by LIVI E. Lyman
Do. It. Yourself. This is all the rage, right? Hyperindependence has always been the ultimate American value. Our society consists of Baby Boomers , Generation X , Millennials and Generation Z . Knowing how to be better, we must know who and what has come before us; we have an influential history still living.
D.I.Y Fashion directly relates to politics as well. Generational values shift drastically as our political climate rages and societal norms and acceptances shift, bringing about new environments created from what we may have lacked in our childhood. From the career-focused and “how does this look to everyone else” mindset of our lovely Baby Boomers, to the Gen Xers shifting societal norms to more hyper-independence, promoting “You can do anything,” to Millennials, broadcasting morals people commonly shared — or disagreed with, with the saying, “Anyone can do anything.” Which brings me to my generation, Gen Z — never knowing a world without deep connectivity and internet access, redefining hyperindependence once again.
What combats D.I.Y culture is the rise of fast fashion. The industry pushes this sense of constant upkeep, this turnover rate of clothing, brands and designs that we constantly feel like we need to update, conflicting with this coming-age-of-sustainability. Sustainable fashion comes from its ethical production, eco-friendly materials, repurposing what is already there through thrifting and reducing waste and emissions.
People can find ways to be fashionable and sustainable by reusing, thrifting and upcycling. From the resale platforms like Poshmark and Depop, to thrift shops like Youthability or Miranda’s Rescue, to the Redwood Acres flea market and friends’ clothing swaps, it starts with affordability, leads to accessibility and creates an eco-friendly alternative to fast fashion. D.I.Y fashion also reduces waste. The growing popularity of D.I.Y and secondhand fashion is pushing our beloved clothing companies to change their practices — the power of the people has the potential to change the fashion industry.
Companies are now switching to eco-friendly materials, ethical labor practices and reducing their carbon footprint on the front page of their website — reminding us within every advertisement. This includes brands like Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, MUD jeans and many more.
But it’s one thing to claim sustainability, it’s another to put it into practice. Greenwashing is commonly used in brands like Lululemon, Nike and SHEIN, often misleading consumers to believe their purchases are more ethical than they are. Thrifting has the edge on sustainability, with its possibility to create something new out of something that is already there!
I am calling everyone who has read this far to get the catch: we are overconsuming on so many levels that it has been built into our system before our systems were active. The key to a conscious consumer — whether you are thrifting, buying something new or upcycling — is to buy what you need and use your creativity and eco-consciousness to rediscover and reuse what you already have. Break the pattern now and cut out a new one. Do. It. Yourself.
LIVI E. Lyman is a business marketing senior at Cal Poly Humboldt, combining the arts they fell in love with, writing and fashion. Email them at @oel6@humboldt.edu to get a fit pic at the monthly photoshoot, where photos will be used in a collage alongside future fashion columns.
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