Confession Of A Fast Fashion Shopaholic

For everybody that knows me, knows how much I love to shop. I own two rails full of clothes from jeans, to jumpers, dresses, to flares. You name it, I most probably have it in my wardrobe. And it most likely came from ASOS. This is my confession.

My first ever job as a 16 year old was working at my local Topshop, this is where my shopping addiction started. With a generous discount offered by Topshop, I would often find myself buying something new every time I would come in, and as a 16 year old with no other priorities, I could afford to buy clothes on the regular. Since then, my shopping addiction got larger and larger. I would find myself spending hundreds of pounds each month on ASOS, PLT, Topshop, Zara, New Look, Primark etc. I always thought I could never wear the same things twice, and always wanted a new outfit for every occasion.

It wasn’t until last year when I lived in Bristol, is where I discovered vintage clothing stores. My flatmate and I one day got the M1 bus into the centre of Bristol from the university accommodation, in the pouring rain, and we walked around huddled under the smallest umbrella. Going to and from different second hand stores all across Bristol. My eyes were open. We went from 9am all the way until 7pm, just shopping and walking around and trying on clothes. I would find unique pieces which I have never seen before, expensive designers being sold for £10, and racks and racks of clothes. I had no trouble finding something I loved in each store. Since then, every city I visited from London, Venice, Birmingham, Cardiff and so on, I would find second hand stores.

When I started my fashion degree, I knew fast fashion was bad, but never educated myself on the actual affect that it was having on our planet and how ethically wrong it was. After learning more about fast fashion and the benefits shopping in charity shops and vintage stores have, I slowly found myself spending less and less time browsing the ASOS new in page, and more time getting up and dressed and walking round the arcades of Cardiff with my friends and trying on second hand or reworked items of clothing. And I love it.