Week 6

Mahima Rupakula
913734418

Week 6: Be Green Challenge

Week 6 of the Be Green Challenge is complete! I think that this challenge was relatively easy to go through with because I never had much time to go shopping much anyways. I did consider buying a new jacket, as my friend took back the one I borrowed from her back. I know that I really was only successful with the Be Green Challenge because it was happening during an extremely busy quarter for me, because I would go online "window shopping" a lot. Meaning, I would look up clothing websites and just look at clothes that I wanted for fun. I think that this is actually a good strategy for curbing the constant need to go online shopping and the addictive consumerist mentality that our generation is starting to foster. The rapid reward cycle of buying things online is probably what drives this consumerist factor forward. This challenge did teach me how to look for smaller brands that don't thrive off of fast fashion trends. One example is a brand I'm currently obsessed with, called Indya, which re-purposes Indian outfits into more modern fashion trends. I think that I might consider getting items from these smaller brands instead of feeding into fast fashion trends more often. 

References:

1. “Online Shopping Addiction.” Michael's House Treatment Centers, 31 May 2018, www.michaelshouse.com/blog/online-shopping-addiction/.

2. "The True Cost." Morgan, Andrew. The True Cost = Der Wahre Preis Der Mode.

Week 6: Be Green - Shang Her

Shang Her
Be Green
Blog #6

I began collecting my trash as I accumulate them. I started Monday 5/27 through 6/3. The first few things that I notice I was throwing out often was food scraps and wrapping. I began to notice that almost everything that I used was plastic or covered with plastic. I ate ramen noodle and it came in a plastic bag with the seasoning in plastic packaging. I notice my diet as well. I often ate out which means I created more waste such as, plastic food wrapping, paper cup, plastic cup cover, napkins, and paper bags. Each time I collected a piece of trash, I would feel guilty that I created more trash. For each ice cream, I ate through away a plastic wrapping and a popsicle stick. Every night, as I do my skincare routine, I use a cotton pad and cotton swab. Each time that I kept throwing away waste, I wonder how can I reduce my amount as I strive towards sustainability.   

As I was thinking of why to be more sustainable, I came across this video by Refinery 29. In this video, Lexy Lebsack looked into the beauty industry and how plastic keeps getting washed up on beach shores. In the video, Lebsack went to Herbal Essences' factory and interview one of the workers there. The Herbal Essences shampoo bottle claims to be made from reusable plastic and beach friendly but in the interview, the worker said the bottles are only made from 25% reused plastic. Like many other industries out there, plastic is bought by sellers and revolves around money. The most bought and recycles plastic is white or clear so most colored plastic said it can be recycled but most of the time it is not. This video has changed the way I view plastic and how I will continue to shop in the figure. I hope to purchase less plastic and if I do so, I'll be more cautious about only purchasing plastic that is white or clear. 

Week 6: Jacqueline Yee

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Jacqueline Yee

Week 6

ASA 141

The challenge is over. I am surprised I lasted the full six weeks without purchasing clothing, so part of me is glad the challenge is over so I can buy new clothes. This last week was really tough since I had to attend a conference, I wanted to purchase some new blouses and tops. However, I had to do everything in my power to refrain myself. I was able to rummage through my closet and borrow some blouses from my sister, so I went to the conference with some good business casual outfit choices. Doing this challenge made me more aware of how I spend my money on material items because of the process and places that it is made. The brands I buy stand for what I endorse, so it is important to understand the whole supply chain of fashion, not just the part on the sales floor. This picture sums up what I was so ignorant about before this challenge and reading the class material.

This challenge has also made me more aware of the use and excess waste generated by activities other than clothing. For example, food and travel toiletries. The use of plastic accumulates and from here on out, I will try to be more aware of my actions and spending habits. I can buy plastic travel bottles to refill myself, buy bar soaps instead of soap in plastic bottles, and in terms of food, bring my own utensils and straws.

