40. Capitalism and shopaholism

    Shopping, the thing that we all love most but shouldn't do so often. Shopping has one main advantage: you get new things. But those new things bring some major disadvantages; apart from the environmental problems generated by producing clothes and other items, shopping also reinforces the capitalist society that we live in.

    Beginning with the environmental problems generated by mass-shopping, we find that most shops do not follow eco-friendly policies. Those policies tend to ensure that the clothes that they sell are not made neither by underpaid labour nor with unsustainable materials. Those unsustainable materials are usually made out of plastic (polyester) or other non-recyclable materials that could lead to a greater carbon footprint and could make global warming and climate change even worse.

    On the other hand, capitalism is not a bad thing, like everything, if not done massively. The problem is that "massive" is what defines the nowadays society: They want things fast and abundant. This belief provokes economic instability, monopoly power and inequality. Capitalism foments a social hierarchy to be created, and fashion is not excluded from that: "If you have more clothes you are better".

    So, all in all, for the reasons presented, I strongly believe that the fashion industry should take a step back and think about all the damage they are doing not only to our planet but also to our economy.

Related to suggested topic 18: Shopping