November 2019

6 entertainment/westerner
BY LILIANNA VAUGHAN
reporter
As of earlier this month, over 11,000 scientists
have declared that our planet is experiencing
a “Climate Emergency.” One major trend
contributing to climate change is fast fashion,
which brings inexpensive and trendy styles to
the market as fast as possible.
Companies like H&M, Zara, Fashion
Nova, and Forever 21 are notorious participants
in fast fashion. According to the Fast
Fashion documentary “The True Cost,” the
average American yields 82 pounds of textile waste each year. Companies like
these profit off of American consumerism and materialism as trends seen in
popular culture stimulate constant demand for more.
Material such as polyester and cotton are being used at an increasingly
high demand, taking a major toll on the environment. Animals are also being
impacted as toxic dyes and microfibers are polluting the oceans.
According to the website GoodOnYou.eco, a tool that rates how ethical a
fashion company is, here are some ways to spot a fast fashion brand:
• Trends are seen on the shelves as soon as they become popular in the
media
• Items are manufactured in the cheapest ways possible, usually sacrificing
decent wages and the quality of life for workers
• Various styles that fit a variety of current trends
The good news is that there are simple solutions to ending the fast fashion
cycle within your everyday life. “You can have more responsible fashion, where
fabrics are made from recycled plastic,” AP Environmental Science teacher
Kristi Ryken said.
The Climate
Crisis
In Your Closet
November 22, 2019
When considering a new purchase, Ryken
recommended the following, “There’s nothing
wrong with getting something new, but
realize: is this something you really need or is
THE SIDE EFFECTS OF FAST this something you’re getting sucked into by
FASHION ARE TAKING A TOLL consumerism in the economy?”
ON OUR ENVIRONMENT
Checking online for sustainability ratings
of your favorite shops and brands is a
simple way to begin evaluating your closet
and shopping tendencies. The app Good On
You—Ethical Fashion allows you to check
the ratings of brands while on the go.
Brands such as Patagonia and United By Blue are discovering new ways to
transform the waste that is drowning our planet into new, high-quality clothing.
“While it’s best for the environment to avoid fast fashion, if that won’t
work for you, then keep your choices minimal. Balance those with classic pieces
made of natural fibers that are better for the environment,” Environmental
Club sponsor Leslie Karpiak said.
Another way for students to find new additions to their wardrobe without
the environmental toll is to visit local thrift stores or websites like Poshmark
and Ebay. According to the Student Environmental Resource Center at University
of California Berkeley, “Through thrifting, you keep the resources invested
in all of these clothing items from going to waste.”
For students interested in thrifting, Goodwill offers a very inexpensive
shopping experience while training and employing individuals that may otherwise
have a harder time finding a job. When looking for brand names and
clothes in good condition, Plato’s Closet in Schaumburg is filled with lots of
gems. Junior Madeleine Larson, an avid thrifter said, “It’s like recycling with
clothes!”
Reality vs.
Runway
EXPENSIVE RUNWAY LOOKS DIFFER DRASTICALLY
FROM EVERYDAY STYLE YET ARE STILL PRAISED DUE TO
THEIR BRAND NAME
BY HANA DEMPSEY
entertainment editor
When the word fashion comes to mind, it’s common to think of high
end brands and an almost formulaic way of dressing.
“When I think fashion, I think of the trends that people try to establish
for the runway. It’s not created by the person wearing it, but by someone
else trying to make that clothing item ‘stylish,’” junior Jagoda
Sobotka said.
Style, on the other hand, can be seen as something completely
different. “Everyone has their own personal style and
personal way they like to dress,” senior Grace Breton said.
Style is much more free-form in comparison to fashion which
can be seen as having guidelines and rules when it comes to what
you can and cannot wear. “Style can be your own thing. It’s what
you make it. It isn’t confined like fashion is,” junior Ellie Martin
said.
While runway looks for high end brands like Gucci and Prada
can be seen as symbols of fashion, it’s unlikely that they’re seen as
inspiration for someone’s everyday, personal style. “It’s really cool,
but sometimes can be a little crazy. I don’t think the clothes that they wear
are very practical. They’re just for ‘the look,’” Martin said.
However, just because the types of outfits showcased on name-brand
runways aren’t that wearable doesn’t mean they can’t be appreciated. “It’s
really aesthetically pleasing. I see it as art. It’s really an extravagant show
because it can have aspects that are not everyday, like heavy makeup and
crazy hair,” Breton said.
In general, the goal of runways is not to portray everyday looks, but
showcase experimental clothing styles to stand out and spur a reaction.
“They make fashion into an art, rather than something wearable on a
day-to-day basis. They make it look visually appealing in its own strange way
where you can’t really look away,” Sobotka said.
Furthermore, it may not even be the looks themselves that make
runway shows so popular, but rather the well-known brands that host
them. “It’s really more about the brand when it comes to why it’s worth
so much. If you wear Gucci, that’s considered fashionable,” Breton said.
People are usually more compelled to describe something as fashionable
if they know it’s made by a high-end brand. “If you’re a
fashion designer and you’re really popular, people will want to get
your clothes, maybe even force themselves to like it. For example,
Gucci. I don’t think the clothes they make are cool, but a lot of
people like it just because of the brand name,” Martin said.
However, these expensive brands don’t have to dictate what you
wear. “People need to understand that you don’t need to wear name
brands to dress well,” Breton said.
Many people find inspiration elsewhere, like social media. “I
usually get inspiration from Instagram, mainly from people like Kylie
Jenner. Even though she’s basic, she can have cool looks. They’re
more wearable looks that you can get inspiration from,” Breton said.
It takes some effort, however, to find a style that you like and one that
represents you well. “I used to just throw on whatever I thought looked
good, without taking into account if the outfit as a whole looked good.
Not only did I have to learn what went well together, but also what fit my
body,” Sobotka said.
No matter where you get your inspiration from, experimenting and
having fun is what style is all about. “I wear the things I feel like wearing
without caring about other people’s opinions. I would probably even wear
some of those slightly strange [runway looks] just because they look
fun,” Sobotka said.
XIAO LIN HE