We really MUST start looking at shopping as an investment, so it’s time to talk about mindset! More precisely, our mindset towards shopping as a whole.
Because let’s face it, we have been brainwashed to think of shopping as “therapy” rather than an investment. The big question that I want to ask you is
“Is buying new clothes a right or a privilege?”
There’s been a lot of coverage over the years around fast fashion brands like H&M being blamed for blatant greenwashing propaganda. They make a big deal out of ‘starting to manufacture “a number of” shoes and bags from sustainably produced leather’.
Now, we should all be aware by now of the fact that these are lies. No fast fashion brand would ever bother to even try to be more ecological, their investors would never allow it.
What say you? You’re not quite sure how to recognise greenwashing from a genuine sustainable brand? Well, let me explain:
- Firstly, a brand is not sustainable unless ALL of their production is sustainable.
- Secondly, if only a part of a brand’s collection is “ecological”, it only means they can price those pieces higher because sustainability is trendy.
- At the end of the day, if it’s a fast fashion brand, there is zero possibility of them being in any shape of form sustainable at all, PERIOD.
The easiest thing to remember is that there are no sustainable collections, there are only sustainable brands.
It’s either all of their production or nothing at all. For example, H&M and Zara’s “conscious” collections are made in the same factories slave institutions as their regular collections. Don’t let them fool you!
And now, let’s talk about changing the way we look at shopping overall!
Why We Should Look At Shopping As An Investment
It all boils down to the fact that the prices we pay for our clothes on the high street are exploitative prices. And we are participating in these criminal activities every time we open our wallets in one of those (online) stores.
But how can we change this, you ask? The answer is simpler than you may think: By going back to how things were before fast fashion was invented.
Fast fashion came about in the 1990’s. Before that clothes were much more expensive, AKA they cost exactly what manufacturing them legally costs. And yes, they were still affordable! This was way back when people still thought of shopping as an investment.
So, to grasp the extent of our privilege, but certainly not a right, we need to look back and learn from our parents’ and grandparents’ generations about shopping.
(Side note; I am aware of the possibility to buy second-hand and renting clothes. But I really just want to talk about shopping new here, because that’s what I know about. There are articles on shopping secondhand and renting clothes here ♥)
What seems expensive now, is a big saving in the long run
Let’s face it, you’ll think twice before purchasing a sustainably produced T-shirt that costs £€$20, right? Well, that’s the whole point! Shopping shouldn’t be mindless consumption.
Shopping as an investment is literally about putting money on ourselves and our style. You think that the £5 fast fashion T-shirt is cheap, but in the long run you end up spending a lot more.
- Fast fashion is fast because it’s designed not to last.
- It shrinks or breaks in the wash, or the fabric wears out in just couple months.
- So, you go and buy a new one.
- And by the end of the year you’ve spent £50 on fast fashion T-shirts alone.
Instead, invest in one well made, classically styled and good quality T-shirt for £20 – £30. That shirt will last the tooth of time, stay on trend and not wear out within couple years.
And what’s more, the difference in quality is noticeable. An organic cotton T-shirt feels so much better on your skin compared to a pesticide-infested fast fashion T-shirt. Just try!
Invest in sustainable, classic pieces of clothing because:
- they’re timeless classics;
- you will wear and style them for years;
- they are versatile to style up and down;
- they’ll get better with age (particularly true with leather accessories!).
And here’s a point that nobody tells you, but why we should look at shopping as an investment: when in need of extra cash you can use quality apparel as currency. High quality clothes, while more expensive, are worth the investment.
You are worth the splurge
Looking at shopping as an investment says something about how you view yourself as well. Shopping should be an investment in you. Your style, your vibe, you.
This is an important factor that I want you all to realize! Because for too long we have been taught to devalue ourselves. The magic word here is ‘SALE’. Oh yes, we think we are only worth a splurge if it’s cheaper. But here’s the harsh reality:
If something costs £100 and is on sale for £75, you do not save £25 when you buy it. You SPEND £75 and that’s it.
So, we need to make a mindset shift from “I buy things” to “I invest in myself”. Stop looking at the numbers, and instead look at the actual product and think:
“Do I need this? Does this bring me value?”
The product is the value, not money! Did you know that money doesn’t actually have any value? Well, here’s a newsflash, it doesnt. Money has only ever had value because we believe it has value. Heck, we’ve built entire societies on this imaginary value.
But fact of the matter is that as long as we see money as the only thing that has value, we’re peeing in our cereals. Instead, we should recognize what actually holds value in life. What are those things in your life?
How to change your value mindset
In practice seeing shopping as an investment means you only buy apparel and devices because you see yourself as deserving of them.
Not because celebrities or your friends bought them or because they’re on sale. The only pressure to do anything at all is always and only put on you BY YOU.
You deserve better! You deserve better than the frumpy T-shirt from H&M that will fall apart within a year. You deserve better than just SALE items!
I realize that the big challenge in changing our mindset into seeing shopping as an investment, is our love for instant gratification. Especially us Millennials were brought up to believe we deserve it all and we deserve it NOW!
Another newsflash: This is false. We were lied to, and now it’s up to us to unlearn all of these lies that we were taught.
We do deserve the best. But the best does not equal available immediately. We may have to wait for whatever we want to launch, or until we have the money for it.
And that’s exactly how life works in general. Instant gratification is so last season and a completely unsustainable mindset. We deserve better than that. But we’re not the center of the Universe.
How you can afford bigger fashion investments
We can all afford better when we buy less and buy better. I’m talking about more expensive purchases like a pair of leather boots for winter or a brand handbag for work. These cost from £150 upwards.
- Let’s say that a pair of leather boots costs £200.
- You’ve thought about it and there’s no way around it, you need new boots for winter.
- You also understand that taking the easy option and buying a pair of fast fashion boots will mean that you’ll need to shop again next winter.
- So, you’re going all in this time. Because you know that once is all it takes: you’ll be wearing these boots for a decade.
Next you need to figure out how you can spare that £€$200. First consider how much money you are left with each month.
Write down on paper your netto salary and deduct from it all monthly costs: rent, credit card debt, rent/mortgage, bills, average food shop, travel costs, etc. What ever’s left is the amount of money you can invest in yourself.
Maybe you’ll have to put something aside for couple of months to afford the boots, but that’s okay. Then you’ll do just that.
Put aside a comfortable sum each month, and stick to it! When your salary arrives, transfer that amount to your savings account immediately so it’s off your limits. After the wait it feels that much more amazing when you get the boots!
Final Thoughts
I was raised to look at shopping as an investment and a privilege. But I do still understand that for many shopping seems like a right. But it’s not our right to exploit people and the planet for the sake of a crappy pair of jeans.
We must do better. The planet needs us to do better. And at the end of the day, we need us to do better. It’s our own future we’re destroying by supporting these fast fashion brands.
Do you see shopping as a right or a privilege? I’d absolutely love to hear your views on this interesting subject! Please comment your thoughts below ♥
Follow me on Instagram and use #styleoutlandish to showcase your style! I’m always on the lookout for outfit inspiration. Get to know me better by listening to my podcast, Random Rambles. If you wish to work with me, check out my services here!
