WEBVTT 00:00:10.870 --> 00:00:13.550 Welcome to Students Incorporated. I'm your host, 00:00:13.589 --> 00:00:16.329 Mr. Jason. Join me weekly as my students and 00:00:16.329 --> 00:00:18.870 I bring you content that's informative, positive, 00:00:19.010 --> 00:00:21.809 fun, and uplifting. This podcast is created and 00:00:21.809 --> 00:00:23.989 produced with the help of students from the International 00:00:23.989 --> 00:00:31.230 Community School of Bangkok. Let me ask you a 00:00:31.230 --> 00:00:33.710 question. You're out shopping in Bangkok and 00:00:33.710 --> 00:00:36.590 you have a choice to make. Do you step into a 00:00:36.590 --> 00:00:39.920 brightly lit store in the Siam Mall? Drawn in 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:42.479 by the promise of a brand new trendy shirt for 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:45.299 just a few hundred baht? Or do you spend your 00:00:45.299 --> 00:00:48.119 afternoon treasure hunting in a thrift shop searching 00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:50.759 for that one -of -a -kind piece that no one else 00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:54.000 will have? This isn't just a simple choice. It's 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:57.299 a decision that connects your wallet, your values, 00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:00.659 and your identity. The world of fast fashion 00:01:00.659 --> 00:01:03.380 offers us speed, convenience, and the ability 00:01:03.380 --> 00:01:06.480 to participate in global trends. It's a massive 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:09.930 part of modern youth culture. But that convenience 00:01:09.930 --> 00:01:13.069 comes with questions. The low cost on the price 00:01:13.069 --> 00:01:16.489 tag often hides a much higher price paid by our 00:01:16.489 --> 00:01:20.150 planet and by the people in the factories. That's 00:01:20.150 --> 00:01:23.170 the ethics of it. Can we feel good about what 00:01:23.170 --> 00:01:25.670 we wear if we don't know the story behind it? 00:01:25.890 --> 00:01:28.489 On the other side, there's the growing culture 00:01:28.489 --> 00:01:31.510 of thrifting. It's sustainable, it champions 00:01:31.510 --> 00:01:34.689 individuality, and it's often lighter on the 00:01:34.689 --> 00:01:38.290 wallet. but it has its own challenges. It takes 00:01:38.290 --> 00:01:41.849 time, patience, and a bit of luck. So this is 00:01:41.849 --> 00:01:45.090 our topic today, fast fashion versus thrift culture 00:01:45.090 --> 00:01:48.069 in Bangkok. We're not here to say one is good 00:01:48.069 --> 00:01:50.209 and one is bad. We're here to have an honest 00:01:50.209 --> 00:01:53.069 conversation about the pros and the cons of both. 00:01:53.370 --> 00:01:56.469 We'll explore the real cost, the complex ethics, 00:01:56.569 --> 00:01:58.989 and the vibrant culture surrounding the clothes 00:01:58.989 --> 00:02:01.900 we choose to wear every single day. Today, I'm 00:02:01.900 --> 00:02:04.420 joined by co -host Proud and Esther in our show's 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:07.040 student producer highlight. But before we try 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:09.439 to fix the global clothing industry, let's hear 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:11.259 our quote of the day and get some headline news. 00:02:11.580 --> 00:02:13.800 Our quote of the day comes from the journalist 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:16.360 Lucy Siegel, who cuts straight to the heart of 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:19.159 this issue. She said, fast fashion isn't free. 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:22.240 Someone somewhere is paying. I think that's so 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:24.659 important because it forces us to look past the 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:27.349 price tag. That price is paid by the environment, 00:02:27.669 --> 00:02:30.629 absorbing chemicals and textile waste. It is 00:02:30.629 --> 00:02:33.610 paid by garment workers, often in unsafe conditions 00:02:33.610 --> 00:02:37.310 for very little pay. And in a way, we pay for 00:02:37.310 --> 00:02:39.969 it too. By filling our closets with low -quality 00:02:39.969 --> 00:02:42.669 clothes that we have to replace over and over 00:02:42.669 --> 00:02:44.990 again, it really challenges us to think about 00:02:44.990 --> 00:02:48.050 what affordable truly means. And that's our quote 00:02:48.050 --> 00:02:51.090 of the day. Now on to some headline news. That 00:02:51.090 --> 00:02:53.669 quote is a perfect lead into what's happening 00:02:53.669 --> 00:02:56.199 in the news. Because the real cost of fashion 00:02:56.199 --> 00:02:58.699 is making major headlines globally. I've got 00:02:58.699 --> 00:03:01.460 three stories for you today that shows just how 00:03:01.460 --> 00:03:04.560 big this conversation has become. First up, from 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:07.780 Reuters. The headline states, EU finalizes pay 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:10.740 -to -waste rules for fast fashion brands. In 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:13.379 a major move this month, the European Union has 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:17.560 locked in its new environmental policy that will 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:20.219 make clothing companies financially responsible 00:03:20.219 --> 00:03:23.300 for the entire life cycle of their products. 