Works cited:

1. https://www.themadeinamericamovement.com/sustainability/6-things-you-didnt-know-about-fast-fashion/

2. U.S. News & World Report. (n.d.). Santa's Sweatshop. Retrieved April 28, 2019, from https://www.saigon.com/nike/news/Us1.html

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Week 6

Isabelle Perlada
ASA141
6/3/19

Going into this last week of the Be Green challenge, I can't say that my habits have really changed too much. Even though I have not purchased clothing and other items on impulse like I usually do, I have turned more towards spending my money on food all the time. A number of factors contributed to this, and it was mostly unavoidable this whole quarter. Even though the purpose of the purchases are different, the spending still felt the same as buying things off of Amazon, as food is a necessity but does not last. I also found myself spending a lot of money on boba out of craving, which is not a necessity. Thus, I really do feel like consumables like food and snacks was the loophole I really exploited in this challenge, which led me to not be able to break my spending habits at all. I did learn to think a little more deeply about where my clothes come from and whose expense they might come at, but I don't know if I can say I would continue to buy solely from sustainable brands because as a student, they are just completely out of my price range. I would hope that one day, there would be a solution that is sustainable and affordable other than second-hand purchases. I found this article that may be a good starting point.

https://www.thehonestconsumer.com/blog/ethical-clothing-brands-college-students-can-afford

Week 6

Mary Qin
Week 6
ASA 141

I am so happy that this challenge is over since summer is coming up. This was difficult for me. However, I feel like I learned a lot from this challenge in terms of being aware of how much I buy things. While this challenge did teach me to think twice about the things that I buy and about where my clothing is coming from/how sustainable it is, I think that the part of the class that impacted me the most was not the challenge in itself, but the films that we watched in class. Watching the protesters struggle for livable pay and seeing how the garments pile up gave me better perspective on what I am contributing to with mindless shopping. I have heard in the past that some of the clothes from shops like Nike, Forever 21, and H&M are unethical, but I honestly did not really care. However, seeing those films and seeing the workers' struggles really put everything into perspective. Sandra Niessen's "Afterword: Re-Orienting Fashion Theory" talks about how Asian designers struggle with designing in the modern world and are only really wanted for exoticness. This reminds me again of how even in this world, Asia is seen as less than the West. The West merely sees it as something to exploit. The Los Angeles Times reported that Forever 21 had to pull out of the Chinese market and is looking to restructure itself. I am curious of how this could be positive or negative in terms of its fast fashion and working conditions.

Work Cited:

“Forever 21, Struggling with Global Expansion, Explores a Debt Restructuring.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2019, www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-forever-21-restructuring-20190603-story.html.

Niessen, Sandra "Afterword: Re-Orienting Fashion Theory." Re-Orienting Fashion: The Globalization of Asia Dress'. 2003. 

Week6: Back to Basics (Valverde)

The Begreen Challenge has reminded me the joy of upcycling through crafting. For instance, in the last few weeks, I have been learning the art of mending and stitching sashiko style. I am taking torn jeans from family members and giving them beauty, style, and character. I also resumed my old hobby of beading. In both stitching and beading, I discovered that it's my form of meditation. I also knit/crochet, fly kites, and aquascape. With all these hobbies, they require a fair amount of skill and concentration, as well as constant movement. Combined, these practices calms my active mind. So, even though I cannot meditate the conventional way, I definitely find quiet and peace with my hobbies.

Also, in the all of these hobbies, I'm able to create and share. It forces me to be outside (or indoors) with people and connect on a real human level and let our creative juices flow. Lastly, as it connects to our class, I am able to reuse the things I mend or knit. It's good to enjoy being sustainable.

Week 6: Social and Physical Environments of Fashion

Week 6: Social and Physical Environments of Fashion
Grace Petersen
June 2, 2019

This concludes the last week of our challenge, and despite last week's slip, I feel relatively clean in my habits throughout the second half of the quarter. In reflection, I feel like this challenge has helped me to really conceptualize the message of our course not only through the academic sphere but also to connect it to my own personal habits. In going through this alongside the readings, I have had a greater opportunity to think on how our habits as consumers are intricately linked to issues not only of environmental impact, but class as well.

This class has effectively severed the idea from my mind that fashion is a-political in any way shape or form, and especially in regard to race and nationality. The idea that fashion is a western concept, or even a concept which only exists in western influenced societies is entrenched in politics of class just as much as it is with race and nationality. Sandra Niessen writes that "Fashion is successful only when it has a following," and it is this logic that cites fashion as a western trend, since it is the west that dominates on the international scale. This idea, however, neatly ignores the reality in which many Asian designer from Issey Miyake to Alexander Wang who have enormous influence on fashion





It is reflexive upon reviewing the argument that these designers are 'western' to cite the various ways and forms in which their work deviates from the mold, but this argument itself lacks the critical perspective needed in this conversation. It is not enough to expand the world of designers and executives to include 'non-western' perspective, as Minha-Ha Pham states: "...adding more people of color in high-value sectors like design, marketing, and advertising will do nothing to change the work conditions of people of color in low-value jobs in the cut/make/trim (CMT) sectors." What is truly needed is a thorough examination of the material living conditions and use of resources and how this disproportionately benefits people and nations in power.


