This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Fainite Auguste. Find her on Instagram at @ceilingdancing. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
The crochet trend has taken Zillennials by storm. The aesthetic reminds people of a slower time and falls under the grandma and grandpa style. But did you know the cardigan, sweater, or dress that you bought and loved is not the great purchase that you think. Here are some reasons why you should never purchase crochet items from fast fashion brands and what you can do instead.
What is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion is a cheap and most importantly quick way to produce clothes that are labeled as trendy. It’s very easy to fall into the fast fashion trap. Things like “dupes” are a huge part of the industry. Companies copy ideas, styles, and textures from luxury brands and sell clothing items at a cheaper rate. People are obsessed with the idea of looking like they can afford luxury.
The reality is fast fashion brands often prioritize quantity over quality. Mass-produced crochet pieces produced by these brands are made with cheap materials or non-biodegradable materials, like polyester. The garments quickly lose shape, unravel, or fall apart after only a few washes.
Exploitation in Fast Fashion
The faster the clothes are produced the sooner consumers can start wearing them. Consequently; this creates shorter trend cycles. Trends used to come back every 20 to 30 years, but now the 2010’s are already making a comeback. Consumers throw out their clothes to make room in their closets for the next trend. There are thousands of videos online of fashion hauls. Influencers have normalized buying 30 to 40 pieces at once. Thankfully people are pushing against the hauls; creating the “anti haul.”
Companies exploit workers in developing countries by paying low wages, providing unsafe working conditions, and disregarding labor rights. To make matters worse crochet pieces can only be made by hand. It takes over 20 hours to make one crochet cardigan. Now imagine a fast fashion realtor requesting thousands of crochet cardigans.
The fast fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries globally. 92 million tons of waste is created every year because of fast fashion.
What is Slow Fashion?
Slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. Slow fashion focuses on mindful production and resources in fashion, favoring quality designs over trends to reduce clothing waste in landfills. It promotes sustainable practices and ethical labor.
You’ve probably heard of a capsule wardrobe, it encourages consumers to invest in timeless pieces. Getting basics like a plain tee shirt, blue jeans, and a turtle neck are great ways to build a capsule wardrobe.
Learn to Crochet or Support Small Businesses
A great solution to combating the fast fashion crochet issue is learning how to crochet. It’s a fun hobby to have and can be done nearly anywhere. I bet you’ve seen people crocheting on the train or in the park.Starting may seem a little scary, but there are hundreds of TikToks and YouTube videos that show people how to start crocheting. However; once you get the hang of it, crocheting becomes second nature.
You can support small businesses directly if you struggle to learn how to crochet. If you can wait a few weeks for the items to ship, purchasing crochet items from independent artists or ethical brands is a great option. Independent artists often prioritize quality and sustainability. They can also control when and where they create the pieces. These small businesses offer unique products. You can find small businesses on TikTok or Etsy. Also supporting the artist’s content is a great way to give money without spending any.
What are your favorite crochet pieces? And are you planning on begging your crochet hobby? Let us know!
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