5 Upcoming Trends and How to Get them Sustainably!
Fast fashion is the rapid manufacturing of trendy clothes for a competitive price and low quality that comes at the expense of the environment. Examples of fast fashion brands include Forever 21, Zara, Gap, and UNIQLO. Fast fashion uses sweatshops and their clothing is often made with dangerous dyes, synthetic fibers, and toxic chemicals. In order to keep up with trends, fast fashion brands have 52 micro-seasons instead of four seasons. This rapid cycle of fashion that isn’t timeless, creates a massive environmental impact. In the US alone, 11 million tons of clothing are thrown out every year. This clothing almost never breaks down, releasing chemicals into the air. It’s important to limit your support of fast fashion as much as possible so here are 5 upcoming trends and how to wear them in a sustainable manner. For more information on fast fashion, here is an article from The Good Trade and here is an article from Good on You. If you want to see if your favorite brands are fast fashion, using Good on You, can allow you to search those brands and evaluate their environmental impact.
Trend 1. Colorful leather
In the past leather has tended to look like moto jackets and for that matter, black. This is changing as colorful leather is popping up all over red carpets and the runway. This trend is straight from the 70s. I have seen a ton of leather boiler suits (another trend) in the windows on Fillmore street. Bella Hadid was spotted modeling this leather look on the Fendi runway in Milan.
If you're looking to model this look in a sustainable way, the Goodwill on Fillmore and Post is always stocked up on leather. A couple of months ago, I thrifted a blue leather skirt there!
Trend 2. Tie-dye
I’m pretty sure corona influenced this trend because everyone is bored at home, but I really like it! Also, this trend is super accessible! If you're not the arts and craft type, every thrift store has a ton of tie-dye from t-shirts people made at camp. Tie-dye has even become high fashion—below are pictures from the Burberry, Versace, and Dior runways!
In addition, here is the link to some tie-dye Dickies on Depop (a second-hand website), that I think are sick! (pictured below)
Trend 3. Flare jeans
This trend is my personal favorite and definitely goes along with the 70s theme. Flare/ bell bottom pants are all the rage! These are (in my opinion) especially cute over a pair of boots—I particularly like Doc Martins, but I also think they are chic over sandals like Birkenstocks. I am currently making a pair of bell-bottoms but it got difficult so, to be honest, I haven’t worked on them in 3 weeks. An easy way to DIY this trend and give old pants a new life is to take two pairs of jeans (preferably different colors) and to insert a triangle of one of them down both side seams of the other. Below is Kendall Jenner rocking some AWESOME flare jeans on the streets of New York.
Trend 4. Short Suits
Shorts suits are a great way to look professional without getting too hot. This trend includes a tailored blazer over a pair of loose-fitting shorts with a high waist. This look allows for a modern but edgy look. I personally like it when the jacket and shorts don’t match but correspond. This trend is once again, super easily thriftable (pfsh that’s a word)! The men’s section at thrift stores usually have extensive suit jackets. you can either crop pants into shorts or use a pair of shorts you already have and there's your short suit!. Below is a FABULOUS suit from the Saint Laurant 2020 spring show.
Trend 5. Puffy sleeves
Puffy sleeves are inspired by the prairie style and allow for a feminine look. Shannon Schafer, head fashion director of Vogue, said that they allow for an air of romance. I personally think that the movie “Little Women” had a big role in this trend (fun fact Timotheé Chalamet is Jewish!). This trend is often paired with a square or wrap neckline. Puffy sleeves are all over Reformation’s website (a sustainable store), but can get pretty pricey. A cheaper route is to follow one of the hundred DIY videos on youtube that help give your clothes a glow up. The H&M sustainable line is also filled with puffy sleeves. This trend was heavily represented at this year's Golden Globes as shown below.
