LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — The ideal forms of fashion have been cultivated over centuries of history, dating back to the earliest stages of society. People’s conformity to societal norms is mainly represented through clothing. Fashion isn’t just a trend to follow but a powerful display of personality and human creation. Fashion is mainly reported in the news through designers, celebrities and social media, but there is another side of fashion that is being completely disregarded.

“I feel like fashion is always being refined, each year you think of the word differently as a new trend is happening,” said Vivienne Nichols, a junior at Los Alamitos High School.

The majority of trends appear unpredictable to consumers; people tend to view trends as a random series of popularity, though this isn’t entirely accurate. The “20-year rule” is a phrase used in the fashion industry to describe the recycling of fashion trends from 20 years prior. This rule can even explain the sudden popularity of Y2K fashion in recent years. If this is the truth, and fashion trends, new or old, are bound to be reused and repeated, what’s the point of fashion?

“I always get my outfit inspiration from Pinterest or TikTok,” said Kaylyn Kekaks, an LAHS sophomore. 

Influence is what keeps the fashion industry going. Obviously, everybody needs clothes, but it’s not just the need, it’s the want that keeps people coming back for more. If someone keeps seeing a red coat on their social media feed, they’re going to want it and are in turn going to buy it. Customers, not just in fashion, need to see merchandise being bought or used by others to feel confident about buying it. 

“No, I can’t buy something without seeing how it looks. You’re weird to buy something without seeing how it looks worn,” said Ariana Boisvert, a junior at LAHS.  

If influences beyond people’s control convince them they need to buy trending clothing, who can blame them? The lifestyle of altering their wardrobe to fit every new trend is an expensive one. If they’re going to choose that lifestyle, their clothing will most likely not be high quality.

“We have enough clothes to clothe the next six generations of humans,” said Mrs. Helm, an Advanced Placement environmental science teacher at LAHS.

The hold of fashion influence tends to lead people to look over the details of its toxic side. Sadly, the environmental damage these products inflict is just the beginning. Fashion is an industrial system. Fashion manufacturing is taking a toll not only on the environment but also on people. Do you ever wonder who made your clothes? Would it make you uncomfortable to know that someone younger spent their day making your outfit instead of attending school? 

“Yes, because children should be in school being educated,” said Sophia Carpenter, an LAHS junior. 

As of 2021, 160 million children are engaged in activities that deprive them of their rights, like education and nutrition. Many of these workers are employed by the fashion industry. Western countries’ need for mass production has led to developing countries to fill the void, as workers in the West are unwilling to work in factories for low wages. Although these countries do have child labor laws, they are not well enforced and there is not nearly enough advocacy for the children being taken advantage of. 

Fashion is important for people; it portrays the advancement of the human race. The influences of fashion standards blurred people’s vision of the disgusting consequences. Fast fashion isn’t the answer. Child labor is wrong. These multimillion-dollar companies can find eco-friendly ways to make clothing and can also hire legal labor while paying them minimum wage. There can be change; this industry isn’t doomed to be corrupt. 

“Child labour and other forms of exploitation are preventable through integrated approaches that strengthen child protection systems as well as simultaneously address poverty and inequity, improve access to and quality of education and mobilize public support for respecting children’s rights,” the UNICEF Child Labour and Exploitation website said.  

Let’s try to influence something new. Instead of the next trend being an outfit or accessory, let it be advocacy.