Becca Koenig
A few weeks ago, I ordered a shirt from a popular teenage clothing brand online. When it arrived and I tried it on, it ripped immediately.
My options were limited. Damaged, the shirt couldn’t be returned. If the store accepted it despite the damage, I would need to pay a fee. Once the shirt made its way back to the seller, it would likely be discarded due to its condition.
Many consumers have doubtlessly experienced the same situation. As fast fashion has gained prominence, the quality of clothes has suffered a drastic decline. Let’s face it, clothes today simply aren’t meant to be worn in the same way they were 20, or even 10, years ago.
Online platforms like TikTok and Instagram expose viewers to novel outfits daily, popularizing niche, experimental styles. Just as quickly as these aesthetics gain traction, they are discarded for an updated, trendier version. In 2025 alone, we saw the rise and quick fall of countless trends, from ballet flats and bows to leopard print and butter yellow hues.
To keep up with the pace of internet trends, many companies have ramped up production and quantity at the expense of durability. By matching the internet’s speed, brands further encourage overconsumption. Even if a consumer intends to use an item past its internet relevance, the garment may not outlive the trend.
The convenience of online shopping exacerbates this cycle. Unable to ensure fit, material and quality, clothes bought online are returned at a sky-high rate, sometimes reaching above 30%.
While buying a few more items may not seem like a big deal, the cumulative impact is significant. According to the Sierra Club, returned clothes contributed 700 million pounds of waste and emitted 16 million metric tons of CO2 in 2020. The environmental impact of this form of mass consumption isn’t always visible, but it is there.
Buying more sustainably helps the environment (and your wallet!). Here are some ways to be more environmentally conscious in your shopping:
Second hand clothing isn’t merely a way to be more environmentally conscious and wallet-friendly — it is a trend in itself. Older pieces often offer more distinctive and authentic styles. My favorite places to look for vintage clothing are Redwood City’s Savers, Palo Alto’s Goodwill and, if you’re willing to make the trek, San Francisco's Haight Street.
Though it may sound counterintuitive, purging your closet may actually broaden your wear and lessen your desire to buy more. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly familiar with the feeling of standing in a mountain of clothes while complaining that I have absolutely nothing to wear. This feeling is actually scientifically explainable: A surplus of options can induce a phenomenon known as decision fatigue. By donating old clothes you do not wear as frequently, you may find yourself noticing a broader range of pieces in your closet rather than reaching for the same sweater and jeans every day.
Investing in high-quality basics keeps you immune to the rapid fluctuations of microtrends, ensuring your pieces are longer lasting and more durable. Simple, timeless clothes never go out of style.
Trends will always change, and the rate of change doesn’t seem to be slowing. Choosing to buy less, and buy better, challenges the endless consumption fast fashion relies on. Trends fade, but waste doesn’t.
Becca Koenig is a senior at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton. Student News appears in the weekend edition. You can email Student News at news@smdailyjournal.com.
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(1) comment
Hi Becca - Great column, thanks! As someone who is always concerned about justice let me start by saying you should get a refund from the vendor without a fee and without having to ship the product back. You should be able to send a picture of the damage and ask for a refund. As an "elder," I can share that my parents and grandparents taught me how to make good use of any old clothes! There's a wonderful parable about a suit that a man kept repurposing until the only part left that he couldn't figure out how to use was one button and then one day the perfect use for that button arose. Hurrah!
As a retail store owner I have a lot of experience with receiving damaged goods and virtually all of our suppliers are quick to simply say "sorry" and give us a refund and allow us to find a way to give away, upcycle, recycle, or repurpose the damaged item. About the only time we send items back is when we get the wrong item, something we can not sell or do not want to sell, and the supplier has another place for it to go. Your other ideas for buying clothing (and many other items) are spot on! I LOVE places like Goodwill and shops like Bloomingayles in San Carlos and She Sells Resale in San Mateo where you can get used and vintage clothes and other items that are in great shape and just need a new home.
I look forward to more of your writing and... to share a bit of a newspaper writing secret, I sometimes find myself reusing material that I wrote for one purpose for another. Shhh..... Don't tell anyone!
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