fashion. Thanks for this nice convo :)
Honestly, my main motivation to make TH-cam videos is the discussions, smart comments & further thoughts I get back from all my very-smart viewers. So yes, I am happy to share my views, but I also get a lot back! :-)
I'm so glad I found your videos!
I recently started the KonMari process and I was so disappointed in two levels. Firstly, so little of my wardrobe was in good enough condition to donate or sell because the fabric or hems were too damaged to repair. There are recycling services but seeing the volume of my discarded wardrobe that could no longer be used as clothing was sobering. Secondly, I consciously chose not to refer to the process as a "purge" or "overhaul." I was making long term decisions on clothing I loved and wanted to wear for a long time. Because I have less clothing, I'm seeing and washing each piece more frequently and because I really love everything I take time to follow care instructions, store appropriately, and check items over for damage that needs repairing. And, to my horror, I'm watching garments I love disintegrate much more rapidly than what seems reasonable. I'm desperately trying to mend and extend the life of garments that seem held together on a wish and a prayer rather than any kind of stitching and the fabric wears through no matter how gentle the washing and drying process.
Your video on clothing quality was also so helpful and, after checking through my wardrobe, even pieces from brands I thought were good quality and ethical had all the red flags of poor quality fast fashion. It's so frustrating to have invested in more expensive clothing hoping to build a sustainable and ethical wardrobe only to find I was terribly naive.
I'm so pleased to have some guidelines to follow as I start to replace items as they become unwearable, though!
hi Justine, you are the only you tuber i cant stop watching. you are so natural and clean without tones of make up and the most important stuff is : you have knowledge about fashion,color(you actually made me start to acknowledge about what me under tone is,thanks), body type, clothing...... i just cant stop watching you, i like you so much and pls keep doing.
And THIS is why I stopped buying stuff from these kinds of lines like 8yrs ago because
1. I'm not 19-25yrs old
2. I don't want to wear cheap clothes
3. EVERYONE and their mother has the same stuff on...where's the originality?
4. I can't afford super expensive but I don't buy clothes just for the sake of it...
I have been giving away clothes and when I move to Spain I plan on selling a lot of them and they're of a decent standard as far as budget conscious clothing goes. I've had these pieces for almost a decade and they're still good.
One thing you did not mention in the video is the reason why some of us buy these fast fashion items despite them being unethical and damaging for the environment: The price. When you are a student or a person coming from a low income background, you don't consider these things. At the end, the price we pay for these seemingly "cheap" clothes is much higher but we don't see it immediately because all we want is to look good without spending a fortune. I would love to wear designer clothes, especially from smaller designers like yourself who are so involved in the production of their lines. I just can't afford it.
Yes Priscilla you are spot on. We have young people in our office who say the same thing. So what they do is shop for second hand items. They are learning to save money to buy something they really want but it's also hard because advertising tells them that you're cooler when you wear different clothes for different occasions and take pictures in different outfits. So hence the disposable nature of fast fashion, not to mention how dirt cheap it is. It's all so complex, but if you do get to the point of higher disposable income then you at least know where to begin :)
i cant even afford some of those fast fashion shops. i can never buy anything from h&m or topshop/forever21. im stuck in primark and supermarket clothes
Amen. At the end of the day I really don't think it's a matter of lack of personal ethics but a systematic economic issue. Being able to not rely on fast fashion is a privilege a lot don't have. Coming from a low-income household, it's pretty much the only choice we have to have clothes that look decent and don't cost a fortune. And even then, my family doesn't shop often and we don't treat our fast fashion purchases as one and done. We wear them as long as possible even if it's not in "trend" and minor tears can just get sewn up for the most part. Same for shoes. I shop at thrift stores, get hand-me-downs, and splurge on local boutique stuff when I can (which isn't often) but for the most part I rely on fast fashion not by choice.
I just found this video. Growing up there was a stigma about 2nd hand clothes, but a friend taught me to look for the good second hand shops and to stop by regularly. I've found new Ann Klein shoes, cashmere sweaters and silk blouses for ~90% off original price. I do recommend it. And think of this - what can go wrong? Walk in with $25 and you can walk out with several items. Don't like them? Donate or throw away with no guilt. Very low cost and risk 😉
Laurel S throwing them away isn’t good either, wasting fabric’s bad and you can always repurpose it
Justine you have one of the very very best channels on youtube! Thank you, you are a gifted teacher! I love all your videos and would love to support your label. I live in Silicon Valley, CA and we are very concerned about the ethics of fashion. I worked as a illustrator in the fashion industry in Los Angeles and an illustrator in textiles in San Francisco. Those jobs went to Mexico and China respectively 10 years ago. Designers and artists also lose the game when companies seek cheaper labor. Problems humans are working to solve: food, clothing, and shelter. You are working on the clothing, thank you.
