Fast fashion is more expensive than many realize.
As a psychology-focused student, I’m not immersed in the field of sustainability, but I’m certainly greatly impacted by the global fashion industry.
At first, the word “sustainability” felt energy-depriving and easy to ignore because it seemed as though sustainable options didn’t accommodate students on a budget.
Sustainable clothing options seemed so expensive. I overheard conversations from others: “Wouldn’t it be easier to just buy from extremely low-cost brands?”
As a student, it can come across as a reasonable choice to lean into fast-fashion brands. “It saves money, and I can do more of the aesthetics with everything I can now own.”
Common reasons I’ve come across for why many of us seem to benefit from fast fashion include trendy outfits, easy ordering and affordable prices (perhaps a bit too affordable … I questioned this at times as it almost seemed like a trap).
Yes, it is a trap. You can learn about global fashion and consequential impacts from professionals like Dr. Jimil Atamanassistant professor of sustainable innovation in the global fashion industry at the U of A. Dr. Ataman will lead a presentation during International Week on Problems and Possibilities in the Global Fashion System, followed up by The Repair Café to teach clothing mending techniques I’m excited to learn about.
Here are some practical solutions for students.
I’ve learned some great solutions by engaging with sustainability topics. I’ll address some common student reasoning around affordability and accessing aesthetic styles, and how sustainability is still a better option.
Rationale: “The money is too much.” Investing in sustainable clothing can seem more burdensome than fast fashion.
Counterpoint:
- Usually, fast-fashion clothing wears out after a few washes, creating a need to buy more new clothing.
- Sustainable clothing with higher prices often lasts longer.
Rationale: “I want a clothing haul.”
Counterpoint:
- As a student, having too many clothes is not helpful when it creates decision fatigue and a need to buy more storage for the endless haul of clothing.
- It can be more productive to have fewer good-quality items with more thoughtful choices.
- It’s not always ideal to spend smaller amounts on everything; the bill itself can add up with unproductive purchases.
Rationale: “What if my clothing rips …” Spending money on another pair of jeans, tops or leggings with a small tear is a common habit nowadays.
Counterpoint:
- I remember when stitching clothes and creating new ones wasn’t a hobby or personal branding; it was a regular skill people used to repair their own clothes.
- I’d rather learn a couple of stitching techniques if it saves me bandwidth, money and storage space.
Here are a few links with easy ways to start sustainable purchasing:
Where to learn more?
I encourage you all to engage in International Week (I-Week), taking place Feb. 2–7, 2026. In between classes, you can get curious about what challenge to take on next with intention.
There are hands-on opportunities to learn new skills, meet people who might offer a new or different perspective than yours and connect over global topics.
