Impacts of Microtrends
Microtrends have left many people staring at a closet full of clothes feeling like they have nothing to wear. Social media trends deem certain styles popular for a day then the next it is considered embarrassing to be seen wearing it. Shopping has become increasingly difficult due to social media trends and its influence on fast fashion.
Micro Trend clothes are clothes or clothing styles that are trending or popular for a few weeks but then go out of style in a very short amount of time. This leads to consumers falling victim to fast fashion. In addition, It has made it significantly harder for shoppers to purchase sustainable and long lasting clothing that should be in style for a long time.
Social media standards are another reason for microtrends going out of style so quickly. This is because everyone is constantly trying to find the next big thing, in this case the next fashion trend. New York Times author Sakshi Venkatraman states that consumers feel that “Shopping isn’t fun anymore and personal style feels impossible.” TikTok trends get very popular very fast but often last for extremely short amounts of time. These trends often result in many people buying items of one style immediately to “stay in style” and as early as a few weeks later it may be considered “cringe” or “cheugy” to wear clothing of the style. These trends are destroying consumers' personal sense of style. Shoppers are trying to keep up with the latest fashion trends, and this leads to over consumption of clothes that will not be worn for long after purchase. As a result of fast fashion, much of this clothing will wind up in landfills or trash dumps as it's waiting to decompose. Not only is fast fashion bad for the environment, it also negatively impacts the economy. People are spending a significant amount of money on clothing every month. These clothes are made cheaply and often use child labor. Children are forced to produce massive amounts of these clothes in quick amounts of time in factories with poor working conditions. This has a negative impact on our economy because people are spending money on clothes that will barely be worn before they have to be thrown out again.
Microtrends are having upsetting and unfortunate effects on our society. These issues range from social, economic, and human rights. However, Fashion trends are not something to be afraid of. There are still ways to shop for clothing for long time wear. This can be done by purchasing more classic and long lasting clothing. Sustainable and ethically conscious shopping choices are always important. So next time you think to hop on a short last microtrend for clothing, think before you buy!