Good for you Justine, you are helping all of us to understand the clothing market and showing us ways to correct the wrongs and also to be better consumers. You are starting a movement in the right direction. Thank you, Kathy 65yrs
i make my own garments , my mom always told us about the reality of fashion industry since she was a designer her self , i used to be mad at her when i was a teenager for letting me buy clothes from fast fashion brands but since i became a designer myself i know now that she was right about all of it
+hafsa seddiqi nice story, thank you for sharing. And making your own clothes helps you keep the handwork alive - well done, your mom 😉
I´m from Brazil and accidentally found your chanel. But I really believe what you said. We don´t need so many clothes to be happy and beautiful! Thank you for opening my mind :)
+joyce matsunaga greetings from Berlin to Brazil! 😁
Id been following a huge number of vloggers lately, but yours is one I’m keeping and the rest goes to the bin. Thank you for getting us aware of what’s really behind fashion.
Before watching this video, I had no idea how fast fashion brands get a low price tag. I’m surprised by all the sacrifices that ensure the low price.
As you mentioned, the sacrifice of many people has been sugarcoated as “efficiency” or “economy of scale”.
I’ve been buying clothes of fast fashion brand. Whenever I bought the clothes from them, I thought the price is quite expensive compared to the quality. If I afford to buy other clothes, I will never choose fast fashion brand. In fact, the reason that I bought threads of fast fashion brand was because I felt it was like a grocery shopping. It was not for clothes but for pleasure of buying.
Your video makes me think about the sacrifice that is behind production process. Thank you so much for making this video.
I haven't bought any "new" clothes in over two years, and I've barely noticed. I do go clothe shopping occassionally, but always in charity shops (our thrift stores). The only time I've been a little bit sad about it was when I wanted to change my style and couldn't find anything that would work in these second-hand shops. But then again, I've never been one to wear what's "in", and just tend to cycle through a series of tops with the same two pairs of jeans.
Most premium and luxury European brands whose clothes are manufactured in Europe are made in countries like Romania and Bulgaria where the workers get the minimum salary (around 200 Euros per month), no paid holidays and are on the boundary of poverty. So it is very hypocritical to say that just because clothes are manufactured in Europe it automatically means that the workers have good working conditions.
I'm from Romania and it's true that the basic wages are around 250-300 euros per month but that's basically for every industry not just the textile, and they have paid holidays (as far as I know) and healthy working environment and can't be compared to those Asian countries in my opinion
Thank you for sharing your point of view...👍
oh and I forgot to add, that it doesn't necessarily mean that the stuff they produce here is good quality, I guess it depends on the factory or the buyer..
I'm sorry sarahh, but have you been in a factory in Romania to see it for your own or you just say that? When you work 8 hours a day, in toxic fumes, with no protection equipment is healthy? Is it healthy to not get extra money for toxicity from a company who exports fancy shoes all over Europe? So maybe, we can not compare that to what's happening in Asian countries, but it's still the same thing.
I haven't been to a factory to be honest I've just heard from other workers. I'm not saying you're wrong, you probably know better, and I guess it depends on the factory too.
It was also a vicious cycle where media , entertainment industry talk about climate change, child slavery then slap you in the face by promoting fast fashion and trends because they are being sponsored by these labels. I am now a minimalist and have not bought any clothes from the mall ,thrift shop,etc. for a year.Thanks for the upload , very insightful .
I have been careful about buying new clothes and shoes for most of my adult life, I am 65, perhaps working in textiles created an early awareness. I watched this video after being taken out for a meal as a birthday treat. My dress is one of my favourite ones, it is over 12 years old but still looks great. The majority of my wardrobe are items I have made, including underwear. However, an aspect I have not checked upon is where the fabric comes from. Thank you Justine for pointing this out. One factor I would like to add to this is taking care of how one washes one’s clothes. This can increase the lifespan of clothing so much. Also if I get tired of a garment I alter something about it, which is something my Gran, a seamstress, would do to our ‘hand me downs’, clothes that were passed down from older siblings and cousins, something was altered each time which made it more special for whoever was receiving it, we were allowed to choose the alterations, it was such fun.
