The Trend of Overconsumption
Stanley cups are the newest trend for women and girls of all ages. When I was younger, it was the Hydro Flask. Aside from the fact that it’s odd for reusable water bottles and tumblers to serve as fashion statements and status symbols, it’s also harming our environment.
A majority of women are using a Stanley cup, or a similar design, in their daily lives. Some have two or three different cups, while others have collections that take up entire shelves. It’s incredibly likely that most, if not all, of these owners had a reusable water bottle or tumbler before purchasing a Stanley. So why is it a must to have one?
Social media and its trends have played a huge part in encouraging overconsumption. Users are made to feel like they must have the newest and hottest commodity or face being seen as lame. Children are even being bullied at school for not having a legitimate Stanley brand tumbler.
Of course, trends are nothing new. However, social media has sped up fashion cycles immensely, resulting in microtrends. Instead of lasting a decade, styles last only months, or at most a year. In order to keep up with these, people are constantly buying new clothing. That’s where fast fashion comes in. Brands like Shein, Forever 21, H&M, and Zara are constantly pumping out new designs. The problem is that these clothes are poor quality and made by overworked and underpaid employees. These clothes aren’t meant to last. So they end up in landfills, and the cycle repeats.
The problem doesn’t end there. Buying multiples of reusable items (i.e. Stanley cups and tote bags) is another problem. It takes 50 to 100 uses of a cotton tote bag to have less environmental impact than one plastic bag. Of course, no one has just one tote bag. It requires at least three or so for a trip to the grocery store. The same goes for Stanley cups and reusable water bottles and tumblers. Right now, I have two portable cups in my bedroom alone. Are we truly making an effort to help our planet?
I feel a bit hypocritical writing this, as I love shopping and collecting trinkets, but I want us to be more mindful about what we are purchasing. Questions to ask yourself include: do I need it? Do I already own something similar? How often will I use it? Can I borrow it or buy it sustainably? It’s also important to giveaway or donate any items you plan to get rid of instead of tossing them in the garbage. While secondhand stores aren’t guaranteed to give your belongings a second life, they stand a better chance there than in a landfill.
Whether you’re worried about the environment or just your bank account, I think we can all agree that the amount of production and consumption happening is entirely unlike before. If we are mindful of our shopping habits, take care of our items, and extend their use, we will be able to rest a little easier.
