Photo: Moment RF
Do you have a fast fashion problem? A survey of two-thousand Gen Z Americans finds that a third of them feel “addicted” to fast fashion, which includes inexpensive, trendy clothing sold at popular retailers including Zara and Forever 21. People love the affordability of the cute styles, but they can be poorly made and often get thrown out fairly quickly and end up in landfills. But online secondhand retailer thredUP is trying to stop that.
They’ve teamed up with “Stranger Things” star Priah Ferguson for a new phone service that’s been created to help keep fast fashion lovers from impulsively buying those cheap garments. The “Fast Fashion Confessional Hotline” features Ferguson guiding callers through how to break up with fast fashion. When you call 1-855-THREDUP, the actress gives an intro then says, “You and the planet deserve better,” before offering callers three options:
- “If you’re on the verge of a splurge, girl no. Press one,” Ferguson instructs, and the number leads to a lecture from the star on why fast fashion is bad.
- Those who press two get to hear her explain why thrift shopping is a far better alternative for the environment.
- And the option to press three takes callers to the teen actress sharing her own fast fashion horror story in an effort to get the caller to put those clothes back on the rack.
“We were surprised by the number of people who said they were perfectly aware of their individual consumption habits and that they had an impact on the planet, but were doing it anyway,” shares Erin Wallace, thredUP’s VP of Integrated Marketing. The company’s hope is that the fun hotline will raise awareness and get shoppers to stop buying clothes they’re only going to ditch after a few wears that will end up in a landfill for decades until they break down.
Source: NY Post