The one thing I do with the clothes I buy from such shops, is that I rip it apart and use it in a different way, once I feel the item no longer suits me. I'm learning to draft my own clothes from existing pieces of clothing that already fit me. Also, I'm trying to buy less and less from such brands because I'm only perpetuating the mistreatment.
I love this movement. It's so important that we step off the fast fashion conveyor.
Ok. So I'm from Latin America but grew up in the USA and this made me cry. You are so right about the
working conditions in third world countries. I am a first world consumer who never thinks of these issues but who is actually connected so people who this does affect. In the one hand, it does offer work and pays more than regular wages to unskilled worker (who acquired a skill through these foreign industries) but the corruption and lack of policies that protect the workers working environment is real, it's Charles Dickens real. Thank you for bringing this out and making it uncomfortable for those of us who consume these products. If all of us stop paying lower prices for something that should be higher and give people a good way of life H&M and Zara wouldn't have a place in this world. I want to mention that the people who manufacture these clothes can't afford our idea of discount prices. They can't afford the discount clothes they make. I was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in NYC. My family comes from a small fishing town in San Cristobal and many work in such factories
97% of my wardrobe is from thrift stores. What are good quality clothing brands for middle-class people such as myself?
It's best to look for an independent store in your area, or when you're visiting somewhere.
Thrifting all the Way.
It depends on your budget and country
Thank you so much for sharing. The comment section and hopeless excuses everybody has for shopping in the mall is mind
blowing! Now more than ever we have so many choices and Thrift and consignment is really where it’s at!
Thank you for addressing this in your channel, I think the disposable culture that is cultivated does not need to exist and ideally we would do best to try to source our clothing, toys, hobbies, and even food as ethically as possible. Whether that means something made by a person down the street, or buying from a small company or designer like you across the globe, let's keep our wealth in our own hands instead of funnelling it upwards in exchange for cheap crap made by exploiting the labor or other human beings.
Excellent video. I completely agree. I think the sustainable fashion movement is gathering real momentum and I am sure it will be mainstream in 5 - 10 years, like recycling household waste is now. I made a vow in Sept 16 to buy no new clothes (apart from shoes and underwear) for a year. And it's fine! I have the advantage of being able to sew and it is my ultimate aim to have no clothes in my wardrobe that I have not made myself, or refashioned from thrift stores, or bought from independent designers with good eco credentials. It will take a while but it's good for the environment, good for fighting against poor labour conditions abroad, good for the local economy and good fun. Keep up the great work Justine.
+Beth Duffus thank you - and great attitude! 👍
Thank you for addressing this crucial topic! I admire your ethics. In addition to the important problems you highlighted, the voluminous waste created by fast fashion is another of its evils.
I need to let you know how your thoughtful, intelligent, well-researched discussions about fast fashion have changed my perspective, and to let you know the value of the work you're doing on this front.
I wasn't running off to Forever 21 or Primark or any of those places out of boredom. I fit no stereotypes. But I had no. Idea. HOW bad this situation was. Since watching this video, and all of your others, I've completely reshaped the way I approach shopping. I usually thrift (love thrifting, anyway), but even with new purchases, I will not buy any item that I cannot verify is manufactured ethically. If they cannot publicize their manufacturing standards in specific, concrete language, they cannot have my money. There's a great episode of Patriot Act about fast fashion, and while that show has its own issues, I would recommend that episode to anyone looking for more education.
It will be a long time before I feel like I'm getting it "right". But I will keep trying, as I have been for a year now since I found your channel, and I will keep watching documentaries and reading and paying attention. I will keep looking for the best ways to recycle my unwanted old clothing, purchase new or thrifted items intentionally, and think always of the person on the other side of the sewing machine. I don't care if it sounds dramatic; learning about the traps of fast fashion (and the shady practices behind plenty of luxury brands!) has changed my life. Thank you for doing this work. It's important and meaningful, and it IS creating change.
After reading the first couple of chapters in the novel "Gomorrah" (Roberto Saviano), I am not sure anymore that buying things that are "made in Europe" is also an indicator of good quality. And things that are made in China do not necessarily indicate bad quality either. Pretty much anyone can make cheap stuff.
