A Second Hand Generation
Gen-z’s push towards a sustainable way to shop
Gen-Z is widely known as the generation of change in today's world, being born between 1995 and 2010 they have seen the rapid advancements of technology and the wide effects it’s had. This generation, raised on the morbid truths of the economy and environmental trajectory, has leaned into a sustainable way of living in effort to preserve their future. One of the big ways Gen-Z has participated in sustainability is with fashion.
‘Fast fashion’ is a blanket term used to describe manufactures who pump out mass produced clothing to follow latest trends at unsustainably high speeds, companies like Shein, Romwe, AliExpress and Temu are prime examples. With the recent turn in the economy many cannot afford name or even store brands, so manufacturers like Temu and Shein offer trendy clothes at extremely low prices, drawing many consumers to shop from them.
Unfortunately the cheap cost is not without a price; fast fashion has been widely exposed as extremely damaging to the environment, partaking in animal testing and cruelty, and exploiting inhumane hours, unsafe conditions, and pennies for wages. In order to mass-produce clothing that quickly and with such a wide variety of styles, morals and humanity must be compromised.
When faced with the reality of affordable or ethical, many Gen-Zers chose to opt for an apparent ‘both’ option: thrifting. Chain thrift stores such as Goodwill or Arc are among the most popular options available, but unfortunately, theres irony lying in these stores as many of the clothes now on their racks are discarded fast fashion bought pieces from last months ‘microtrend.’
Even so, local thrift stores have become Gen-Z’s choice, as styles from the 90s and 2000s have circled back, along with the desire for ethically sourced and durable clothing, second hand clothing that could've been worn by their parents or even grandparents is what they are looking for.
As this industry has become a norm, the changing of trends is only becoming more rapid with apps like TikTok circulating the ‘next cool thing,’ these companies are peddling to keep up, which, as Solene Rauturier wrote for Good On You’s What is Fast Fashion… “the pressure to reduce costs and speed up production time means environmental corners are more likely to be cut. Fast fashion’s negative impact includes its use of cheap, toxic textile dyes—making the fashion industry one of the largest polluters of clean water globally, right up there with agriculture.” Whereas Shein employees have been reported to be working 75 hour weeks in unventilated and dangerous buildings. In addition to the environmental and wildlife impact, the inhumane working conditions add another layer of distaste. As part of these companies' main demographic Gen-Z has been encouraging others and their own to make a better choice.
With the rise in thrifting another hobby came to light, upcycling. Upcycling is when one garment is thrifted or found (i.e. jeans, a t-shirt) that might not be worn or used as is, and turned into something the buyer will wear or use (a dress or handbag). This method of “shopping” has become increasingly popular as it allows customization and the ability to recreate trending or designer looks without the price, along with reintroducing the art and design into clothing and tapping into the wearers creativity.
Here at New York Embroidery Studio we strive to be an example of ethical ‘slow fashion’ and sustainability. Our multitude of services include customizations using, but not limited to, embroidery, rhinestone embellishments, printing, laser cutting, and punch-on designs . We encourage the upcycling of garments or materials that are unused so they can end up in someone’s closet rather than a landfill.
This shift of interest away from mainstream brands such as H&M or Forever 21 has caused the brands themselves to shift their production to try and replicate the “thrifted/90s” look, but there is one thing these fast fashion brands cannot replicate, the true drive for Gen-Z’s taste in used and upcycled clothing: longevity and sustainability.
These qualities simply cannot be produced via fast fashion, as the clothes they sell are meant to be thrown away and replaced with the newest runway wear a month later. More so, this generation was raised on the pessimistic reality of rising oceans, rising temperatures and impending economic doom. The weight of this knowledge has driven them to try and salvage what they can with an anti-consumer, anti-capitalist mindset, so they are looking for companies that are not further harming their futures.
Lastly, the rise of mass-produced, low-quality clothing detracts from the novelty and design of true creation, removing individuality and personality. When you buy fast fashion you trade quality, character and ethics for a low-cost, fleeting style that isn't built for long term wearing.
NYES wants to preserve the art in fashion along with returning to a renewable and innovative way to expand or renew your wardrobe. We will continue to encourage and offer ways to repurpose your clothing and give them a new life and further be inspired by the sustainable creativity we see around us.
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