It’s Ok to Follow Trends!… Sustainably
My mother is a trend lover. Over the summer, she quickly hopped on the Stanley bandwagon and immediately bought herself two cups, mostly being motivated by her coworkers (most of which being around twentysomething years old). Now, when I visit home every few months, I find my mother with at least three new water bottles. I tease her for it, for I know she isn’t purposefully doing any harm- but I feel the need to warn her how the point of a reusable cup is that you don’t need to buy ten of them. I’m not a trend hater by any means- trust me when I say there are some I follow religiously. But the divide between trend followers and breakers is expanding- and both sides are guilty in promoting overconsumption of the things we really don’t need.
I can’t say that I’m not guilty of following similar trends; my closet is completely stacked with poorly made clothes that only seemed appealing to me when influences online were constantly promoting them. However, now that I have these clothes, I realize that most of them barely fit me and don’t match with the aesthetic I’m attracted to. It’s a total waste, not just of my money, but a waste that completely damages the environment.
Following a trend isn’t the issue, excessively purchasing goods that are poorly made in areas with terrible working conditions that damage the environment is the issue. However, when I tell my mom that, it doesn’t exactly translate properly. Instead of buying the newest water bottle, maybe keep the perfectly fine reusable cup you already have. If you want new clothes that follow a certain trend, go to thrift stores and try to find something similar! Not only are you saving money, but you’re also helping to save the planet one trend at a time.
