You Are a Part of the Problem
Sometimes I will throw my straws and bottles in the trash just because the recycling bin is a few feet farther away. Does that inherently make me a bad person? No, but it does make me an ignorant one. And in the words of Aldous Huxley, “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
And the fact is that straws thrown in the trash are often dumped into oceans, impacting many marine life populations. This movement was especially sparked by marine biologist Christine Figgener’s research in Costa Rica in 2015, where the disturbing video of her team prying the straw out of a turtle’s bloody nose went viral, triggering public awareness about personal habits and their environmental effects. The urgency people felt from that video quickly faded and was soon overshadowed by the next big thing. This pattern of short bursts of engagement followed by rapid disengagement reflects a deeper cultural problem. Moments that should create long-term reflection become quick trends that are consumed and forgotten.
The rise of mass media and the growth of anti-intellectualism have become constant threads winding through our political, cultural and social lives. It feeds on the idea that we do not need to seek depth or nuance, that our single train of thought is enough to count as knowledge. The sheer amount of information constantly pushed toward us causes even powerful movements to lose momentum, making it increasingly difficult for anything to feel meaningful or applicable for long. As Asimov warns, this belief fosters a lack of depth, responsibility, and accountability. Ultimately, this mindset contributes to an epidemic of ignorance.
And we are all, almost inevitably, part of this issue because we wear clothes. We have to. And it is much easier to just buy cheap clothes; why pay more when a higher cost does not guarantee better quality anymore? In fact, “Twenty-seven percent of textile and apparel professionals reported that ensuring consistent quality was ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ over the past year, up from 23% in 2024” (NBC News). Because of the fast fashion model used to make clothing more accessible and cheaper, the quality of materials has gone down. Part of that is due to the plastic elements incorporated into clothing, which are relatively cheap—synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, rayon, acrylic, and spandex.
And even couture brands aren’t exempt from criticism. Popular TikTok creator Wisdom Kaye sparked concern online when he bought a jacket from Miu Miu and, upon opening it for the first time, the button immediately popped off. The same thing happened again when Miu Miu sent him a replacement. Other customers have shared similar complaints, reporting scratches, uneven detailing on shoes and overall poor construction. These repeated issues have raised questions about the brand’s quality control and manufacturing standards, with some suggesting that the problems stem from the brand rapidly scaling its production. In 2018, Burberry was exposed for burning £28 million worth of unsold stock in a bid to preserve brand exclusivity, sparking public outrage. This shows that, for them, more than anything, these brands are looking for profit maximization. High-end labels are now prioritizing speed and volume over craftsmanship, adopting the same profit model as fast fashion. This blurring of luxury and mass production shows that no tier of the industry is immune to the pressure to produce more for less.
So it is understandable that consumers assume they aren’t at the center of this issue, right? It is easier to place the blame on big, money-hungry corporations while seeing ourselves as passive bystanders who buy clothes simply because we need to. But unfortunately, we have our part to play too. Consumer preferences and purchasing decisions shape market trends, influence what companies produce, and ultimately reinforce the very systems we critique. Compared to 20 years ago, the average consumer buys 60% more clothing items but keeps them for half as long.
So when money no longer guarantees quality, what will? Perhaps the answer is integrity. Choosing to be more intentional with our clothing consumption—whether that means shopping secondhand, investing in higher-quality garments, or simply buying less—restores a sense of agency. It softens the mindless pressure to constantly want more and reframes consumption as a conscious act rather than an automatic habit. Around 60% of consumers say they are willing to pay more for ethically produced or sustainable clothing.
In a world oversaturated with clothing, we may feel like we have more “variety,” but that abundance often stifles creativity instead of encouraging it. When everything is readily available, we stop imagining what could be done with what we already own. Allowing this saturation to guide our choices dulls the creative impulse that emerges from limitations. Exploring the possibilities within your own closet might be the simplest and most powerful form of resistance today.
As Harlan Ellison reminds us, “You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.” His words extend beyond conversation; they ask us to be intentional in how we consume, dress and participate in the systems around us.
Editor: Sydney Annis
Graphic: Delaney Chernault