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:27.000 This means brands, not taxpayers, will have to 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.479 pay for the collection and recycling of textile 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:32.439 waste. This is seen as a direct challenge to 00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:34.900 the business model of producing huge volumes 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:38.719 of low -cost clothing. Second, a story from The 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:41.860 Guardian reads, New report accuses ultra -fast 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:45.659 fashion giants of widespread labor violations. 00:03:46.259 --> 00:03:49.379 An international labor rights watchdog released 00:03:49.379 --> 00:03:52.770 its annual report this past week. And it specifically 00:03:52.770 --> 00:03:56.430 calls out several major online retails for failing 00:03:56.430 --> 00:03:59.509 to ensure minimum wage and safe working conditions 00:03:59.509 --> 00:04:03.289 in their supplier factories. The report highlights 00:04:03.289 --> 00:04:05.990 the human cost that gets hidden behind those 00:04:05.990 --> 00:04:09.949 trendy, low -priced items we see advertised all 00:04:09.949 --> 00:04:12.270 over social media. And finally, on the other 00:04:12.270 --> 00:04:14.870 side of the coin, a headline from Forbes shows 00:04:14.870 --> 00:04:17.850 the power of the alternative. The headline states, 00:04:17.990 --> 00:04:20.930 second -hand market sees explosive 25 % growth 00:04:20.930 --> 00:04:24.490 in Southeast Asia, led by Gen Z. A new market 00:04:24.490 --> 00:04:27.930 analysis report shows that the online thrifting 00:04:27.930 --> 00:04:31.110 and resale market is booming in our region. It 00:04:31.110 --> 00:04:33.670 credits younger customers who are prioritizing 00:04:33.670 --> 00:04:36.910 sustainability, unique personal style, and affordability. 00:04:37.250 --> 00:04:40.930 It shows a clear cultural shift where used is 00:04:40.930 --> 00:04:43.910 now seen as not just acceptable, but fashionable. 00:04:44.459 --> 00:04:47.720 So from our new government regulations to ethical 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:51.839 concerns and the rise of thrifting, it's clear 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:55.620 this is a massive global conversation. And that's 00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:57.779 our headline news for this episode. Thank you. 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:00.879 Esther, thanks for the news roundup. It really 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:03.139 sets the stage. Let's bring this conversation 00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:06.100 into our own closets and start with the giant 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:09.720 in the room, fast fashion. For this first part, 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:13.269 I want us to break down its pros and cons. So 00:05:13.269 --> 00:05:15.870 let's start positive. What are the pros? Why 00:05:15.870 --> 00:05:19.490 is fast fashion so incredibly popular? When you 00:05:19.490 --> 00:05:22.829 walk into a big brand store in Bangkok, what 00:05:22.829 --> 00:05:25.829 is the immediate appeal? I'll open that question 00:05:25.829 --> 00:05:28.610 up to anybody. I think the most obvious thing 00:05:28.610 --> 00:05:30.589 is the price, right? It's the accessibility. 00:05:31.250 --> 00:05:33.910 You can have a small budget, maybe what you have 00:05:33.910 --> 00:05:36.370 for the week, and you can still walk out with 00:05:36.370 --> 00:05:38.569 something brand new. If you have a last minute 00:05:38.569 --> 00:05:41.949 event or a party to go, you can solve your... 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:44.379 Oh, I have nothing to wear a problem in 30 minutes 00:05:44.379 --> 00:05:47.879 less than 500 baht. It's an instant solution. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.500 And it's the variety. It's not just one style. 00:05:50.660 --> 00:05:52.980 You can walk into one store and find 10 different 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:55.319 aesthetics. You can experiment with who you want 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:57.899 to be that day. One rack has a dark, academic 00:05:57.899 --> 00:06:00.879 look. The next has bright, colorful Y2K fashion. 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:03.740 You don't have to commit to a style because nothing 00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:05.980 costs very much. It's like a fashion playground. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:09.189 I agree with both of those points. And also with 00:06:09.189 --> 00:06:12.110 Proud, there's a real dopamine hit that comes 00:06:12.110 --> 00:06:14.529 from it. The feeling of walking out of a store 00:06:14.529 --> 00:06:16.689 with a bag with something new and fresh that 00:06:16.689 --> 00:06:18.850 didn't break the bank. It makes you feel like 00:06:18.850 --> 00:06:21.750 you're participating, like you're current. It's 00:06:21.750 --> 00:06:23.910 a very powerful feeling. That's a great point 00:06:23.910 --> 00:06:26.910 about being current. It brings me to the social 00:06:26.910 --> 00:06:29.790 factor. How much of this is driven by social 00:06:29.790 --> 00:06:32.730 media? Proud, do you feel there's pressure to 00:06:32.730 --> 00:06:35.230 keep up with the styles you see on TikTok or 00:06:35.230 --> 00:06:38.199 Instagram? Oh, absolutely. It's immense. You 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:40.759 see these haul videos where someone brought 20 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:43.300 new items and trends moving at lightning speed 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:45.600 now. Something is cool for three weeks and then 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:47.819 it's over. If you see your favorite influencer 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:50.019 wearing a certain type of top, you feel this 00:06:50.019 --> 00:06:53.209 pressure, this FOMO, fear of missing out. Tabitha, 00:06:53.290 --> 00:06:56.009 fast fashion brands are brilliant at spotting 00:06:56.009 --> 00:06:58.250 a trend on Monday and having it in their stores 00:06:58.250 --> 00:07:01.810 in Bangkok by Friday. And the algorithms feed 00:07:01.810 --> 00:07:04.829 it to you constantly. Once you click on one fashion 00:07:04.829 --> 00:07:07.550 video, your entire feed is full of these micro 00:07:07.550 --> 00:07:10.470 trends. It creates a sense of urgency that's 00:07:10.470 --> 00:07:13.290 completely manufactured. It makes you feel like 00:07:13.290 --> 00:07:15.850 your current wardrobe is outdated. Even if you 00:07:15.850 --> 00:07:18.350 just bought something last month, it's a cycle 00:07:18.350 --> 00:07:21.470 that's hard to get out of. Okay, so it's affordable, 00:07:21.670 --> 00:07:24.569 it's trendy, and it's constantly in our faces. 00:07:24.670 --> 00:07:27.550 But let's flip the coin. Esther, you mentioned 00:07:27.550 --> 00:07:30.490 the news about labor ethics. Let's start the 00:07:30.490 --> 00:07:33.410 cons there. How much should we be thinking about 00:07:33.410 --> 00:07:36.329 the people who make our clothes? I think it's 00:07:36.329 --> 00:07:38.889 the biggest con because it's so easy to ignore. 00:07:39.129 --> 00:07:42.089 The supply chains are designed to be out of sight, 00:07:42.129 --> 00:07:45.110 out of mind. We don't see the factories or the 00:07:45.110 --> 00:07:47.930 people working in them. But that low price tag 00:07:47.930 --> 00:07:50.470 has to come from somewhere. It comes from paying 00:07:50.470 --> 00:07:53.790 workers incredibly low wages from cutting corners 00:07:53.790 --> 00:07:57.230 on safety and demanding impossible production 00:07:57.230 --> 00:08:00.089 speeds. When a t -shirt costs less than your 00:08:00.089 --> 00:08:02.629 lunch, you have to ask, who's paying the real 00:08:02.629 --> 00:08:04.709 price for it? Oh, that's a powerful question. 00:08:04.949 --> 00:08:07.610 Highlight. We're proud. Is this something that 00:08:07.610 --> 00:08:10.240 crosses your mind when you're shopping? It does, 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:12.500 more and more. It makes you feel a bit guilty, 00:08:12.699 --> 00:08:14.879 to be honest. You're standing there with this 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.040 trendy top in your hand and you get a flash of 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:19.199 the stories you've heard, and then you have this 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.560 internal debate. Sometimes convenience wins, 00:08:21.779 --> 00:08:24.279 and you feel bad about it later. And of course, 00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:26.720 beyond the human cost, there's the massive environmental 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:29.920 cost. What comes to mind for you when you think 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:32.419 about the impact of producing so many clothes 00:08:32.419 --> 00:08:35.200 so quickly? It's staggering. I was looking this 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:37.519 up for the show and the numbers are just crazy. 00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:40.620 According to the UN Environment Program, something 00:08:40.620 --> 00:08:43.600 like 60 % of our clothing is now made from plastics 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:46.659 like polyester. So we're literally wrapping ourselves 00:08:46.659 --> 00:08:49.960 in fossil fuels. And every time we wash them, 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:52.940 they shed microplastics. The Ellen MacArthur 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:56.419 Foundation estimates that half a million... Tons 00:08:56.419 --> 00:08:59.360 of these plastic microfibers end up in the ocean 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.500 every year just from us doing our laundry. That's 