Works Cited:
Niessen, Sandra. "Afterword: Re-Orienting Fashion Theory." The Globalization of Asian Dress, 2003. 
Pham, Minh-Ha. "How to Fix the Fashion Industry's Racism." The New Republic, April 18, 2019.
      https://newrepublic.com/article/153596/fix-fashion-industrys-racism

Week 6

As the Be Green Challenge comes to an end I have noticed I have become better at using what I already have in new ways. I had one of my clubs banquets this weekend and needed to dress up for it. Rather than going out and buying something new for the occasion, which isn't very sustainable. I dug out my entire closet to find something usable. I ended up pulling together something better than I would've bought by mixing and matching things I've owned for a long time. In a way that was completely unique and different than I've ever used them before. I was able to repurpose a lot of great pieces which I haven't even seen since high school. This may have been the best outcome of the Be Green Challenge for me.

Through this experience I've looked into other ways of repurposing my old clothes. I found numerous websites with many great ways of creating useful new items out of things many of us have too much of, like old t-shirts.
https://www.lifehack.org/453113/27-creative-ways-to-reuse-old-clothing

J.J. Noel 

week 6

ASA 141 Be Green Challenge

The End

Christian Funk
ASA141

The challenge is finally coming to and end. The past five weeks haven't been too bad for me, not much of a challenge. Though I must say it's a sigh of a relief this is ending because my birthday is coming up and I'm trying to buy some stuff and treat myself. All in all, these past five weeks have been good and I'm glad I've gone through it. Everyone should try and challenge themselves like this.

The article this week talked about the definition of fashion. Fashion is seen as only a Western phenomenon. This is inaccurate as fashion is global. Fashion does not just influence us in the states or even Western society. It is the invisible that are behind the scenes that suffer. I relate this back to the five-week challenge. Our consumerism, in short, we may only think of ourselves in the short-run. In the end scheme of things, many, many are affected and it largely goes unnoticed. We all should do our part and stop the disaster that is the Western phenomenon of extreme consumerism.

Week 6- Sapana Gautam

Sapana Gautam
Be Green Challenge
Week 6

Finally, the Be Green Challenge has come to an end.  They say it takes 5 weeks to make or break a habit, and after completing this challenge, I can say that this is definitely true.  Towards the beginning of this challenge, I struggled a lot.  I was too anxious about not being able to buy an outfit for banquet, not being able to buy presents, and just not being able to shop for things in general.  I would constantly window shop.  I would go to the stores, try stuff on, and sadly put them back.  I would browse the web for hours and fill up my shopping carts on so many sites but never actually check out.  Slowly but surely, that all stopped.  It could be because the quarter started to pick up and I didn't have the physical time, but I would like to believe that it was because of what this challenge has taught me.  It taught me to save my money.  It taught me that I don't need to constantly shop for things.  It taught me to be cautious of where I shop as I could be supporting unfair labor laws, unfair pay, and unsanitary workplaces.

Surprisingly, not buying anything made me more aware of my own sense of style.  I was forced to work with what I have-- not what I want.  This made me pay more attention to how I style my outfits in order to better represent who I am as an individual.  In this week's reading "Asian On My Mind", Thuy Linh Nguyen speaks about how Asian American fashion is "partly inherited, partly modified, and partly invented".  She says these modifications were not drawn from Asia but rather from various other "streams of internationalism".  Basically, it has been whitewashed.  Kate Betts expressed her disappointment in the fall fashion shows of 2004 because all the Asian American designers "betrayed no hint of their Asianness".  This made me upset.  My culture is beautiful and I realized I have so many clothes with "Indian" patterns that I rarely wear out because I'm afraid to stand out.  However, since I wasn't able to buy anything, I became more appreciative of these pieces and wore them out more.  What better to represent me than my own culture??

References:
https://www.sciencealert.com/how-long-it-takes-to-break-a-habit-according-to-science
Thuy Linh Nguyen. "Asian On My Mind"

Week 6

Entry # 6

Reanna Lao

The last week of the be green challenge flew by very quickly. This week I only made one purchase besides food and that was on a new set of mason jar lid/straws. Reflecting on these last few weeks,  I am glad that this class pushed me to become more aware of my consumption habits. Though I do not make many retail purchases, I was shocked to learn about how much takeout boxes and utensils I would accumulate throughout the week. Overall, this challenge has made me more cautious about my surroundings and how easy it is to produce waste. Moving forward, I will keep in mind the lessons learned from this challenge. I am also looking forward to seeing how I will react to the many temptations during my vacation abroad this summer.

