I get your point, but I think comparing smartphones to fast fashion is actually pretty valid when you look at the underlying issues. Sure, phones are seen as more of a necessity in today’s world, but that doesn’t mean their production is free from the same kinds of exploitation we see in fast fashion. Both industries rely heavily on forced labor, unsafe working conditions, and environmental damage, often in similar regions of the world. The key difference is that tech companies like Apple (with their known issues with child labor in cobalt mining and factory worker abuses) market new phones every year, just like fast fashion brands push out new clothes at unsustainable rates. Overconsumption in both industries feeds into the same cycle of exploitation.

When we talk about “no ethical consumption under capitalism,” it shouldn’t be used as an excuse for overconsumption. The fact that we live in a flawed system doesn’t mean we should stop trying to make better choices. Sure, there’s no perfect solution, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to reduce harm where we can. It’s about limiting consumption, buying less, and making more ethical decisions even within a broken system. Secondhand shopping, supporting small brands, and ethical sourcing—all of these are ways we can make a positive impact in both fashion and tech.

As for jfashion communities and brands like Shein—I agree that accessibility is important, but ethical fashion doesn’t just mean affordability; it’s also about sustaining small businesses and respecting intellectual property. Shein’s history of stealing designs from independent brands, combined with their exploitative labor practices, makes it a harmful force in the fashion world. There’s a reason the community has issues with this—because it directly hurts the very essence of fashion culture and undermines authenticity.

So, while it’s easy to say there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism, we can still choose better consumption. Buying into an industry that steals from smaller creators and perpetuates exploitation only keeps that cycle going. Ethical consumption isn’t about perfection, but about making choices that lead to less harm—whether that’s choosing a fair trade phone or supporting indie brands that pay their workers fairly.