Wear and Tear: the nits and grits of fast fashion retail
Ano topic mo, fashion?
(What’s your topic, fashion?) The guy who asked me that sounded as if I was predictable and that he’s tired of me dealing with fashion-related projects in school. Little boy, this one is different. Yes, I’ve done many fashion-focused projects such as a Vogue interactive storybook, a summer fashion shoot, a 20-paged fashion magazine, a Spring/Summer paperdoll game,Manila fashion website, Fast Fashion e-commerce website and the list goes on. It’s true that fashion is the easiest subject for me to take on and it never gets tiring because of its many branches. It just so happens that I’m interested and knowledgeable in it at the same time.
Picking this topic wasn’t easy—I begged my thesis level one adviser to pick my literary topics but she thought they stood for nothing but literature. My fashion topics on the other hand, had more substance and showed more concern for the society, which is the main goal of our thesis.
Fashion may seem like a very petty issue—it is, and it’s a shame that I’m wasting effort in fighting for a topic that gets looked down all the time. Fashion is not superficial. Retail profit amounts to billions of dollars annually. If fashion production is abused like it is already, the global economic status will be affected. These garments are sourced from different continents. While one’s loss is another’s gain, fast fashion production will be a lose-lose situation in the long run. My project aims to contribute to a better understanding of this dilemma, and hopefully I can get my message across with ease.
Why am I scared to start this project?
First, it’s my first time to create a project of my own and it just had to be a very ambitious one. I’m not a hypocrite, I like Topshop and Zara and I know that most kids my age do, too. They’re pretty, and it always feels good to be wearing something pretty. The internet dictates that these fast fashion retail brands have good garments—they do, I don’t even want to touch that—but to what extent does “good” serve its purpose? Fabric-wise, are they sturdy? When it comes to affordability, do they fit our budget? Based on design, are they at par with runway fashion? For the last question, that’s a big yes because most of these designs are based from runway trends, sometimes even translated into many different versions to avoid infringement. This is why they’re cheap and appealing. What you saw in the Versace show yesterday can be in the racks of Zara 2 weeks from now. With 200 designers on board and underpaid workers, it’s so easy to have the garments delivered to all outlets. How do you think does Donatella feel about that?
Second, it’s never been done. I’ve searched for similar subjects but there is not one website that denounced fast fashion retail directly. I’m not sure if there’s a treaty between fashion bloggers and these brands but it just bothers me that of the millions of style bloggers all over the globe, not one of them ever thought of discussing the disadvantages of fast fashion retail. It pains me that the first word has to come from a girl hailing from a third world country. When I was drafting my plans for my project during the first of three thesis levels, one professor told me to go beyond the borders ofManila. At first, I only wanted to discuss the effect of fast fashion in the Philippine setting, how we’re not ready for disposable fashion and how the sprouting of these fast fashion retail brands will ruin the consumerism of Filipinos. We all know that our economy has suicidal tendencies instigated by no other than its people. We’re naturally drawn to imported products thanks to American colonization and bringing in these imported brands which sell cheap, trendy clothing is almost the same as stabbing our local retailers in the face.
Third, I will get nasty comments. I don’t look like an advocate of anything, and it might seem weird that I am against one of my interests but don’t get me wrong—I have not fallen out of love with fashion. This involvement is actually a manifestation of that overflowing love for it, so much, that I have gone beyond patriotism; I now want to understand the effect of my buying behavior and the fashion production processes that my rompers have undergone before they reached me. It’s not easy to confront a multi-billion dollar issue especially if you’re not of position, but I’m hoping that with the support of everyone, this project would be successful.
I was very upset that my thesis got revised into a web comic because 1.) I don’t draw and 2.) Fashion addicts don’t read comics. But I’m happy about it now, because I get to insert facts and unspoken truths about fashion without directly offending people or sounding too preachy. After school, I plan to pursue this into the first format I had in mind, either an e-magazine or an informational website where I can speak my mind more through a direct approach.
(c) Fashion Firewoman
This is an editorial. The author does not intend to dispute the aforementioned brands.
