We have become accustomed to treating clothes as disposable. Trends emerge, wardrobes are refreshed, and once-desirable garments are pushed aside. The environmental consequences are significant, but another cost receives less attention.
What happens when we dress for approval rather than express who we really are? I learned this long before building my career in fashion. I had designed a pink suit for myself, but when it came time to wear it in public, I hesitated.
I imagined the judgment that might follow. For a month, I allowed those fears to dictate what I was willing to wear. Eventually, I put the suit on and walked outside.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. The judgment I anticipated never materialized as I had imagined. I came away with a simple realization: “I am my own limitation.” That experience made me question a culture that encourages people to follow trends, imitate one another, and purchase without asking what they want to express.
The problem with fashion is not simply that we buy too much. It is what this cycle costs individuals, the industry, and society. Clothing influences how comfortable we feel, how we present ourselves, and how we navigate the world.
Yet fashion, whether fast or luxury, can become an arena for seeking external validation. We buy logos for status, follow trends for acceptance, or change our appearance to match someone else’s ideal. When labels and external expectations replace our own judgment, we risk losing touch with our essence.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
