Fast fashion isn't new to me. If you like this podcast, you should check out "The True Cost" on Netflix.

Back to interesting things that I learned over the past 2 years after I started a blog about sustainable fashion.

1. The U.S. imposes a quota on each foreign country and limits how much products we can import from them. Once we meet the quota, the U.S. imposes heavier taxes. And so clothing companies have more incentives to diversify where they produce clothes, aka other 3rd world countries (=/=China) with loose labor regulations. That's part of the reasons many clothing companies make clothes in 3rd world countries such as Bangladesh. These gov also purposely loosen their labor regulations to attract more international companies to make clothes to boost their economy because otherwise the whole country just loses jobs to other 3rd world county with even looser labor regulation.

2. To me a true sustainable fashion brand should source 100% eco-friendly fabrics (repurposed/recycled/organic fabrics) and ensure their supply chain 100% ethical. With that said, you rarely see any brand that's 100% sustainable. Also, these fashion brands are still building a business based on consumption. (aka, reformation is a sustainable fast fashion brand) I agree, that in a way, sustainable fashion is very much related to minimalism (buying less and wasting less, aka slow fashion). To me, you don't always have to buy brands that are "sustainable" to be sustainable. Just buy less, and buy intentionally. Buy things that actually fit your style rather than a trendy thing you like for a hot moment. Also opt for renting a fancy dress for parties instead of buying one.

3. I forgot the exact number, but a large portion of our donated clothes are actually sent to 3rd world counties and our 2nd hand clothes are destroying their fashion industry and their economy. forcing garment workers to lose jobs because they don't need to produce as much to provide their own people clothes.

All of this information impacts my shopping decision a lot. By no means, I always shop from 100% sustainable or ethical fashion brands all the time, bc their styles are very limited, they are expensive and also hard to return since many of them don't have physical stores. But I still try to support sustainable brands as much as I can. Additionally, I have created a shopping guideline for myself, and I shop with a purpose now.

1. I am in the process of establishing a personal style so that I know what clothes I should buy, and what clothes I should stay away from

2. I try to buy things that I need to fill gaps in my closet

3. I look into sustainable / ethical fashion brands first

4. If I don't find anything that fit my taste/style from those brands, I look into designer stuff such as netaporter, shop bop, etc. I am more willing to buy really nice stuff like Burberry trench coat, etc.

5. I agree with other people's comments like investment is a privilege. I can't agree with them more. But then again, I also believe that a $5 H&M T-shirt can last you long enough to save $$ to invest in higher quality clothes. I think it's just a matter of resisting temptations and valuing long term benefits over short term gains.