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Present age has taken the definition of ‘trends’ to a whole new level. Now, trends come and go in the blink of an eye. But behind these fleeting trends, lie multiple implications that sound the alarm for something far-more concerning.

This hyper-fast generation is quick to tug you with them, oftentimes not even realising that you are now a participant in this hustle of life. One such area is the bustling world of fashion, which has become more fast-paced than ever. Basics don’t do it anymore, the need to stand out and receive compliments on your outfit is stronger than ever. OOTDs, try-on hauls, must-have items, outfit ‘inspo’, aspirants wish to pull a Komal Pandey and carve their name on the social media landscape. The world of micro-trends, fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion is aided by a hyper-presence of social media in our daily lives. Overconsumption has become normalised, but the planet and the marginalised workers, in particular, bear the brunt of this phenomena.

Fast fashion refers to the production of cheap clothes in accordance to the rapidly changing fashion trends, to profit from the newest trends at the height of their popularity. Consumers try to fit in and keep up with the micro-trends by overconsumption of these inexpensive fast-fashion apparels. But the rationale behind this overconsumption drive is that these clothes go out of style or simply wear out due to their cheap materials after a short while, and subsequently the garments are discarded after a few wears. Then, we behold another micro-trend that grips the masses, and the cycle resumes all over again. You might recall the Maddy outfit phenomena that stormed the internet when Euphoria peaked, or the recent Barbiecore with the release of Barbie, when people all around were rushing to add their contribution these trends. It is quite evident that social media plays a major role in creating the demand for fast fashion.

The Haul Culture created by social media is a prime example. It started with SHEIN, then moved to other popular websites and brands like Urbanic, Urban Outfitters, ZARA, FOREVER 21, H&M, FASHION NOVA, UNIQLO to name a few. The growing popularity of short-video content like Reels, TikToks and YouTube Shorts is indeed a driving force behind these trends. This is accompanied by the rise of influencers and micro-influencers which is also leveraged by brands. Brands have started mass-collaborating with hopefuls seeking to increase their social media presence. In turn, their audience gets inspired to follow their footsteps and starts buying from the same platforms. Brands have also partnered with social media platforms to collect extensive data from consumers, so any person expressing even the slightest interest on their platform gets bombarded with advertisements of the product or similar products. And so, these attractive advertisements successfully promote impulsive and unnecessary purchases.

But the truth is, these attractive prices come at a cost of something far greater. This pocket friendly price comes to you after cutting the wages of overworked marginalised workers. The globalisation of supply chains in the fast-fashion production system has led to serious violations of human and labour rights. The labour force to make these newest trendy garments comes majorly from developing countries like Bangladesh, India, Cambodia and Myanmar, to name a few. The labour force is made up of primarily women and children, who work under terrible conditions and do not receive even minimum wage. The working hours are intense, and the deadlines very short owing to the ‘fast’ fashion. Many such big names like SHEIN, H&M and ZARA have been exposed for violating several labour laws and exploiting workers. According to Fashion Transparency Index 2023, only 1% of brands disclose the number of workers being paid a living wage. It won’t be far-fetched to equate this exploitation with modern slavery.

Additionally, the environment also pays the true cost of the cheap garments. Micro-plastics are some of the primary materials used in the cheap clothes, which end up piling on the landfills, polluting oceans and cause serious damage. The discarded clothes end up as overflowing heaps of waste. The industry also uses huge amounts of energy and water (an estimated 93 billion cubic metres a year) and generates up to ten percent of global CO2 emissions. Dyeing and finishing not only emit huge amounts of greenhouse gases, but also cause water pollution. Resources are depleting rapidly, to meet the false demands created by the fast-fashion sector.

The way forward for industries is to address the lack of transparency in the global supply chains, which has been the root cause of exploitation of workers. As consumers, the onus lies on us to ensure that we make informed choices about the brands that we consume from. The age-old saying “quality over quantity” can easily be applied in this scenario. So rather than investing on heaps of cheap, low-quality clothes that are both unsustainable and a fruition of exploitative practices, invest on good-quality clothes that you know would survive fleeting trends. Make the best out of your investment and wear the apparels for as long as possible. The 5 Rs of Fashion: Reduce, Rewear, Recycle, Repair, Resell all the way! Thrifting is very much in, since you care about trends.