My favorite clothing brand sources the wool from local farmers, and makes the simple garments in a little factory out the back of the store, employing local people. It was so shocking to see something made completely locally that they became my favorite brand then and there. They might be 3x the price, but they're so much higher in quality and I can wear the clothing knowing the people who made it are living well.
what's the name of this brand?
I am from China and live in UK now. Your video is so insightful. It's a bit sad that vintage/ second hand shops aren’t popular in China . And the booming of Chinese e-commence really encouraged people to shop more rather than shop more wisely.. Thank you again for the videos!
Yay, I've been poked by people everywhere for being rotating the same clothes too often, also, using them for 5+ years straight. Good to know there's more people who think that''s what clothes are primarily for.
Very informative. But what are some designer brands that I can look into purchasing that don't support this and are good quality? Also I am on a budget, I know you mentioned thrift shopping but any other suggestions? I live in the US, if that helps.
+lunarosa321 hi, since many asked this question, I will take it up in a separate video! Coming soon! 😊
lunarosa321 : I would love to see this video too
Justine Leconte officiel Has a video been done for this yet?
I want to know the same thing!
Very flattering makeup, Justine. Beautiful! And I love this topic. Fast fashion sucks.
Justine, first of all, thank you for making videos about your passion and topics like this. I was shocked that this video was 2 years ago and felt I bought some from fast fashion shops without thinking twice. Cheap doesn't definitely mean a good choice because of these companies' way of doing business. I also felt like you were about to cry at the latter part of this video discussing the Bangladesh incident. Shows you have a good heart. Nice to know that designers like you still exist.
Justine! By far this is the best video I saw from you. You educated me what happen on fast fashion. Those stores will not see me again! Thank you.
The snobbish attitude I see in the comments is overwhelming.I don't know where you guys live,but as a young adult from Greece I can ensure you that people DO NOT always have a choice.There is nothing such as "fast fashion" here.People do not spend 100 euros on zara clothes every week.Actually,middle class people can barely afford the fast fashion clothes,that's why they only shop twice a year,and when they do,they do not spend more than 100 euros for 4 pieces.Poor people,on the other hand,shop once in two years.We buy from "fast fashion" brands,but we maintain our clothes for a long time,cause we need to use our salary to pay for our bills,rent and education.Not to mention that most families have at least one unemployed member.How can a teenager justify to her mom that a 200 euros t-shirt is a better option than a 10 euros one?And how can o mother justify to her family a 200 euros t-shirt when they don't even have that extra 200 euros to spend for clothes in the first place?You will now say "save money".First of all,there is no money to be saved,since you have plenty of other REAL needs,and secondly,what am I going to wear for the rest of the year?Am I going to starve myself or going around naked just to buy a fancy 100 euros t-shirt?Many people here are also referring to thrift shops.Well,thrift shops are not very popular here,and in south-eastern europe in general as far as I am aware.Even if you find one,it mainly sells fast fashion clothes,cause people here cannot afford designer clothes!It's just the truth guys!The point is to look polished,clean and presentable and you can look like that if you buy fast fashion clothes and maintain them.As for the "ethical" aspect of the situation,I'm sorry,but I'm laughing at the ignorance and the hypocritical altruism many western people present.My father works in a small european paper factory and you have no idea how terrible the conditions are.It's a very unhealthy environment,where locals and inmigrants are getting exploited every day.And guess what:that's the case in almost every factory!But I see people wiping their butts with these paper towels while pointing their finger to the rest of us for our "privilege" and our "unethical" behaviour.Give me a break.Every single item in your home has probably been manufactured in a terrible environment.The only solution is to start producing everything yourself,which is pricy,extremely time consuming and overall impossible.I am well aware that shopping from fast fashion shops it's not a good thing to do,but I cannot afford being picky and snobbish about clothes,which are not even that important in the first place.
ern m Best comment ever!