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:04.639 the equivalent of more than 50 billion plastic 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:08.019 bottles. Then you have natural fibers like cotton, 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:11.279 which have their own issues too. A report from 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:15.100 the World Wildlife Fund, WWF, states that it 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:18.519 can take over 2 ,700 liters of water to produce 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:21.740 the cotton needed for a single t -shirt. That's 00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:24.080 enough drinking water for one person for almost 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:26.950 three years. And maybe the most shocking part 00:09:26.950 --> 00:09:29.529 is the waste. The scale is hard to comprehend, 00:09:29.789 --> 00:09:32.929 but that same Ellen MacArthur Foundation report 00:09:32.929 --> 00:09:36.029 says that globally, the equivalent of one garbage 00:09:36.029 --> 00:09:39.350 truck full of textiles is landfilled or burned 00:09:39.350 --> 00:09:42.049 every single second. It's just creating these 00:09:42.049 --> 00:09:44.860 mountains of trash. I found some other shocking 00:09:44.860 --> 00:09:47.379 news. An agency in France put out a report with 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:49.620 images from the Atacama region in the country 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:52.179 of Chile. This place became one of the world's 00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:54.559 biggest dumping grounds for unsold and used fast 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:57.059 fashion. It looks like a massive landfill of 00:09:57.059 --> 00:09:59.779 clothes. The piles are so vast that they say 00:09:59.779 --> 00:10:02.059 you can now see the pollution stained from space. 00:10:02.299 --> 00:10:04.919 Seeing that, knowing it's real, makes it impossible 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:08.179 to forget. It's not just a landfill. It's a monument 00:10:08.179 --> 00:10:10.799 to our overconsumption. Yeah, let's bring it 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:13.320 back to our own experience then, which is maybe 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:16.480 an easier con to see day to day. What about the 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:18.679 quality? Have you all had that experience of 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:21.240 buying a fast fashion item that you loved only 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:23.980 for it to fall apart a few weeks later? All the 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:26.679 time, it's almost a universal experience. You 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:28.960 wash a shirt once and it shrinks half to its 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:32.159 size, or the seam on a dress unravels the first 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:34.919 time you wear it out. It feels like you're renting 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:37.879 clothes rather than buying them. Exactly. I bought 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:40.399 this really cute top once, wore it out, washed 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.700 it carefully, and it came out with three small 00:10:42.700 --> 00:10:45.600 mysterious holes in it. It was completely unwearable. 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:48.120 It's frustrating because it feels so wasteful. 00:10:48.340 --> 00:10:50.919 And that's part of the model. It's not a flaw. 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:53.820 It's a feature. The clothes are not designed 00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:57.779 to last. They are designed to be replaced. So 00:10:57.779 --> 00:11:00.860 while you saved money on that one item, you end 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:03.200 up spending more over time because you constantly 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:05.519 have to buy new things to replace the old ones 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:08.820 that fell apart. That's the concept of cost per 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:12.200 wear. A 300 baht shirt you only wear twice actually 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:16.179 costs you 150 baht each time you wear it. A better 00:11:16.179 --> 00:11:18.500 quality 900 baht shirt that you can wear for 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:21.419 years might end up costing you just 10 baht per 00:11:21.419 --> 00:11:24.679 wear. The cheaper item is often the more expensive 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:27.830 one in the long run. So there's a clear conflict 00:11:27.830 --> 00:11:30.350 between the immediate reward of fast fashion, 00:11:30.549 --> 00:11:33.110 the low price, the trends, and the significant 00:11:33.110 --> 00:11:36.789 long -term cost to people, the planet, and even 00:11:36.789 --> 00:11:39.990 our own wallets. It's a lot to think about. We're 