 

Read also:The Beauty Facade : Instagram Trends

Featured Image Source: BBC

 

Sarah Nautiyal

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Now that trends influence everyone’s style, let’s finally separate the hype from the real deal.

I’m playing fashion police today- waving goodbye to trends that are potentially tired while giving some overdue love to the seriously underrated ones. Let’s set things straight once and for all.

Overrated fashion trends-

  1. Birkenstocks- These iconic sandals have been the epitome of comfortable footwear for a very long time. However, their chunky design makes it hard to integrate them with most outfits. So, while they’re definitely made out of quality material, the prices aren’t justified for a sandal used for casual wear.
  2. Sheer clothing- This provides the opportunity to play around with layers and textures which could be so fun! But, the comfort and practicality of sheer clothing is questionable. They can prove to be itchy and the synthetic materials are not very environmentally friendly either.
  3. Mini sunglasses- These are a departure from traditional eyewear by far. Indeed, they are more about making a statement than functionality but it’s impossible to see properly in them, let alone walk. Big yay for the look and all the fun colours they come in, but utility garners negative marks.
  4. Statement sneakers- The debate about their place on this list would be an intense one. While I agree with (and even partake in) sneakerhead culture, some designs are clearly more about flashiness and prestige than quality and comfort. While a good pair can transform a look for the better, a flashy one could push it slightly into the tacky category.

Underrated fashion trends-

  1. Dad shoes- ‘Dad’ shoes are those that are not necessarily considered very stylish but provide unparalleled comfort. They are the most ideal choice for extended periods of walking and their resurgence in recent times is a testament to a shift in fashion priorities, where comfort is taking precedence. It’s great to have an awesome sneaker collection but also get yourself some of these. Dads have always known best.
  2. Neutral tones- They deserve more recognition instead of being considered boring. Neutral colours exude understated elegance and should be staples in our wardrobes. They are easy to style and serve as the perfect backdrop for statement accessories.
  3. Timeless prints- Their appeal lies in being a reliable option for both formal and casual outfits. They have stood the test of time and their charm goes beyond that of passing fads such as animal prints. Most of them are eternally relevant but I’m still not so sure about polka dots, though.
  4. Fanny packs- The outdated designs have been revamped in recent times and are incredibly convenient. While I am a fan of tote bags, having to fish for my keys for 5 minutes is not fun. Fanny packs are thus a great accessory for on-the-go lifestyles.

Fashion has always existed as a means to express yourself. None of it could ever be the ‘wrong’ way to do it. Obviously, it’s important to wear what you like and are comfortable in. While certain trends may not resonate with everyone, they still contribute to the fashion landscape. If you like Birkenstocks and are rocking them, good for you! But do yourself a favour and buy some Dad shoes today.

Read also: Threads vs Twitter- Let the Billionaire Cold War Commence

Featured image credits: Pinterest

Arshiya Pathania

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Long gone are the days when Instagram was a way of connecting with forgotten friends. The contemporary face of Instagram has undergone a complete makeover. Read on to know more.

 A name on everyone’s lips and imprinted on everyone’s mind; Instagram. A social media application that gained enormous popularity in the last decade, Instagram is all what one needs. From thrift stores to connecting with counsellors, this genie from Aladdin’s Lamp grants every wish of yours irrespective of the count. Ask a ‘millennial’ about their contact information and they will drop down their fancy usernames on Instagram. On a personal note, I know most of my followers through their usernames and not their real names. Such is the level of influence that Instagram has done on our lives. As if the sophistication wrapped around in the cloth of our lives was not enough; Instagram added more to the same.

As the title suggests, I am not here to elucidate and throw limelight on the good side of Instagram. I would not dare to state that it is completely absent. It is very much alive and kicking but let us keep it for some other article, shall we? Today, I am here to focus on an aspect that mostly hides itself under the tag ‘beauty’. An aspect that strives to be perfect but it is not. The aspect of toxicity prevailing in the current Instagram trends.

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if the social media trends were for mere fun and not people recklessly trying to prove themselves better?

–says Sayantani Singha from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata.