I also live in Greece and can tell you that in Athens there are plenty of second hand shops to choose from. More and more every year- from high fashion brands down to the kilo shop. We also have the internet available to us to shop for second hand items. Your exaggeration of 100 euros for a t-shirt is silly. Designer clothing does not mean ethical (fair to people) or sustainable (fair to the environment). With a bit of research I have found everything I need from ethical companies including new organic cotton ethically made men's shorts for less than 40 euros with shipping. That is less than my boyfriend could find in Zara's for a decent pair of shorts. Another example is ethical sneaker companies such as VEJA, which will cost you about the same or less than a pair of Nike (Greece's favorite shoe company). You are also pointing out that your father is poorly treated at work, so why would you give your hard earned money (most of which goes to the filthy rich CEO of the company- not to those stuck in modern slavery picking cotton (often children) or to the people whose homes who are uninhabitable because their water is contaminated from chemicals or dried up from factory use or to the workers sewing the clothing- I can go on and on about who is suffering while some rich probably white man is stuffing your money in his pockets) to these companies! There are better alternatives. Yes, changing our learned habits is an effort, but I will argue that options are out there. Support those trying to do good otherwise nothing will change. Buy from a Greek company to support your own country! I help run a Greek business and we are slowly changing our suppliers to those more environmentally conscious, because if we all do this then we can slowly better this disaster of a system which just allows the rich to get richer. The more you support these fast fashion (and other greedy) companies the more they will thrive and continue down this destructive path. I can tell you that the more you change your habits (refill your own water bottle, stop buying unnecessary chemical cleaners, buy fewer and better made items of clothing etc.) YOU WILL SAVE money in the long run, be happier, and contribute less to the destruction of the planet and to our own people. I can bet everyone here spends plenty of time on the internet. Do your research. Read peoples blogs with suggestions on where to shop. Look for sales, but STOP supporting greedy companies which use and abuse their workers and the environment. Please! The choice is yours. Also- living two hours by boat away from Athens I am shocked that we have about 1 Greek person per year coming to look for a job. We are a long standing business constantly in need of workers and all I hear is how high unemployment is, which is confusing.
I am in the same boat that I can't afford 'ethical' fashion but I feel strongly that this should not mean that the issue should not be raised. If we did that with everything, nothing would ever improve. I think everyone needs to make a call regarding what they can reasonably do about issues they care about. I am currently trying what I can reasonably do to use less plastic and what that has shown me is that I need to do things differently to how I did them before and that's not always easy or convenient but it's worthwhile. Whilst I have never been into fast fashion I have to confess I can be a little bit of an impulse clothes buyer on occasions, but I am trying to get a handle on that because I feel my way forward is to really only have those clothes I really need. I have watched quite a few of Justine's videos and like them a lot but I also know that my life situation is very different to hers in many ways so what works for her would not really work for me at times. But that's ok and it doesn't mean I cannot appreciate points she makes (and hey, she influenced me to finally, in my fifties, to drink a lot more water - tap water, no plastic bottles involved. That's just plain amazing!). So do whatever you can reasonably do everyone! As they say in advertising: 'every little helps' (it sounds very trite, but it is absolutely true! Sending many good wishes to everyone out there!
FINALLY!! WELL SAID! sometimes i feel like they are so arrogant. i know we want a better and fair world, but for someone in middle class even Zara ist so expensive for us. we buy cloths maximum 10 pieces per 1.5 year!!
j m have you got any idea how many strikes and protests take place in Greece due to bad economy, tax rises, salary cuts and corrupt goverments? Truth is that most middle class families are in tough financial situation, even though this doesn't mean we starve or anything! And yes, we don't shop regurarly, like every week or month-some people shop twice a year, some when the seasons change and some more. My parents haven't bought a proper new clothing piece for at least four years because education and bills are pretty expensive, so this is how they mostly spend their wages. So, yes, believe it or not, this is an actual situation that a whole country might end up to!
I remember growing up in the 80s and 90s even though there were already some cheap/fast fashion brands, still there was only a spring, summer, fall and a winter collection and usually whatever you bought would be favorite pieces for that season but also would be still wearable easily for the next 3-5 years to come, qualitywise and fashionwise.
What is happening now I have to say is not only disgusting (from a ethic point of view, even though I am sure it was bad already before but we just didn't know back then) but also way too overwhelming.
As a teen I was used to consider a long time before buying a piece. Sometimes it would take me 2 months and several try ons before i had finally made the choice (and gathered the money) to buy a specific piece.
Just this summer I had bought a polo shirt on a whim, found it very nice, and thought 2 weeks after 'hmm, i'll get it in a few more colors'. nope, it was not supposed to happen. Even though it was a spring collection piece and it was still early spring, it was already out of store and not available anymore anywhere. Next round of spring items was out.
Walked out of the store without buying anything.
It is ridiculous. This super fast turnover is just a way of creating FOMO (fear of missing out) and it only leads to us collecting pieces in our wardrobes that we never really wear and once we start wearing them they fall apart within barely a season or are washed out cause they are not meant to last. After all, you are supposed to buy the next round of clothing.