00:11:39.990 --> 00:11:41.529 going to take a short break and we'll be right 00:11:41.529 --> 00:11:49.269 back after this PSA. We've talked a lot about 00:11:49.269 --> 00:11:51.649 the mountains of textile ways from fast fashion, 00:11:51.769 --> 00:11:54.570 but let's bring it closer to home. What happens 00:11:54.570 --> 00:11:56.490 when your favorite shirt, the one you wore on 00:11:56.490 --> 00:11:59.409 that perfect beach trip, gets a tiny tear or 00:11:59.409 --> 00:12:02.830 a button pops off? Our first instinct, the one 00:12:02.830 --> 00:12:04.950 we've been taught by a replace everything culture, 00:12:05.169 --> 00:12:08.129 is to sigh and think. Well, it's ruined. Do you 00:12:08.129 --> 00:12:10.730 toss it? We've become so used to seeing clothes 00:12:10.730 --> 00:12:13.409 as disposable, but it doesn't have to be that 00:12:13.409 --> 00:12:16.470 way. That small hole is an opportunity, not a 00:12:16.470 --> 00:12:19.169 death sentence for your garment. That's why we're 00:12:19.169 --> 00:12:21.169 introducing the Repair Don't Replace Pledge. 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:24.259 It's a simple promise to yourself to try fixing 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:27.039 it first. Think about it. A quick YouTube tutorial 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:29.379 can teach you a basic stitch in five minutes. 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:32.340 Manning a hem or sewing on a button is a small 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:35.700 act of defiance against the cycle of waste. When 00:12:35.700 --> 00:12:37.700 you repair something, you do more than just save 00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:40.340 money. You honor the materials, the labor of 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:42.279 the person who made it, and the memories you 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:44.600 made while wearing it. You can even turn a repair 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:47.610 into a style statement. A cool patch or some 00:12:47.610 --> 00:12:49.649 colorful visible stitching can make your old 00:12:49.649 --> 00:12:52.570 favorite truly one of a kind. Give your clothes 00:12:52.570 --> 00:12:55.230 a second chance. You might even find a relaxing 00:12:55.230 --> 00:12:57.870 new hobby. Repair it, wear it, love it longer. 00:12:59.669 --> 00:13:01.970 And we are back. In the first half, we broke 00:13:01.970 --> 00:13:05.070 down the complex world of fast fashion. Now let's 00:13:05.070 --> 00:13:06.990 switch gears and talk about the alternative, 00:13:07.289 --> 00:13:11.700 thrifting. While fast fashion has its hold, thrifting 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:14.480 is really starting to take off and is growing 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:17.259 big time here in Bangkok. What's making it so 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:20.259 popular? I mean, it's not just about finding 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:23.299 a bargain, right? Esther or Proud, any thoughts 00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:25.779 on why people are jumping on this bandwagon? 00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:29.019 I think a big part of it is that people are becoming 00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:31.440 more aware of how bad fast fashion is for the 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:33.659 environment. After hearing stats like the one 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:35.960 highlight shared, Thrifting feels like you're 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:37.659 actually doing something good. You're saving 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:40.179 clothes from ending up in a landfill, which is 00:13:40.179 --> 00:13:42.679 a huge deal. You're not just buying something 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:45.000 new. You're giving an existing item a second 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:48.559 life. That feels like a win. Totally. And it's 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:51.620 also something unique about its factor. When 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:53.340 you're thrifting, you're looking for something 00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:56.279 that's rare or has its own history. It's like 00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:58.820 hunting for treasures. You're almost guaranteed 00:13:58.820 --> 00:14:00.840 to walk out with something that none of your 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:03.159 friends will have. Can you give us an example, 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:05.679 Esther? What's the best treasure you've ever 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:09.139 found thrifting? Oh, that's easy. Once I found 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:12.139 this amazing, perfectly worn in denim jacket 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:15.759 from the 80s at the Bangkok market. It has this 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:19.580 cool faded, bland patch on its back. It's better 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:22.240 made than any new denim jacket I could buy today. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:25.639 And it has its own character. The thrill of finding 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:28.460 that perfect piece after an hour of searching, 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:31.860 it's like winning the fashion lottery. For sure, 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:34.759 Esther, and that ties into the cool factor. It's 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:38.000 not cheap shopping anymore. People are proudly 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:40.720 posting their thrift finds on Instagram and TikTok 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:44.539 with the hashtag thrift flip. It's become a status 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:47.580 symbol to show off your unique style. It says, 00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:50.000 look at me, I'm sustainable, I'm creative, and 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:52.600 I don't follow trends. Gen Z is definitely leading 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:55.240 that charge. And there's a whole subculture of 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:57.679 thrift flipping now. People will go to a market, 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:00.139 buy an oversized men's shirt or a pair of jeans 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:02.340 that don't quite fit, and then they take them 00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:04.820 home and completely remake them. They'll crop 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:07.299 the shirt, add new details or tailors to the 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:10.639 jeans into a modern style. It's incredibly creative 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:13.039 and entrepreneurial. It's not just consuming 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:15.740 fast fashion. It's participating in it. And that's 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:18.500 a fantastic point. It's like becoming your own 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:21.220 designer. But it's not all treasure hunts and 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:23.840 creative projects. Let's talk about the cons. 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:26.820 What are some realities of thrifting that people 00:15:26.820 --> 00:15:30.519 might not see on social media? Esther? The biggest 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:34.279 one is time. Thrifting isn't the instant gratification 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:37.240 that fast fashion gives you. You can't just walk 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:39.720 into the shop like Jatachak Weekend Market and 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:42.120 expect to find something perfect in five minutes. 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:45.220 It can be overwhelming. It's a real scavenger 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:48.029 hunt. Sometimes you strike gold, but a lot of 00:15:48.029 --> 00:15:51.230 times it's a lot of drifting through stuff that 00:15:51.230 --> 00:15:53.750 has been stained, damaged, or even just not your 00:15:53.750 --> 00:15:56.149 style. You need to practice and take your time. 00:15:56.370 --> 00:15:59.149 Okay, let's be real. There's the ick factor for 00:15:59.149 --> 00:16:01.610 some people like me. The idea of wearing clothes 00:16:01.610 --> 00:16:04.919 that a stranger wore can be a hurdle. And sometimes 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:07.039 the clothes have, you know, a certain smell. 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:09.620 You absolutely have to wash everything as soon 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:12.200 as you get home. Sizing is another big one. It's 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:16.059 all over the place. A medium from 1995 is not 00:16:16.059 --> 00:16:19.460 the same as a medium today. Exactly, Proud. And 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:22.559 as thrifting has become cooler and more commercialized, 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:25.440 the prices are creeping up. Resellers will go 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:28.659 into thrift stores, clear out all the best vintage 00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:31.379 and brand name items, and then sell them on Instagram 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:34.039 for five times the price. This gentrification 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:36.840 of thrifting means it can be harder to find a 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:39.779 real bargain, and it can price out people who 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:42.299 rely on secondhand stores for truly affordable 00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:45.750 clothing, not just for fashion. That is such 00:16:45.750 --> 00:16:48.090 an important point. It adds a whole new ethical 00:16:48.090 --> 00:16:50.909 layer into drifting too. So even the solution 00:16:50.909 --> 00:16:54.169 has its own set of complex problems. It seems 00:16:54.169 --> 00:16:57.049 the perfect answer isn't so simple. We've talked 00:16:57.049 --> 00:16:59.330 about the good, the bad, and the complicated. 