When it comes to myself, out of the 12 months in a year I am only active on Instagram for about a month if you could count the total number of days. This inactivity doesn’t arise from inborn dislikeness towards social media in general. The plant of dislike grew over time; getting nourished whenever I opened up my account. The dislike has turned into hatred now, if I have to be more precise. All thanks to Instagram’s recent brainchild, reels. Reels are those short 15 second clips that an user can upload for promoting their talents, delineating an amalgamation of scenic pictures from a trip, etcetera. It came in more like a substitute to another platform known as TikTok or Musically.

I don’t have a problem with reels in general. They are fun, I agree to the core. The problem arises at my end when it comes to certain trends that are spreading faster than fake news. Let me first talk about a current trend : “How did I go from this to this?” While some users are using this trend to show their artistic progression over the years, be it in the field of dance, music, make-up, etcetera; some are portraying puberty with the term ‘glow up’. If you ask my mother about the changes in my body or face, she’ll reply bluntly stating about puberty. But, the above stated trend degraded to such a level that individuals have started using their childhood photos and portray their so-called ‘glow-up’. Learning how to dress yourself better and apply cosmetics to beautify oneself does not mean glow up if we compare it with the times when we didn’t even know how to comb our hair.   “Doechi, introduce yourself to the class” can be termed as the first trend’s sister. While some use it to portray the vivid makeup skills they possess, many are indulged in this puberty transformation itself.

There was a time when social media was a platform where we used to indulge in our free time, but now times have changed. Nowadays we free our time to indulge in social media. There is a recent trend that we can frequently see in our Instagram reels, that shows people’s transition from Anjali in kuch kuch hota hai to Poo in kabhi khushi kabhi gham. However in our real lives,this transition might be very opposite from these virtual glow ups we often see. We often suffer from body images of being too fat,too skinny or having bad skin and social media and its glorification of glow ups further worsens these issues. For I say,people evolve or grow up,we adapt to various external factors-we adapt ourselves to recent fashion trends,learn how to present ourselves in a proper manner and this isn’t a part of a glow up phenomenon but rather an adaptation due to growing up

says Mridusmita Barman from Cotton University, Guwahati.

If the definition of glow-up is restricted to wearing fashionable clothes and make-up, I beg to differ from the same. For a person like me whose hands tremble due to nervousness while applying eyeliner, it’s difficult to relate with such trends. Also, not every individual grows up to have flawless skin and body. For some, their puberty comes with other uninvited guests like recurring acne problems, body issues, etcetera. I won’t be wrong if I say that my skin was much better during my childhood days even though I possessed zero fashion senses. I was better at a stage when insignificant things like Instagram did not make me feel inferior to my peers.

With unrealistic beauty standards introduced by these trends, Instagram is becoming a toxic platform. The stereotype hourglass figure of 36-24-36 inches, crystal clear skin where flowers might grow, a pointed Roman nose and what not. My hatred for Instagram comes from these reasons. Imagine how strong these influences are for teenage/ young adults like us that many even go for surgeries at this age itself. Certain instagram models and influencers have also ingrained their so-called perfections of stereotyped ‘beauty’ into the minds of young individuals to a large extent.

These days people are faking everything on Instagram just to keep the trend and meet the standards or so. I know one girl, she even got her eyelid surgery during 9th standard and now she is trying really hard to be like the perfectionists and all. However, this made her mentally depressed also. It’s very hard.

— Anonymous

As I scroll down and down through my Instagram feed, I realise that most of the individuals are living the life of their dreams. I get jealous, I won’t deny. Perfect bodies, perfect jawlines and the list goes on. But, as I delve deeper I realise this perfection is nothing more than a mirage. A facade as the title suggests. This is what one of my contacts shared and it goes like this : “Do you feel your body is fat, ugly, imperfect? Girl, this body of yours is keeping you alive during a deadly pandemic. Respect and love it.” Instagram is just a social media platform, don’t let it become your life.

 

Watch This : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDAGWy4s1Z8

 Read Also :  Social Media Depression

Assumed Authority of Men : A Presumed Privilege of Patriarchy

Featured Image Credits : Jerk Magazine

 

Himasweeta Sarma

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Power dressing and its impact can be incorporated in our everyday college wardrobe. Read on to know more.

Power dressing emerged as an alternate style of dressing that allows you to convey that you are in a position of power. Its whole purpose is to emit authority, confidence, and strength. The main motive is to dress smart, and feel like it.