Another way to fuel this urgency to buy new pieces again and again is in my opinion how fashion is made in a way that you cannot well combine pieces of 5 years ago with nowaday pieces.
For example, when I was a teen jeans went up to almost your belly button and we wore crop tops with it. But then the low cut jeans got into fashion and suddenly if you wore any of your short tops you actually were quite naked, so tops needed to be longer and everyone needed to buy longer tops. Now the high waisted jeans are rolling around again and if you don't want the button of your jeans to bulge under your long shirts you better get yourself some new crop tops.
Nice how that works, isn't it?
I can only urge people to not buy into all of this. Get to know your body and find which style fits best with your personal proportions. Don't run after every trend even if FOMO seems to be so real. Do invest in a few good quality well combine-able pieces you really love rather than a wardrobe full of flimsy rags that you won't wear for the most part.
I know it's hard, but the fashion industry (and it's nothing but that, an industry) will continue its sinister ways under which millions of people suffer as long as it's profitable for them, as long as it just works. They'll always find away around any regulation.
Where there's greed, sadly there is also a lot of creativity about how to make a profit no matter what. All we can do is try and not play along too much or if possible not at all.
This time last year I bought myself a sewing machine so that I could start to make my own clothing, both to learn a new skill and because I no longer agreed with fast fashion methodologies. My next step is to take the fabric I source very seriously. Great video, thank you - I just stumbled upon your channel and LOVE it!
welcome to this channel - and good luck on your journey!
I must say that once I stopped buying fast fashion, I don't miss them a single bit. It has saved me so much pressure weaving through their ginormous online stocks and keeping up with their sales/promotions. I'm starting to feel comfortable with the collection I already have and only add quality, timeless pieces to it when really necessary. Cutting down shopping really reduces decision fatigues, which is an even better feeling than receiving a package or catching a promotion.
Thank you for speaking up!
Ethics are so easyly put on a back seat.
i used to think "well that's how things are" but that's just a way of saying "this sucks but i dont know what to do so i wont do anything". when i was 20 and i traveled to Bolivia and Brazil and all i knew was confirm in the worst kind of way. I live in Latin america and every country u see have been exploited by big usa corporations so i started doing my own clothes, after a few years (im now 24) im very good at doing basic stuff so when i buy it's just to buy really complex and generally expensive garments and i can spend a little bit more for all the money i save.
Hello, Justine! I don’t buy fast fashion things for about 5 years, because I can sew. Often, when I look at the price tag of a particular item and its composition, a formula for buying fabric pops up in my head, so it’s often much cheaper to sew a thing from a better fabric. Since childhood, my parents taught me not to spare money on quality things. Now I am creating a basic wardrobe of 10 things, choosing the right colors. I’m also concerned about the topic of ecology, which is polluted by garbage and things from fast fashion. I agree with you more than ever! In my memory, often stores with original quality turn into fast-fashion stores to earn money, and it makes me sad
Love this video! I stopped buying from fast fashion chains a year ago because of ethical reasons and because I found that just because clothes are cheap, doesn't mean that the massive amounts you buy don't add up to a ridiculous cost. It's better to just save and invest in mid-range, ethical clothing lines. If you can't afford it, an even better option is to shop at thrift stores that recycle fast fashion and other brands, and sell them at an even lower price. That way you're not really contributing to the vicious cycle and you can still buy clothes on a budget.
Tbh I used to but "fast fashion" but only like...twice a year? Lol, having 33 pieces of garment per season is actually a looot to me. I've only recently started to buy from aritzia, which I heard is a more ethical, quality store, but only because I could more afford it.
Still shop like twice a year tho lmao.
Rest in peace, Qinni. You, your heart and your art were so beautiful. ❤
This may be an unpopular opinion, but..
1. Sometimes, given the financial situation, there have been times that fast fashion items were the only clothing I could afford ( thrift stores are not available in all the countries /cities). How I managed to make the best of it was by buying simple/basic cuts and taking care of the clothes very, very well ( hand washing and line drying). I still have items I've bought 4/5 years ago for less than 10 dollars that are in good to excellent condition. Buying from fast fashion brands doesn't necessarily have to mean 'unsustainable' if you can make it stretch.
