“Fashionistas” Are Saving the Earth 

I’ll be the first to admit that I am guilty of overconsumption in America’s capitalist society. It feels luxurious to be able to keep up with the fashion trends thanks to brands like SHEIN, and Zara, providing me with $5 bikinis, and a pack of 3 crop tops for a whopping price of $12. Many today are still misled in thinking that these fast fashion deals are a “steal”, while the Earth is paying the much greater price. Boston’s Sustainable Swap events have found a solution that saves the Earth and every one’s fashion problem.

On the weekend of July 20th, I attended the Sustainable Swaps event hosted at Uvida, a small zero-waste shop in the North End. An event where fashion lovers partake in eco-friendly shopping, and environmentalists indulge in the latest styles. The scene felt lively and organic with young swappers excited at their treasures. The walls of the shop were decorated by handmade candles, soaps, and preserved flower bouquets. The event ran from 12-6 PM on Saturday and Sunday, during which swappers were able to bring 10 clothing items they no longer wanted, in exchange for going home with 10 new pieces to update their wardrobe. I had no worries about leaving empty handed because I was allowed to return to Uvida after the event for more clothing if I did not leave with 10 items I loved.

In the past, Sustainable Swaps has had live music and food at their events, creating an engaging and joyful place to foster community, and build connections. These events set themselves apart from basic thrifting. After speaking with a Sustainable Swap employee, she shared how the Sustainable Swap’s environment means more than just simple trade, whereas it is a place to plant and grow friendships in Boston because “you tend to trust people who have similar fashion styles”. Notably, she discloses that it is “an exchange of energy” as you not only are taking a piece of clothing but also leaving a piece, and therefore leaving your mark.

I have not always understood why fast fashion means bad fashion. Many times, I have skipped questioning why I can buy a pair of brand-new jeans for $10 because I’m busy feeling gratified by the affordable purchase. Environmental evidence provided by Ethical Consumer popped my bubble because fast fashion is rapidly and mass-produced clothing, and therefore it is made possible by an unethical manner in which clothing is cheaply made, by extremely underpaid workers, and in polluting factories. Considering the clothing is not made to last, Sustainable Swap’s goal is to combat some of the effects of fast fashion as “92 million tons of clothing gets thrown away each year”. The facts put the name “fast fashion” into perspective as the clothing is not only rapidly produced but is disposed of even quicker due to the cheap quality and constant new rotation of style trends. Although inexpensive, I’ve realized that even the constant buying of fast fashion is not cutting my bank account a break, but instead is a flat-out poor investment. If the waste of material and money wasn’t reason enough, the moral darkness of fast fashion has since come to light. The shocking conditions of garment factories are exposed by ABC7, which pays their workers less than 2 dollars even while consumers may find themselves paying over $60 for jeans and sweatpants. The entire planet suffers at the hands of fashion as almost 70% of fast fashion is made from fossil fuels which is responsible for some of the world’s industrial water pollution. Therefore, It is apparent that there is a much deeper catch to the buy 1 get 1 free jean sale.

Save your closet, bank account, and the world, by stopping by their events listed @sustainableswapss on Instagram by simply bringing a bag of old clothes. Participating in this summer’s Sustainable Swap was worth my time financially, socially, and ethically. With the next event set to for August 17th from 2-6 PM at the Boston Public Garden, be sure to hold off on filling your cart with fast fashion, and hold onto your closet “last season” collection.