The idea of control seems to be related to this challenge and to this weeks reading. In Re-Orienting Fashion Theory by Sandra Niessen, the author talks about how nations try to exercise control in the way other nations view each other. It seems that fashion these days is more standardized and geared towards changing views of social status than of personal identity.

Sandra Niessen. "Afterword: Re-Orienting Fashion Theory."

Week 6 of Be Green Challenge

Blog 6
Magnolia Garcia
        I truly am amazed at how quickly this quarter and this challenge flew by. It really does take five weeks to establish a habit. Six weeks ago, I was worried that I would quickly give in and break the challenge out of temptation. I remember that the very first night Blog 1 was due, I had walked into Forever 21 with my housemate and successfully avoided from succumbing to purchasing anything. We had just watched True Cost in class, and that documentary was more than enough to change my outlook on the store and fast fashion. As this challenge has progressed, I’ve only grown more and more aware of my surroundings while in stores; I notice the quality of items, pay attention to its byproducts and determine whether or not purchasing such an item would result in a positive or negative [longterm] consequence.
        I must admit, my own idea of fashion has changed a bit, too, over the course of this challenge. The course, in general, has been an influence, as a matter of fact. So, to have read Re-Orienting Fashion Theory this week and coming across quotes which read, “Fashion does not exist in tribal and classless societies,” “. . . fashion is scarcely to be found in . . .” is upsetting (Niessen). At the very least, if there’s anything I learned this quarter, it’s that fashion is limitless; there are so many dimensions to fashion. Given this, it’s important be be knowledgeable on the subject. There are endless ways to describe fashion, and one of the simplest and purest forms I’ve come across reads as follows: “The point of fashion is to protect you. But that can mean different things. Most basically, fashion exists to cover you; the ‘protection’ can change depending on who you are and where you are.” (Medine) While there is plenty more to the idea of fashion, I appreciate how sincere and inclusive this description is.
        With the challenge coming to an end, I would just like to add that I am appreciative of having taken part in it. Moving forward, I will try to be more mindful every day. Lastly, I will make constant efforts to further develop and improve the habits I have picked up along the way, whether that be knowing the difference between a need and a want or even setting monthly budgets for myself. I simply cannot let go of all that this course has done for me.


Medine, Leandra. “What's the Meaning of Fashion? I Asked 12 Industry Veterans.” Man Repeller, 7            Feb. 2018, www.manrepeller.com/2018/02/meaning-of-fashion.html.

Sandra Niessen. “Afterword: Re-Orienting Fashion Theory.” 

Week 6 - Qiuying Lin

Qiuying Lin
ASA 141
Week 6

In the last week of Be Green Challenge, I learn a lot from this weekly article. Although the mainstream of fashion is in Westen style, under the globalization, anti-western is raising up among Asian. People then realize that we need to redefine what is fashion and look into the anti-fashion and globalization effect in fashion. I think this event reflects consciousness also because people start to "describe the appropriation of anti-fashion by fashion." This is great progress actually. When we are not following the trend of recent fashion, and begin to develop critical thinking to figure out our persona through fashion, it means consciousness is inside our shopping experience. In addition, I don't think beauty or fashion has its own standard. Therefore, it's ok to create your own style under this global century. Mixing western style and Orientalism style is also a good way to express your own fashion. So, everyone doesn't need to worry about whether you are on the right way of fashion or not. You are the dominator of your own fashion.

We can't define whether people are in fashion or not, and there is no boundary inside fashion. The models in the following video show that anti-fashion could be so charming. So, we are in Be Green process, we are also in conscious anti-fashion progress.

Works Cited

Fashion, The Business of, director. YouTube. YouTube, YouTube, 9 Feb. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV3djdXfimI.

Niessen, Sandra. "Afterword: Re-Orienting Fashion Theory."

Week 6

Week 6
Fara Suiza
ASA141
June 2, 2019

Today, I went to the mall with my mom and I bought myself a graduation dress. However, taking into what I've learned in this class, I began to shop more consciously, but still not as perfectly or ethically as I would've wanted. I feel like that's hard to do 100% in full, but when my mom suggested we enter and shop at the Forever 21 and/or H&M, I declined, opting to buy something at Dillards.

