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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at VCU chapter.

Overconsumption is defined as a situation where a consumer overuses their available goods and services to the point where they can’t, or don’t want to, replenish or reuse them. While shopping feels good and finding the newest piece for your closet or apartment can be very fulfilling, this increase has developed a negative impact of overconsumption. This directly impacts the environment and the general fashion industry as a whole.

The Rise of Fast Fashion

Fast fashion has played an inherent role in the increase of overconsumption in the fashion industry. This is defined as an approach to design that’s inexpensive and produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends, according to Merriam-Webster. Online shops that take place in fast fashion include Romwe, Shein and even shopping mall stores such as Forever 21, Zara and H&M. At the end of the day, “cheap clothes need cheap labor.” A majority of these clothes sold in fast fashion stores are made in foreign clothes factories and made by overworked factory staff — some of whom are just barely of age to work.

Environmental Impact

The impacts of overconsumption are nothing but negative on the environment. As of 2022, the people of Earth are consuming enough resources for 1.75 Earths. To help this issue, people should simply “buy less,” according to author JB MacKinnon. The clothing industry contributes to about eight percent of climate change since March 2022. If you want to be consciously aware of your impact on the environment, maybe decide against taking that trip to your nearest town center or shopping mall. I’m sure there’s a cute outfit waiting to be created in your closet already. 

Celebrity and Influencer Impact

The increase of the influencer role on social media has caused a need, or want for the newest piece of clothing or trending fashion item. The role of an influencer is to have the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of his or her authority, knowledge, position or relationship with his or her audience. The copious amounts of free marketing things they (influencers) on TikTok are getting at a daily rate are only adding to this culture of overconsumption. People need to be reminded that these influencers are not putting on a new outfit every day and that it’s better to cherish the clothes and things you already have, rather than wanting to add more to your online shopping cart every day. 

It’s important to remember that the same piece of clothing or accessory can be worn more than once. While it’s nice to have the trendiest outfit, the rate of fast fashion is single-handedly hurting the environment and the planet as a whole. Take care of Planet Earth; it does matter more than adding to your wardrobe.

Chloe Hawkins currently attends VCU pursuing a major in Mass Communications with a focus in digital journalism and a minor in history. She has many interests including politics, the environment, and education. Her main goal while writing for HERCampus is to connect with more people in the Richmond area.