Why Macklemore Has It Right

Today’s clothing market for teenagers and young adults who can’t afford designer clothing is stamped with a couple names: Forever XXI, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister. Being a teenager and not shopping at these places is nearly impossible.

However, there is a small but growing movement among young people to turn to other kinds of places to get their clothes: resale shops. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis even wrote a popular song about it! The growth of resale shops, if large enough, could have many benefits ethically and economically.

We’ve all been told to reduce, reuse, and recycle, but the average American household still throws away about 177 lbs. of clothing per year.  Those who shop resale are often doing so in order to decrease waste at a low cost. If resale shopping were to be more mainstream, then teens would participate in green living and sustainability.

Shopping resale also reduces sweatshop use. In 2010, 21 workers died in a fire at a sweatshop supplying H&M. Since then, H&M has launched a green initiative, but they and many other clothing companies are still guilty of ethical misconduct. If young people turn to resale in opposition to unethical manufacturing, the rising generation may become more mindful and ethical in all areas of their lives.

Teenagers should also be aware of where their dollars are going. Urban Outfitters, a brand catering to young, mainly liberal people, is cofounded by Richard Hayne, who has been in the limelight lately. He gave more than $14,000 to Rick Santorum and marketed UO a shirt with the harmful slogan “Eat Less.” Hayne is a conservative, and teens should be aware of this before shopping. If ethics in the clothing industry became stressed, young people could choose brands that support their values.

Economically, big clothing names like Forever XXI are creating a monopoly on their market. Abercrombie & Fitch owns Hollister. Urban Outfitters owns Free People and Anthropologie. America, as a country, is plagued by monopolization. Competition in the economy is the basis of capitalism, the American-chosed economic system. Individuals may use their dollars to support small businesses, consignment shops, and resale boutiques.

If it becomes widely known that young people are looking for green and ethical clothing, big brands may be forced to create higher-quality clothing in a greener way. Instead of employing foreign sweatshop labor, companies may hire people in America. In the current climate of unemployment, anything may help.

Thrifting has the potential to change America if it can become appealing to the average teenager. Individually, people can shop resale and encourage others. People may participate in clothing swaps and clothing drives in their communities. When thrifted skirts become just as fashionable as new Abercrombie & Fitch ones, the resale movement will have won.

(This is a really old post, but something I wanted to put up here.)