Dillards is a department store than I would consider more on the high-end side of the price spectrum. It's affordable, but when shopping, one should be aware that rarely are things inside below $100. Even the more simplest white dress I could find was around $160 on average.

I settled on two dresses, one from Calvin Klein and the other from a designer I didn't recognize. CK isn't known for being as ethical as they could be, but I do like the quality of their clothes. In general, I see these 2 dresses lasting a very long time and they can be used for other events in the future. This reminds me of the reading "When the original is beyond reach: consumer perception and demand for counterfeit luxury goods in Germany and South Korea" when it mentioned how Germans preferred to buy authentic, high-quality luxury goods because they perceive it to be of higher quality (i.e. it'll last longer than counterfeit), and that is how I view and justify buying at Dillards > Forever 21 or H&M despite similarities in their ethics.

Calvin Klein's rating as a brand: D
https://rankabrand.org/premium-brands/Calvin+Klein

CITE
S. Behrens, C. Klarmann, K. Wiedmannn, "When the original is beyond reach: consumer perception and demand for counterfeit luxury goods in Germany and South Korea".

Week 6: Be Green Challenge

Sidney Siu
ASA 141
Blog 6

As we close the 2019 Be Green Challenge, I feel both accomplished and humbled. By cutting out any extra purchasing for 6 weeks straight, my eyes were opened to all of my shopping urges. I didn’t shop often to begin with-- and I still don’t-- but I did notice when I would have to refrain myself from buying little things. Most of my purchases went towards a lot of food, which I feel like is justifiable as long as you don’t waste it. Though, there is still a problem with this, as it contributes to food-packaging garbage. I always try to recycle what I can, but this challenge made me even more passionate about trying to do my part in protecting the environment. Overall, this challenge was not hard, yet still very significant to me. Furthermore, I will try my best to live my life as if I am still participating in the Be Green Challenge. This means living minimally, but still allowing myself to treat myself once in a while, such as buying makeup.

Because my exhibit project revolved mainly around sustainability, my eyes were opened widely about the amount of wasted textiles and the ways they pollute the earth. Some of my inspirations for the theme of my project actually came from one of the clips in True Costs along with an image that I selected for one of the other blogs from this class, It had never occurred to me how these dumped fabrics can pollute the water around the world because of the running dyes, however, my knowledge of it will forever be engrained in me and I will continue to relay the lasting effects the fast-fashion industry.

Week 6 | Go Green Challenge

Rida Riaz
ASA 141
Week 6

This challenge has officially come to an end and I have been surprised of my efforts thus far as I hadn't purchased anything up until now. This week, I had a few cosmetic essentials that I had ran out of and decided to go and purchase only what I needed; however, my weakness got the best of me and I ended up buying a couple more products I definitely didn't need. Also, as I'm going on a vacation, I saw a dress that I've been wanting for a while online which was on sale and bit the bullet and purchased the item. Not gonna lie, I felt incredibly guilty of my recent purchases this week as money adds up even though we tend to buy inexpensive items.

This challenge has taught me a lot about buying when you're not feeling your best or during stressful situations. In fact, this month I was put into many stressful events, however, I didn't have the need to go shopping and impulse shop and decided to just divert my mind onto other things that made me happy like hanging out with family and friends. Not spending a lot this previous month allowed me to focus on putting that money into better use like into savings and other important investments.

Moreover, I felt good that I didn't partake in the mass consumer consumption as much as I did previously. Knowing facts about fast fashion and the production nightmare behind it had always left me weary whenever I shopped from Zara or H&M. I'll probably continue to shop from these places; however, my goal is to incorporate lots of sustainable brands into my wardrobe until I get to a place where I completely disregard fast fashion brands and include only sustainable pieces. Ethical fashion production is also another huge concern of mine and every time I purchase an item from H&M, I see that "Made in Bangladesh" tag and instantly, there's this sense of guilt and hopelessness rushing through my body. This class and challenge has taught me so much about spending, fast fashion, ethical/sustainable fashion and the importance of culture that I will take all these layers of knowledge with me throughout my lifetime and put these teachings into practice.

As I was searching for sustainable fashion brands, I came across a brand called Purple Impressions which is founded by a Pakistani-American woman, Drakshan Khan. This brand emphasizes sustainability through culture and ethics by "spreading values and ideas that the clothing pieces represent." This company makes everything hand crafted by working women in Pakistan by providing employment and benefits to these workers; moreover, something that really stood out to me was how each and every garment made is signed by the woman who made it adding to the garment's sentimental and cultural value. We need more brands and people who strive to make the clothes which embodies another to carry ethical and cultural values while giving back to the community and its people.

