Overconsumption on Black Friday

It’s finally time where the leaves have changed to beautiful colors of orange, yellow, and red. The holiday spirit is starting to appear and Thanksgiving week is finally upon us. You know that could only mean one thing… there are just a couple short days until the wonderful Black Friday. The epitome of what every American consumer dreams about. Deals and sales on just about anything. If you’re in need of a new pair of shoes, you might as well go buy a whole new wardrobe as well, because it's all on sale right? It’s the time of year to treat yourself to new clothes, treat your friends to their future christmas gifts, and really just spend a bunch of money you have been saving up.

Now, I have loved my share of Black Friday’s. I’ve woken up at 6am with my friends before and waited excitedly outside shops for them to open. I love the excitement of finding a top I’ve had my eye on for months, or getting a new pair of sneakers for a fraction of its original price.

Deals and sales on Black Friday can’t be beat, but as I’ve tried to get more conscious about what I buy, I feel the impulsiveness to buy more and more. Oftentimes, after a year or two I’m no longer even wearing that top or those sneakers I ran to purchase on Black Friday. They’ve gone out of style and have either made their way to the back of my closet or my local goodwill.

Over the years I have realized a new appreciation for consuming consciously, especially with the clothing and shoes I own. I won’t go into detail here but with a simple google search the detriments of our obsession with consuming is clear. A past study showed that on Black Friday, “up to 80 percent of items—and any plastic packaging they are wrapped in—will end up either in landfill, incineration or—at best—low quality recycling, often after a very short life,” (University of Leeds, 2019).

 As Black Friday approaches, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite ways to make sure I am consuming consciously. I also continue to remind myself I really don’t need all these clothing pieces I keep seeing Black Friday ads for…

 

  1. Take inventory on what you find important. This feels like a silly first step but genuinely sometimes I catch myself getting discouraged when I see beautifully curated outfits on others. I think to myself that I need new clothes or I have nothing to wear when I have a closet full of clothes. I remember my first year in college I was so jealous of all the athleisure my classmates had, and I had to take a step back and tell myself, “actually I really don’t need to care about this.” The items I call mine, specifically my clothing, is not what I find important in my life. Yes, I find putting together outfits exciting and I do love all the pieces in my wardrobe I’ve collected. But, it’s okay that I don’t own every item of clothing I’ve ever fallen in love with.

  2. Take inventory on your style. What pieces do you have that you get good wear out of? Figure out what styles and types of clothing make you feel the best. Then when you do find a good Black Friday deal on something you can quickly figure out if it deserves a spot in your closet. I personally gravitate towards stripes and loose fitting bottoms, so when I find something that fits that, I know it’ll get worn. I’m no minimalist when it comes to my clothing, but if I see something I don’t see myself wearing five years from now, I don’t bother buying it.

  3. Create Pinterest lists of items you want to purchase next. I love doing this because it gives me the excitement of curating pieces I like without the pressure of buying them. Every couple months, if a clothing piece, accessory, or shoe has survived on my pinterest board then I consider investing in it.

  4. Seek out sustainable brands when possible. Good-quality, sustainable clothing can be so expensive but it is no doubt worthwhile. I love Patagonia, and I’ve found some amazing finds on their worn-wear website where they sell slightly worn clothing for discounted prices. Also there is nothing more sustainable then shopping secondhand. As a university student who can’t afford most brand-new clothing from sustainable brands, I rely on thrift stores or websites like Poshmark and Depop to find beautiful items. Any method of shopping that maintains, reuses, or recycles high quality clothing back into high quality use is the utmost best way to avoid overconsumption and unnecessary waste (Univeristy of Leeds, 2019)/

  5. Don’t forget about your friends closets! I don’t remember the last formal event I had where I didn’t borrow a beautiful dress from someone or try on a friends pair of shoes to wear. I’ve also heard awesome things about clothing rental subscription services that are popular right now. I think that these services are the perfect alternative to purchasing clothing when finding things to wear to more formal or special events.

  6. Lastly, my personal favorite. Instead of buying items for yourself or others, buy experiences! Whether its a concert ticket, a weekend roadtrip somewhere pretty, or a membership at a hot yoga studio, the possibilities are endless. It’s so refreshing to get my work paycheck and get excited about the experiences I am able to afford. The concert I went to last week, the beach vacation I went on a couple weekends ago, and the rock climbing membership I get to have. This also goes for giving gifts. When I think back to my favorite gifts I’ve ever received most all of them are in the form of experiences I’ve been able to enjoy!

Northern lights over a camp north of the Arctic Circle Photo/The Atlantic

Happy Black Friday to all who celebrate. Buy what you need and get good deals while your at it. But, don’t forget to take a step back every once in a while and realize all the ads, noise, people, and environments that are constantly telling you to buy, buy, buy. I didn’t realize it until recently but it just feels good to have less things. To live simply, buy second hand, and invest in experiences rather than things.

References

University of Leeds. (2019, November 19). Most Black Friday purchases soon end up as waste. PHYS ORG. https://phys.org/news/2019-11-black-friday.html 

Graphic by Sydney Grove

Lauren Worley