Affordable prices, but at what price? I originally wanted to write an article about the best Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals for 2022. However, I went on to find that there are actually many brands that boycott Black Friday. I was pretty surprised, but also proud to see that brands took this step. The brands all mentioned similar notions that drove them to boycott this holiday— overproduction, excess waste, impulse buys, and price tricking being the reasoning behind their methods.
Black Friday is usually the start of holiday shopping and is a day when many people get their gifts for loved ones. I cannot deny that the holidays bring on many expenses. As college students, we may not be able to afford full-priced gifts… and that’s okay. An important step forward is becoming more aware of the downfalls of mass consumerism during the holidays, specifically Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Here are some ways you can do your part to make the holidays a bit more sustainable:
SHOPPING AWARENESS
As I visited the websites of popular brands such as Lululemon, Aritzia, and Zara to research their Black Friday deals, I found myself adding way too many items to my cart. “This is on sale and it’s cute, let me get it!” I took a step back and realized that on any other ordinary day I would not spend this much on clothing items all at once. I realized I was falling into a mass consumerism gimmick! To avoid impulse shopping, ask yourself these few questions: “Can I afford to buy this item twice? Do I plan on wearing these pieces multiple times? Do I want it only because it is cheap?”
SHOPPING FOR STAPLES
Shopping for stapes or timeless pieces can help build a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is built with pieces that can be styled in many different ways to recreate an entirely different outfit. As college students, buying quality staples can be a bit pricey! If you do choose to purchase for your own closet on Black Friday, buying some staple pieces may create less waste as the intention for these types of purchases is to reuse and re-style! Check out this TikTok on how to style a leather jacket 7 different ways:
THRIFTING
Sites such as Depop, Mercari, Poshmark and more all offer great Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday deals on their pre-loved items. Many people who sell items on these site may choose to decrease their prices. This is a win for those who do not want to participate in buying brand new items for Black Friday, but are still looking for some good sales. It can also be a win for sellers because it can increase exposure to their shop! However, just be careful when adding items to your carts since these sites usually require shipping fees. This is because sellers might have to pay for shipping out of their own pocket when items are labeled as “free shipping.” Sellers also do not get 100% of the profit when selling their items. Just some things to consider when thrifting online! If you want to do more in-person thrifting for the holidays, try your local Goodwill, Plato’s Closet, or Savers for some deals on Black Friday or other holiday events.
SWAPPING CLOTHES
Swapping is a zero-waste idea to gain new pieces for your winter wardrobe or even a gift idea for you and your besties! In addition to Friendsgiving? Next year maybe… Swapping is becoming more and more popular among our generation. The University of Connecticut actually has its own SwapShop! I know that on some thrifting sites such as Depop, some sellers allow for swapping. Therefore, if you are looking to swap maybe you can sign up on Depop to start!
SECRET SANTA
If you come from a big family like I do, presents practically take over the entire living area. We all end up spending a lot of money on getting every family member a gift. However, I think a cute idea to decrease our consumption is through participating in Secret Santa with family and friends! This way everyone participating only needs to buy one gift. I have also done a secret Santa before where we were able to agree on a budget and write down a few gifts we would love to receive. This way we can also end up with something we will use!
The deals that come along with the season of giving do help our pockets. But… it does not hurt to question our traditions and habits during the most wonderful time of the year. Big corporations are more at fault than ever for mass production, waste, and poor labor conditions. As consumers, we can minimize adding to the pockets of companies who are not doing their part to be more ethical. So this year, spread some sustainability advice along with with your holiday cheer!