Ethics of a Fashion Girl
I have a tough time with this one. I as a self-proclaimed fashion girlie have to stomach the true devastation this industry creates. I worked for the company GANNI where they have a major emphasis on ethics and sustainability. I know lots of people choose to buy from brands that are B-corp certified or who have diverse models of background and size ranges. All of these qualities are important and need to be upheld by major corporations, as I believe they help offset the horrors of the industry. Yet, I don't think we should be giving passes to companies like GANNI that still choose to sell expensive, low-quality products and still market them as a sustainable good. The only semi-sustainable goods in fashion are resold and the purchasing of homemade or cycled garments. The fashion industry creates the largest amount of waste production, carbon creation, and human/civil rights issues.
This doesn’t even reach the concerns of synthetic inorganic materials making up these garments that take 20-200 years to decompose. The microplastics in the synthetic materials find their way into runoff water, harm marine life, and eventually lead to harming humans through the consumption of marine animals. It’s a cycle that ends up killing us. Pretty sick, right?
Now where do the quote-un-quote fashion girlies come in….
Listen. I love fashion, advertising, art, music, and media. I mean god forsake that's what I’m studying in school. I find that the most beautiful things are quite destructive. This also means I as an individual have to offset the unethical nature of the industry that I love and pursue.
My friends can attest, that I am the queen of consumption. I love a good sale, I have a very specific personal style that my TikTok algorithm loves to feed. I AM the demographic. The white mini shift dress, Jane Birkin, French New Wave, 60s & 70s. Baby I'm all there.
The only way I can be ethical in my consumption is one, stop consuming, and two only buying vintage and handmade goods. This is not accessible for everyone. There is an inherent privilege in being sustainable and having the means to buy aesthetic vintage and “thrift”.
Yet thrifting has its own set of issues…
The fashion girlies who seek their sustainability from thrifting at stores like Salvation Army, Goodwill, and local charity shops are creating a cycle of raising prices and limiting stock that's important for communities where these stores are some people's only option. This IS a complicated issue, it’s important to focus on sustainability and offsetting where you can. Buying up all of the “baby tees” from Goodwill and leaving vulnerable mothers with limited garments for their kids is not okay.
Now let's check back in on the creative and self-expressive aspects.
This part makes me excited and what makes me love fashion. I think creating a garment is pure art. I think couture is incredible and fashion at its core is visual communication. The way you dress yourself displays to others how you feel about yourself, what you value, class, religion, and aesthetics.
People who say they don’t care about fashion and that it's “stupid” don’t realize the choices they make in the morning like picking out the pants they are going to wear, and what shirt they are putting on is an active choice. Inherently not caring about fashion is making a choice within it.
Fashion is as fun as you make it.
And boy do I make it fun. It makes me giddy to have an idea in my head and see it come to life on my body. I love styling my clients and friends and finding pieces to best accentuate their curves and personal style. All of it is an art form. A destructive art form.
I have no way to end this piece, I don't have many answers to combat the duality of love and horrors of the industry. I do think the most important thing is to be aware and educated on the industries you love and see how you fit into the fold as a consumer and a change-maker.
Peace,
Eisley
