Fashion isn't just about shopping

A lot of people consider the idea of sustainable fashion contradictory, but I don't. Fashion is a great way to express yourself, it is a form of art and individualization as well as acculturation. A simple and great way to show who we are. Today people are confusing fashion and consumption. In the 1960s when Breakfast at Tiffany's came out Holly Golightly would go to Tiffany's to get that feeling of happiness and pleasure many of us still get from shopping, but when she did it she didn't buy anything. Now, rather than window shopping and daydreaming (and then returning home to create inspired ensembles) we go to Primark or Target or some other high street store and buy a variety of cheap clothing we will wear a couple times. This isn't fashion, it's consumption.
I am not saying I don't think people should shop. Those close to me know I shop more than a lot of people (although I am really trying to cut back). I just think we should shop for ideas, inspiration, and key pieces that we can relate to and will cherish. I have jewelry and accessories I have gotten from my grandmother and great grandmother that represent more to me than I can express, but when I think of why I know it is because of their history and the value they must of held to be passed down generations. Then I think to my own closet, what do I have that I hope future generations will want and love? Well, the answer is a lot less than I would want it to be.
There are a lot of things going on in the world right now that are bigger problems than the fashion industry and it's waste (wars, global warming, increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, oil dependency, the list goes on), but for many of us those problems are too big to do anything about in our daily lives. We don't wake up in the morning thinking, 'what can I do about war?' (Although if you do - good for you.) But it is easy for us to go through the day and make decisions not to buy things that don't mean anything to us. Simple right? And a great place to start being considerate about or impact on the environment and others. Or, even if you don't yet understand that connection, it is a great place to start discovering what is truly important to you in life.