Now, what does power dressing look like? Giving patriarchy its due credit, now power dressing focuses on putting the well-dressed in the position of power and that position has been enjoyed by men since time immemorial. Hence, power dressing is masculine in its foundation. It comprises of suits as it is basically workplace dressing. However, based on the concept of “dress to thrive”, power dressing is now evolving to be about more than just clothes. It’s your body language, posture, confidence, and even your hair. Even though power dressing focuses highly upon corporate culture, there are ways to incorporate it into our daily style, especially with winters right around the corner.

Strive on structure:

Tight silhouettes with broad jackets make you look more uptight, improving your body structure, and give you the needed curves, making the outfit provide you a sense of self-confidence and alertness.

Choose matte:

Power dressing is formal in its origin, hence, it fails when paired with bright textures. The entire point of power dressing is to look calm while emitting your authority. Therefore, matte textures in black, brown, blue, and burgundy go a long way.

A-line kurtas are A-plus:

A-line kurtas provide you the perfect tight structure you are longing for. Choose vertical patterns over horizontal ones to add height to your outfit. Stay away from anarkalis and patiala suits, and you will be good to go.

Credits: AJIO

Choose the right fabric:

Choose fabrics like cotton, silk, chanderi, etc, rather than fabrics like chiffon and georgette. The stiffer and tighter the fabric, more formal the attire will be.

Layering is the key: Any mundane t-shirt can be made edgy with just wearing an old shirt over it. Power dressing has great emphasis on layering as it’s the easiest way to add structure. Go for jackets, shrugs, and even t-shirt over t-shirt layering for a more concluded look.

Credits: Mirror

 

Power dressing may provide external strength, but always remember what really matters is how you feel in what you wear, so if a long t-shirt with shorts is your thing, wear it with confidence!

Feature Image Credits: Lavanya Topa

Chhavi Bahmba

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The teen clothing apparel retailer has been preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing, according to several published reports.

The clothing brand, originally known as Fashion 21 was founded by husband and wife Do Won Chang and Jin Sook Chang from Korea in 1984 in Los Angeles. Over the years, it has established itself as one of the leading brands globally. The fast-fashion expanded quickly and generated a massive following by selling trendy clothing and accessories for low and affordable prices. According to records, as of August 2018, Forever 21 had nearly 800 stores in 57 different countries and at its peak, it made a revenue of nearly $4.4 million (INR 31,54,86,600) despite the fact that the company had also been involved in various controversies and lawsuits, varying from labour practice issues to copyright infringement accusations to religion-based issues.

However, with time, as the company concentrated on growing bigger, even as its trends became more and more conventional and imitative. Subsequently, Forever 21 started losing touch with its frequent and core customers, while competitors like H&M and Zara kept rising, until Forever 21 wasn’t the trendsetter anymore.

Apart from this, as e-commerce has continued to rise, traditional retailers like Forever 21 have struggled to adapt to changing consumer behaviours. According to a survey conducted in March 2019, millennials make 60% of their purchases online, and overall prefer online shopping rather than making efforts to go to a physical store. All these factors subsequently resulted in the fall down of the company with its sales dropping down to 20%-25% in 2018, and we witnessed the founders being removed from the Forbes list of billionaires.

The company now is $500 Million (INR 35,85,32,50,000) in debt and henceforth, filing for bankruptcy.

According to sources, Forever 21 is formulating to shut down at least 100 stores as part of a restructuring that calls for the trendy fast-fashion retailer to file for bankruptcy insurance. The plan anticipates a Chapter 11 filing, which would allow the company to keep executing its operational activities while it forges a way to pay its creditors and turn the business around.

Furthermore, if the company shuts down, this could prove to be problematic for various stores and mall owners of India, as in India, the firm is a part of Aditya Birla Fashion Ltd., and would result in some loss of the Indian Retail Economy as well.

The company has been constantly trying to arrange for additional financing and working with a team of advisors to help it restructure its deficit, but negotiations with possible lenders have been a failure so far.

So it may turn out, Forever 21 might not be forever after all.

Feature Image Credits: Indian Retailer

Avni Dhawan

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With most of us being outstation students, we should be teaching you how to wash your clothes, but here we are, with a better alternative, or is it?