Purple Impressions 

Purple Impressions 

Purple Impressions 

Works Cited

Blogpost on Purple Impressions | https://www.linkouture.com/sustainable-artisan-clothing-brand-purple-impression/ 

Joy, Annamma, et al. “Fast Fashion, Sustainability, and the Ethical Appeal of Luxury Brands.” Fashion Theory, vol. 16, no. 3, 2012, pp. 273–295. doi:10.2752/175174112x13340749707123.

Week 6: Franchesca Flores

Week 6: Blog 6
ASA 141
Franchesca Flores

Personal photo of my altar

The last week of the Be Green Challenge and this week I had no time for materialism and capitalism because my mind has been focused on finals week. Although, the only shopping I did partake in was going to the Crystal Shop in Vacaville. I bought an abalone shell to use when burning my sage and to add to my altar. I wouldn’t consider this too much of a materialistic item, although I do personally enjoy adding elements to my altar, this is also a part of my ways of healing and meditating. When it comes to purchasing items for my altar I like to do personal research from what culture it originates from or is used in. A lot of my pieces retain to Aztec culture, but similar to the article read in class called, “Reorienting Fashion Theory,” by Sandra Niessen, Asian culture has a big role in spirituality and they don’t only have to be objects, but the fabrics and textiles play a big component in the altar. Niessen was referring to traditional/folk pieces and garments being “anti-fashion” but it doesn’t necessarily have to be a fashion statement, it can also play a part in spiritual practices and displays like an altar. 

I use my serape, which can also be used as a dress, skirt or shirt in Mexico as the base of my altar. I use this as my foundation and protection for my pieces on my altar. With this, the question I want to pose is if traditional garments are meant to wear do they still hold their meaning when used for other uses like an altar? Does this make it more meaningful?

Works Cited:

“Mexican Serape Blanket | History.” Mexpro, 31 July 2017, www.mexpro.com/blog/mexican-serape-blanket.

Niessen, Sandra. "Afterword: Re-Orienting Fashion Theory."

Week 6 - Be Green Challenge

Jinia Lee
Blog Post #6

As this challenge comes to an end, I am disappointed but still proud of the progress I have made in terms of becoming conscious of my spending habits and impulse buys. This week has been a little difficult in terms of my mental and physical health, so I let go of the challenge for a bit and bought a few things for myself. However, I limited how many things I can get and assessed if these items will remain liked and helpful throughout time. I feel that this challenge has definitely helped my outlook on sustainability and the effects of fast fashion. Whenever I look at clothes in stores, it always brings me back to the documentary, True Cost, and it prevents me from purchasing from fast fashion stores. In addition, the challenge and our exhibit project has inspired me to learn more on how to upcycle old clothes, so I'm excited to spend more time on that during the summer :)

I've been watching this YouTuber for awhile and I love how easy she makes upcycling look since she doesn't do any complicated things.

Week 6: Zoe Martin

Zoe Martin

Week 6

Be Green Challenge

As this challenge concludes, I am actually very proud of how much my consumer behaviors have changed. On the first day of class, Professor Valverde asked us how often we shopped and I was too afraid to admit that I online shopped every day. Retail therapy had always been a stress release for me. As we covered topics such as fast fashion and sustainability in class, I realized that I was a big contributor to the fashion industry’s wastefulness. As a design major with an emphasis in clothing and textiles, I really want to be aware of my choices as I intend to work in the second most pollutant industry (after oil).

In the past five weeks, I managed to get away with only buying a formal dress (which I can also wear to the two weddings I need to attend this summer) and cosmetics. I am definitely a lot more selective about the clothing I buy. I consider where and how it is made, what it was made out of, and if I can wear it three different ways with the clothing I already own. I have adapted a “quality over quantity” mentality. Additionally, when purchasing cosmetics, I am a lot more aware of what goes into my products.

Overall, I think the Be Green Challenge changed my shopping habits for the better and I am glad that I actually took this challenge seriously. I have a new awareness about what I’m purchasing and its origins (physically, economically, and socially). I have implemented a recommendation from the article Santa’s Sweatshop, and I choose to “vote with my dollars.”

References:

https://edgexpo.com/fashion-industry-waste-statistics/

Holstein, William. "Santa's Sweatshop." U.S. News & World Report. Volume 121, Issue 24, December 16, 1996.