A Little Self-Reflection

Some of the best advice I ever received from a Washington, D.C.-based entrepreneur and blogger— “don’t be afraid to let your work sit dormant.”

Until hearing these wise words, I had this pre-conceived notion that in order to be “worthy” of collecting my thoughts, creating fashion-related content and being creative via Talk Trendy To Me, it had to be a consistent part of my life. And, sure, if I was after the sponsorships and the fame that many influencers seek, perhaps I would be more committed to daily Instagram photos and frequent blog posts.

During this period of quarantine, I have embarked on much self-reflection. Some of my thoughts grace the pages of the journal that sits on my bed-side table, some is quickly typed into a digital note on my iPhone to be re-visited later and some is still fluttering inside my head. Majority of my self-reflection pertains to the things I am wholeheartedly thankful for—my health, my families’ health, to still be employed, to be living rent-free with my parents, to have food in belly, to go for long runs, to be talking to friends more than ever thanks to Zoom and clear schedules, to have the luxury of drinking wine while doing a face mask, and the list goes on. The other parts of my self-reflection often revolve around the future, as a whole, and also my own personal future. Given today’s circumstances due to the worldwide fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, everything seems uncertain. Everything is uncertain. And as someone who likes to plan, this reality is like swallowing a much-needed Ibuprofen without any water. Life events that seemed so concrete just a few months ago have been tossed straight up into the air. Will I begin my corporate career in June, like originally planned? Will I move to New York City? Should I move to New York City? Should I even think of all of that right now when some people are on a ventilator, fighting for their lives? Will the “timeline” of my life (career advancement, marriage, children, etc.) be severely altered? What will happen to the fashion industry? How can I capitalize on the “new norms” after this pandemic within my career? Amidst all the things I am so grateful for, there are so many questions I have.

“[Fashion] was changing anyway, but [the coronavirus] will push it faster, and that’s not a bad thing.” -Sam McKnight

This quote from a Business of Fashion podcast forced my self-reflection into a full circle and gave me a true sense of hope. The fashion industry is desperate for a change. During this period of staying home—how much of your wardrobe have you utilized? I’m willing to bet that you have only reached for a small portion of all the clothing that hangs in your closet. Personally, my athleisure and sneakers are about all I utilize. Sure, I am guilty of ordering a few things online to wear for when we can leave the house—but, why? Because it was “retail therapy?” Because I fell victim to the repeated email blasts and storewide sales? Because I wanted to support a small business? Because it is fun to get a little something in the mail? In all honesty, I am not even quite sure of the true motive.

And my admittance of that is precisely why the fashion industry needs to change. We know longer operate on a need basis, but a want basis. We buy things because we want them. I am not saying that you should only purchase fashion items you need. Fashion, in and of itself, is simply the opposite. However, globalization drove us headfirst into extreme consumption; a binge. Instead of (read: in addition to) overindulging on the Girl Scout cookies in the pantry, we are binging on fashion. You know that feeling of pure guilt and shameful disgust you feel after finishing all fifteen Samoas that were in that box? That is exactly how you should feel for the global fashion industry at the moment.

With store closures and a halt in economic activities, there are warehouses and storefronts full of untouched clothing around the world. Clothing—that in most cases—was produced by an underpaid laborer in a developing country. Those Thin Mints or Tagalongs in your pantry will most likely get eaten before their expiration date. However, all this clothing will “expire,” as it was intended to sell for spring. Sure, retailers will attempt to sell this merchandise on markdown. But the problem lies in the fact that too much was produced in the first place. Why was too much produced? Because the retailers knew, if daily life had continued as normal, we would have bought it. We would have binged on fashion items, simply because we have the option too. But the retailers are not the only ones to blame. In a sense, our global society’s shoulders should carry the burden, as we allowed our consumption to get to the point of gluttony.

The tone of this dialogue has been presented by many scholars—Pietra Rivoli, Kate Fletcher, Dana Thomas, Sandy Black, Saffia Minney— and platforms—Fashion Revolution, Clean Clothes Campaign, Sustainable Apparel Coalition. However, I hope that now, after this period of transition, reflection and uncertainty, we can utilize our solidarity as a society to push the fashion industry into more ethical practices that combat extreme consumption.

Once we can go out and enjoy life again, let’s make more wholesome decisions about our fashion. Let’s vow to wear the same dress to multiple weddings next summer. Let’s investigate where and by whom our clothing was made. Let’s spend time in our closets, pairing items together to create new outfits, rather than constantly turning to shopping. Let’s repair that missing button or stitch that broken hem. Let’s try to find a new home for our items via platforms like TheRealReal, Fashionphile, Poshmark and Mercari. Let’s utilize ethical recycling and reuse companies such as ThredUp, instead of dumping a trash bag full of items at Goodwill.

Now, I return to my opening thoughts. My content creation via Talk Trendy To Me might not be consistent, but that is okay. For me, this is a true creative outlet—to pour out my uncensored thoughts. I do not want to create perfectly photographed content just to fill the page, as in a sense, that simply perpetuates the viscous cycle of extreme consumption.

Be safe and stay healthy,

MK