In recent weeks I've been feeling convicted about my decision to shop fast fashion.
I'm a broke college student who wants to look cute, and the price points of stores like Zara, Urban Outfitters, Gap, H&M, and Forever 21 are, admittedly, appealing to me.
It's not that I shop at these stores a lot, but I still shop at them sometimes. And even if it's only sometimes, whenever I choose to make purchases at stores like these, I am saying yes to slavery, and supporting the denial of basic human rights so that I can look... What? Fashionable?
My mind reels...
What's fashionable about wearing a garment that was made by the hands of child? Or ripping off the designs of a young designer? Or less than safe working conditions? Or putting entire factories out of business overnight leaving hundreds of people unpaid and unemployed???
In the past, I have blocked all of these questions out, and agreed to collaborations with companies like H&M, because I was enamored by the big name and thought it would be good for my resume...
I've spent the last several days deep cleaning my heart and mind of a whole slew of nasty things.
I am trying to be better in all areas, so I also took an honest inventory of my wardrobe and what I want to do with it moving forward.
Inevitably, I came to the conclusion that if I want to truly honor my moral compass I cannot continue to support fast fashion in any capacity.
To be completely transparent, this hasn't been an easy decision for me to make. I am selfish and it doesn't come naturally for me to be okay with giving up certain collaboration opportunities that I know may come up in the future or the convenience of cute shoes at a cheap price.
But, at the end of the day, it is my belief that human life is a sacred and beautiful thing.
Being an influencer (barf! I hate that word) can sometimes feel like a shallow and purposeless job, so I want to stand for what's true.
I am saying no more to fast fashion, and I'm hoping that in the future my page can become a place where you go to find brands that you know you can trust.
*I am not taking this stance to slander those who shop at these stores or take collaborations with these companies. I would never look down on anyone for thinking differently than me on issues of the heart.
The Arthur Apparel pinafore pictured here was ethically made in Bali, Indonesia by local tailors, and is quickly becoming my new favorite thing.
Its minimalistic design makes it easy to wear every day without getting bored, which is something I've found to be true of all of their garments. Investing in a few quality pieces of clothing that you know were ethically made is the way to go.
Less is more and I seriously can't rave enough about how much I adore everything Arthur Apparel.
Definitely give their website a browse. You won't be sorry.
