The Dark Side of Holiday Fashion: Unwrapping the Waste

by Oana-Maria Moldovan

The festive season brings joy, but hidden beneath the sparkle lies the environmental toll of our holiday fashion frenzy. And with the festive season comes Black Friday, which fuels our rush towards fast fashion, causing a surge in resource consumption and textile waste.

From Christmas to Hanukkah dinners to New Year’s Eve parties, the pressure to wear something new and stylish is palpable. The proximity of Black Friday to the holiday season intensifies our inclination toward fast fashion, with retailers promoting “irresistible” deals pushing us to refresh wardrobes for gatherings.

But the true cost extends beyond discounts – heightened emissions, excessive waste, and a cycle of short-lived garments. This indulgence transforms the season of giving into taking from our planet.

The ritual of buying outfits for every event often results in a wardrobe misfit, leading to the disposal of barely worn clothes. This wasteful cycle contributes to the 5.8 million tonnes of discarded clothing in Europe annually, escalating during the post-holiday winter purge.

Returns, a common aftermath of impulsive purchases, add to the problem. In 2020 alone, the USA witnessed 2.63 million kilograms of landfill waste due to fast fashion returns, with Black Friday and the holiday season implicated in over half of these cases.

Beyond environmental repercussions, the human toll is undeniable. Exploitative labor practices prevail, with workers enduring harsh conditions to meet the demand for cheap, trendy clothes. Instances like those in Bangladesh, where big high street brands like Zara and H&M refuse to up people’s wages from 75 dollars a month, highlight the urgent need for fair wages.

Gift-giving further fuels the issue, as well-intentioned clothing purchases often miss the mark. Ugly Christmas sweaters, bought for a single season, contribute to the complexity of this discourse too. Amidst the blame game towards fashion giants, it's crucial to acknowledge our own role in perpetuating this social phenomenon.

While the desire for new holiday clothes is understandable, the impact on our environment is not.

Opt for sustainable alternatives – thrift, swap, borrow, make, or invest in items with enduring appeal. Donate unwanted clothes to address the needs of others. You don’t have to hide from all Black Friday deals, but make thoughtful purchases rather than wasteful spontaneous buys.

Let’s celebrate the holidays in style, but being mindful of our planet's well-being.

Fashion For a Cause: Brands That Stand with Palestine and the history of fashion as a form of Activism

by Oana-Maria Moldovan For over two months, there has been an ongoing genocide war in Gaza. To simplify a long and horrific issue, the situation that started, on a larger scale, around one hundred years ago, and has only become amplified since October 7th 2023. Taking place around the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Israel–Lebanon border, the armed conflict is between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups. The problem is about “stolen” land. Said land is seen as an important holy part of both religions involved. But really, how holy can we consider a land to be, if people kill other people for it? It’s important to remember that this genocide is about three things: forced occupation, zionism, and religion. It’s also important to remember what ethnic erasure is. This terrible expresion, also known as cultural or ethnic assimilation, refers to the process by which the distinct cultural or ethnic identity of a particular group is gradually diminished or erased, often due to...

Now What? The Aftermath of the 'Manic Pixie Dream Girl'

by Susan Moore Here is a bit about me: I am an open, excitable, creative AFAB who is also moderately attractive. I have a unique sense of personal style and a personality that on the surface can only be described as “bubbly” and “quirky”. For this reason, dating is a nightmare. To be sure, I do not have a hard time finding dates or potential suitors. The problems arise when said dates spend some time with me and decide that I am a rare specimen, and the connection they feel with me is “unlike anything they have felt before”. Then, things go one of two ways. Either a) they decide I am too high maintenance and no longer palatable, or b) they choose to never look further than the surface and are content to date the idea of me rather than the real me. There is something rather interesting, perhaps funny, about my situation. It is in no way unique. I have met so many people who constantly dealt with the same problem. Even funnier still, is the fact that there is a trope that simu...

Victoria’s Secret's Downfall: Lack of Diversity and the Reimagined Fashion Show That Aims to Save the Brand

by Ally McLaren For 23 years, Victoria's Secret dazzled the world with its extravagant annual Fashion Show, but in 2019, the event was abruptly canceled. This decision, however, wasn't entirely surprising. The brand had faced mounting criticism for its lack of diversity, which contributed to declining ratings and scandals behind the scenes. Now, Victoria's Secret is attempting to reinvent itself with a new fashion show concept. Will this be enough to save the brand from its troubled past? The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was once renowned for its bejeweled bras, angel wings, and A-list performances. Despite thus, its popularity waned due to the brand's refusal to embrace diversity. Public outcry intensified in 2018 when the show's organizer, Edward Razek, made controversial remarks about not featuring plus-size or transgender models, suggesting it didn't align with the brand's fantasy image. Moreover, revelations about the brand's former CEO...

Darling Magazine

Search This Blog