At times, we find ourselves standing in front our closet door, exclaiming, “Kuchh pehen-ne ke liye nahi hai,” (I don’t have anything to wear) and wearing the same tried and tested clothes again and again, without giving a second thought. Here are five tips to make the best out of your limited wardrobe, and to add some style to your boring old clothes.

  • Tailor it out!

This goes out especially to those who love a casual day bargain at Sarojini Nagar. Get your clothes tailored, from the money you save, it might take some time to find your perfect fit or your perfect tailor, but trust me, it’s worth it.

  • Shirt Tail Guard

Being college students, we don’t generally feel the need to tuck in our shirts. But once in a while, when that special interview, or that special date comes along, that’s where the troubles begin. Tucked in shirts have a potential to get baggy in response to the slightest movements, and that gets annoying to adjust repeatedly. A simple shirt tail-guard will attach to your shirt’s and socks’ ends, and keep the shirt tucked in, appearing  freshly ironed throughout the day. While being hidden beneath your pants,  these tail-guards do the trick , without that suffocating belt.

  • More Confidence Than Cologne

Every now and then, you would get some ideas of mix-and-match that you would like to give a go, but are afraid to do so. Confidence to pull of anything is essentially more important than knowledge of fashion or colours. Don’t worry, you have got this.

  • Ek Anaar, 100 Bimaar (White Sneaks, Colour Mischief)

Most of us own a classic white or black pair of sneakers. Sneakers are the best casual wear. You can buy some different coloured shoelaces to go with your pair, and mix-and-match according to your will. Remember, it’s the shoes that get noticed first!

  • Beg, Borrow, Steal

If nothing works for you, you can always borrow from your roommates or friends!

Feature Image Credits: The Sustainable Edits

Akshat Arora

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It is a myth that beauty is an industry which is exclusively female. Men, in fact, see glory in their personal style and use their lovely locks to express themselves, and as an extension of their personalities.

Men and hair are often linked together in controversial terms, though history has been on and off about supporting the long, or fancy hairdos. In recent times, there was the concept of the ‘dirty hippie’ which umbrellaed the image of men decorating their hair, but even in the 21st century, there are some stereotypes associated with men fashioning their hair in a certain way. It is seen as something outside the unsaid social conventions. Seeing celebrities embrace gender-fluid style choices suggests that the society has modernised past the ancient stereotypes. But, at the grassroot level, the reality may seem a little different.

Seemingly unimportant things like young boys being mistaken for girls when they sport long hair, or grown men being bullied for putting too much effort into their appearance tells that we still have a long way to go. “I received hate and sexist comments when I started donning hair accessories,” says Vaibhav Tekchandani, a University of Delhi student. He goes on to say that he never considered it a big deal, and went on with it anyway. However, we firmly believe that there is no reason for men to hold back on expressing themselves, and really stand out in a crowd.

Be it sporting intricate braids, a man-bun, or simply covering your head with a cap, there is not a shred of masculinity that goes awry. On the contrary, it just verifies the point that you are your own individual and see yourself in a particular light. From David Beckham and Zac Efron to Zayn Malik and Justin Bieber in a beanie – they have all proved a point. Christ himself had long hair! It would be safe to say that we are entering an age where men are not shying away from adorning themselves. “I think we should keep experimenting with our hair,” says Ayush Chauhan, another student of DU. “Styling my hair with a bandana, or a headband makes me feel refreshed as a person.”

There are many ways men can style their hair. Headbands are especially practical for men with longer hair, because it keeps them away from the face, while adding a million dollars to the overall look. Secondly, caps and beanies always give that edgy look. Since we are still in the colder months of the year, woollen head-clothes should be the go-to option for boys to beautify themselves. If you are striving to achieve a cool, standoffish air, bandanas are usually the best option. Besides, it protects hair from getting damaged in the wind or the sun. Tying your long hair up is another option. Pinterest seems to be clouded by hairstyle tutorials for women. It doesn’t have to be that way. Men have the right to tie their hair in a ponytail, braid, or bun whenever they wish. Chauhan leaves us with the ending line: ‘Boys who decorate their hair are beautiful.’

Featured Image Credits- MenXP

Maumil Mehraj
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