2. I'm not a big believer in spending a lot of money on things I could wear for 10 years. Human body changes, fashion apatite and circumstances change ( I may be a executive of a company in 10 years but would the clothes I spent a fortune on when I was an intern hoping for longevity work for me then? Not really. I may have children within a 10 year time span that would most definitely alter my body, so would the jean I spent 200 on still fit?)
I believe the trick is in moderation. If I can only afford to pay 20 for a dress and there are no Thrift stores in my country to buy second hand, I will buy fast fashion. But I will buy sensibly and take care of them as best as I can so I don't fall into the viscous 2-week cycle and contribute overly to a toxic industry.
Exactly. And even if there was thrift store near by, not everyone is comfortable buying 2nd hand clothes.
@@piyusarkar3065 and not all thrift stores have good quality items either. Some may be able to visit a different store in another city, but not everyone. It all depends on personal circumstances.
@@NiesLife exactly. And most thrift stores stock clothes that looks older and more used than my own old clothes, so why invest there?
And it's really funny but it's kinda a common joke in India that a tshirt's life is in 4stages: 1st brand new for going out, 2nd used and wearable at home, 3rd wear for holi (festival where we play with colors) and 4th finally for dusting and cleaning
So, yeah we Indians do reuse until it exist 😅😅😅
Start your own thrift store then :) (I would, but we have one in almost every corner already) we also have some stores here that GIVE clothes for FREE. I don't know how they manage, but I think this is a very nice thing to do :)
Totally agree! I think instead of forcing yourself to purchase more expensive items (the price difference is also huge), just be a smart, considerate consumer. Buy things that could potentially last a good while. I support the idea of this video but everyone is in different situations.
I love that you’re raising awareness about this important topic. However, fast fashion is a phenomenon that’s affecting High end clothing as well. How many collections they do really need to launch each year! You have Ready-to-wear, Pre-fall, Resort, Couture... And many labels now allow purchase of their garments as soon as the models leave the runway! Where is the limit on ethic pricing? When high quality brands start charging exorbitant amounts of money just so only the elite is able to flaunt their creations... So the lower income population has to spend on lower quality clothes to dress up decently... The issue is complex...
You are so right about these issues, however it is getting more difficult to buy fashionable clothes from mainstream stores. Even our flagship British store uses overseas labour. This makes me so sad as a former factory seamstress
I'm an idiot. I never thought it this way. No more H&M or Zara.
Catalina Fariña I was always frustrated that a H&M store wasn't located near me, now I'm happy to know better. I'm lucky to have many good second hand shops nearby. after learning through this video, I will hopefully shop smarter. you are NOT an idiot! we are all learning!
Yes! And if you've learned, please share your knowledge with your friends and family too! This is how consciousness spreads :)
I was so excited when H&M branched out (years ago) and was there when they opened in my area. What a letdown! The quality was terrible. I bought a couple of things and after a few washes, they were a tattered mess. Same with Forever 21. Even the name puts me off- I don't want to be "forever 21" 😂 I feel more confident at 41 then I did 20 years ago.
No not an idiot just didn't know like the rest of us. Why we need folks like Justine to make us aware.
Thrifting is awesome! You get stylish clothes for pennies on the dollar 💰👚
+honeybdream and you use stuff that has already been produced 👏😊
Hello from Spring Lake, MI, USA! I cannot stop binge watching your videos! This one in particular is so interesting to me. I enjoyed the content very much as I have recently stumbled upon the idea of slow versus fast fashion. In some ways, I have been a participant of the slow movement for years - unwittingly. We are a family of nine so buying second hand was more of a necessity at one time, but now I must admit that we continue to enjoy thrift and consignment shops so,ply because we want to. All of our kids, ages 20-8, as well as my husband and I, have wardrobes that are 75% second hand, yet filled with high quality, good looking, and stylish clothing. I am really glad that my kids see the value in this, and glad that we can contribute to a more economical, ethical and environmentally friendly way to enjoy fashion. Not to mention, it’s a lot of fun.
On another note, at 41, I have a pretty good idea of what suits me and what I like in terms of clothing, and love your French styling tips. Dressing well is important to me and I think that you are a really good resource for helping me refine my skills and my wardrobe even further. I’m not a minimalist by any means, but I am learning to slow down a bit when it comes to m y purchases.
Wow! Knowledge is responsibly! As a mom to 4 kids, the thrift store and hand me downs from kind friends have made up a huge part of our wardrobes. At first this was for obvious economic reasons but as time passed I realized that it was also better for the environment. To me, the only time I can justify buying a name brand is at the thrift. Thanks You for sharing.