00:16:59.629 --> 00:17:02.549 What's the final takeaway here then? I think 00:17:02.549 --> 00:17:05.210 it's about the balance and intention. Maybe you 00:17:05.210 --> 00:17:07.250 don't stop buying new things entirely, but you 00:17:07.250 --> 00:17:09.710 commit to making your first choice and a secondhand 00:17:09.710 --> 00:17:13.269 one. Or you learn one basic mending skills like 00:17:13.269 --> 00:17:16.029 we talked about in the break. It's about shifting 00:17:16.029 --> 00:17:18.450 the mindset from more is better to better is 00:17:18.450 --> 00:17:21.470 better. And it's not about being perfect. It's 00:17:21.470 --> 00:17:24.349 about being more aware. Every time you make a 00:17:24.349 --> 00:17:27.009 conscious choice, whether it's thrifting, repairing 00:17:27.009 --> 00:17:29.690 something, or just buying less overall, it's 00:17:29.690 --> 00:17:32.569 a step in the right direction. We're all learning 00:17:32.569 --> 00:17:35.210 and that's what counts. All right, that's a fantastic 00:17:35.210 --> 00:17:37.730 summary, so thank you for that. It's clear that 00:17:37.730 --> 00:17:40.390 whether we're in the mall or market, being a 00:17:40.390 --> 00:17:43.289 conscious consumer is what truly matters. It 00:17:43.289 --> 00:17:45.670 makes me think of a certain phrase, know your 00:17:45.670 --> 00:17:48.670 clothes so your clothes know you. And that phrase 00:17:48.670 --> 00:17:50.769 really means something. The first part, knowing 00:17:50.769 --> 00:17:53.210 your clothes, is a call to action. It's about 00:17:53.210 --> 00:17:55.950 understanding their whole story. It's asking 00:17:55.950 --> 00:17:58.809 those questions we've discussed today. What did 00:17:58.809 --> 00:18:01.190 this come from? Or where did this come from? 00:18:01.369 --> 00:18:04.579 And what are the ethics behind it? Was it made 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:07.960 of? And what was the environmental cost? How 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:11.299 can I care for it and make it last? And the second 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:14.059 part, so your clothes know you, that's the reward. 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:17.319 When you make those conscious choices, your wardrobe 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:20.160 stops being just a random collection of disposable 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:23.039 trends. It starts becoming a real reflection 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:26.059 of who you are. Your clothes begin to tell your 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:29.210 story, align with your values. and carry meaning. 00:18:29.289 --> 00:18:31.950 They become a true part of your identity. It's 00:18:31.950 --> 00:18:34.329 the ultimate shift from the mindless consumption 00:18:34.329 --> 00:18:45.470 to dressing with purpose. And that's all the 00:18:45.470 --> 00:18:47.769 time we have for today's look into the world 00:18:47.769 --> 00:18:50.549 of fashion, both the fast and the secondhand 00:18:50.549 --> 00:18:53.289 kind. We've covered a lot from the convenience 00:18:53.289 --> 00:18:57.029 and trends of fast fashion to the ethics, sustainability 00:18:57.029 --> 00:19:00.410 and unique treasures of thrifting. The biggest 00:19:00.410 --> 00:19:02.789 takeaway is that every choice we make about our 00:19:02.789 --> 00:19:06.269 clothes is a chance to dress with purpose. A 00:19:06.269 --> 00:19:08.190 huge thank you to my co -host Proud and Esther 00:19:08.190 --> 00:19:11.789 and to our wonderful producer and guest Highlight 00:19:11.789 --> 00:19:15.410 for adding to an insightful conversation. And 00:19:15.410 --> 00:19:17.309 of course, thank you to all of you for listening. 00:19:17.369 --> 00:19:19.869 We hope this sparks some reflection on the choices 00:19:19.869 --> 00:19:23.250 you make when it comes to your own clothes. If 00:19:23.250 --> 00:19:25.349 you enjoyed the episode, please be sure to subscribe 00:19:25.349 --> 00:19:27.670 wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss 00:19:27.670 --> 00:19:30.910 our next episode. You can also follow us on Instagram 00:19:30.910 --> 00:19:34.869 at studentsincorporated for extra content. And 00:19:34.869 --> 00:19:37.049 as always, this podcast would not be possible 00:19:37.049 --> 00:19:39.869 without the hard work and support of our international 00:19:39.869 --> 00:19:42.569 student production team. All music and sound 00:19:42.569 --> 00:19:45.809 effects are courtesy of Pixabay .com, a vibrant 00:19:45.809 --> 00:19:48.750 community of creatives sharing copyright -free 00:19:48.750 --> 00:19:51.829 images, videos, and music. And we are signing 00:19:51.829 --> 00:19:55.150 off until next time. We are Students Incorporated, 00:19:55.210 --> 00:19:56.970 because your voice matters.