For the last year or so i have been very self conscious about the fact that my tag says made in China, Mexico, or some other place where i just don't know who made it and wondering how they live off of pennies. I feel guilt when i buy that $5 shirt just because its cheap; this video has made me think even more about where my clothes are made and the people who make them. Thank you for making this video.
+Briana Phillips thank YOU for taking the time to write this honest comment 👏😊
Love your videos! I especially enjoy hearing more about fast fashion. There is very little out there about 'fair trade' vs 'free trade' in clothing options. Any/all extra information you share is much appreciated! Thank you
+Lauren Vassilico I did a follow-up video about how & where to find sustainable fashion. But that's it for now... Though I might tackle this topic again, as I get many questions about it. Interested? Do you have specific questions?
Thanks, I checked the second video out just now. I've only started this type of research, so I unfortunately don't have additional questions at this time. My husband and I live in a sort of tiny home (250 sq ft), and I consider my wardrobe to be capsule, even though it isn't of the upmost professional grade. I also had to make some health changes, and I've lost about 18 lbs. All this to say that I will need to go shopping for new clothes soon...hence my recent interest in "good shopping." So. Yes, I'm definitely interested in this topic, and I appreciate your work on it!
Wow!! I am so woke. Thank you. I will be spreading the word. I have been a fast fashion shopper for so long and will never be again.
@justine...I accidentally came accross your channel a few days ago and I have been binge watching ever since. I love your view on fashion and beauty how calmly you deliver you opinions. You do good work and I thank you. All the way from South Africa.
I would love you video to be shown in high school. It drives me crazy to see cheap clothing. The cost is so much more than the 10 euro tag. I now purchase second hand (hey I live in Italy and it is usually nice fabrics) or I sew my clothing with fabrics sold here (only natural fibers).
+Sylvie Vicenza awesome, thanks for sharing!
I'm watching this video even if i only wear tshirts and jeans, and rarely buys clothes but when i do, i only shop at thrift shops.
Thank You Justine you have changed the way I think about clothes shopping . Oh and by the way you have a beautiful, genuine and contagious smile and I love to learn from you, I am 68 Year's of age so never too old to learn .
Thank you, Justine. You make good points and I fully agree that we, as consumers, would all benefit from being more aware of what's going on around the world. That said, I have pieces in my wardrobe that are literally 10-12, even 15 years old, and some of them came from fast fashion brands that I purchased when I was a low-income student. Being informed helps a lot, however, many consumers around the world also have personal economic and other circumstances they do not control, especially when it comes to fashion choices - free access to diverse information sources is just one example. It's a complex issue, with multiple layers of issues underlying it.
Thank you Justine for making us "painfully" aware! I love all your videos.
Thank you for your knowledge,this makes you think twice what concerns me is some individuals can only afford fast fashion prices 🤔
Thank You Justine for speaking on the topic of Fast Fashion and the inhumane treatment of workers. I'm so glad I found your youtube channel. 2019 has become a the year of next level transformation for me. Making better choices to improve my health, wellbeing, and that of my family has always been an interest of mine. And have sought out positive healthy change for years. But now, I CLEARLY see why I can and should reduce my wardrobe and replace with quality. I don't know why I didn't notice it before.
I live in Southern California and have shamefully always purchased fast fashion because its convenient, easy to wash and if my kids stain or rip something I just throw it out. I never even thought about how fashion touches our lives everyday. And the people who suffer to make it.
I'm sensitive to only purchase organic foods, and buy natural products. I've recently started the KonMari Japanese tidying method on my home. And now I have more reason to remove fast fashion from my home. And buy ethical clothing. Your video provided that key piece of information missing from my mind link to reach the goal of owning a beautiful ethical wardrobe, and feeling good about releasing bad clothing.
I'll be sharing this video with my friends. Your honesty and sincerity really comes through your videos. You are really doing a great job. And your videos apeal to many age groups. My teen girls have watched your videos too.
Thank you.
It’s so refreshing to see a youtuber address this important topic. Thank you for the intelligent and thoughtful video. It’s difficult for most of us to say no to such inexpensive and cute pieces; it sometimes takes the experience of having your clothing fall apart because of poor quality to begin to think about all the damaging aspects of fast fashion. I appreciate you!