The Real Cost of Micro Trends
By: Natalie Kalman
Mermaid-core, western-core, Barbie-core, ballet-core, the list goes on. Just a few months ago, these micro trends dominated TikTok feeds and shopping carts. I’d say I’m still wearing them, but let’s be real- I’m not. Not because I don’t like them, but because they’ve already been replaced by something newer, shinier, and just as fleeting. That’s the reality of micro trends: they come in fast and disappear even faster.
But while we cycle through aesthetics at lightning speed, there’s one thing that sticks around… waste.
For every viral trend, there’s a wave of mass production, overconsumption, and inevitable disposal. The clothes we once had to have are now sitting in donation bins (or worse, landfills), replaced by the next "must-have" look. This cycle isn’t just a consumer habit, it’s a business model, perfectly designed to keep us buying more and wearing less.
Enter ultra-fast fashion, the reason behind this seemingly endless cycle.
Shein, the undisputed leader of micro-trends, releases anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 new products daily- more than most fashion brands release in an entire year. It’s not about seasons or timeless style anymore; it’s about speed. Micro trends are born, produced, and shipped to our doorsteps before we’ve even had time to think about whether we actually like them. And just as quickly, they’re gone.
Temu, another major player, takes it even further by pushing rock-bottom prices and gamified shopping, making it easier than ever to impulse buy items with zero commitment. When something costs less than a cup of coffee, there’s no pressure to wear it more than once.
But while we might forget about these trends the moment they leave our feeds, their impact lingers. The fashion industry is already one of the world’s largest polluters, and micro trends only make it worse. From textile waste to excess carbon emissions and harmful labor practices, the environmental and ethical cost of our obsession with newness is staggering.
It’s hard to picture the broader consequences when you’re scrolling through a site like Shein and seeing a dress for under $10. The immediate appeal of cheap, trendy items can be irresistible. However, the hidden cost of these seemingly inexpensive purchases is where the environmental harm really begins.
To create these low-cost garments, fast fashion brands exploit cheap materials (often synthetics like polyester), poor working conditions, and unsustainable manufacturing processes. On average, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions (more than international flights and shipping combined). Micro trends, with their rapid turnover and insatiable demand, exacerbate this problem.
The fashion industry is also responsible for one of the most toxic environmental impacts: microplastics. Many of the cheap synthetic fibers used in fast fashion are made of plastic. Every time we wash them, microplastics are released into our water systems, polluting oceans and harming marine life. This isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s a health issue.
What’s even more concerning is the lifetime of these garments. Research shows a staggering number of clothes end up in landfills after only being worn once or twice. According to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American disposes of 81 pounds of clothing annually. Fast fashion’s business model encourages this culture of disposability, creating a cycle of overconsumption that’s hard to break.
When we talk about micro-trends, we’re talking about clothes that are intentionally designed to be short-lived. Take Barbie-core, for example, flooded with pink everything, from hot pink miniskirts to pink cowboy boots, the aesthetic caught fire. But by the time you wore it to a couple of brunches or parties, you were already seeing other trending colors and styles. So, what happens to all that "pink stuff"? It ends up as waste, often unsold or disposed of, reinforcing the idea that newer is always better even when it’s only for a fleeting moment.
The difference between style and trends in fashion is longevity. Trends evolve, but true style lasts. Some pieces have stood the test of time for decades, not just weeks.
Think about it, leather, trench coats, plaid, stripes, etc. these staples have been reinvented over and over without losing their relevance. They aren’t just trends, but the foundation of wardrobes across generations. Meanwhile, the latest trending aesthetic is already halfway to being outdated.
These staples offer more than just functionality, they reflect our personal style and can even transcend trends, becoming signature pieces in our wardrobes. A well-made leather jacket, for instance, might take a few years to break in, but it gets better with time. It’s an investment in quality that, unlike the fleeting nature of micro-trends, actually appreciates in value over time. The value increases both in terms of wearability and personal significance.
If we could all just slow down and reframe how we see our wardrobes, we’d see the immense potential of these foundational pieces. Not only do they give us a sense of timeless style, but they reduce our environmental impact. By investing in items that won’t go out of style, we’re fighting against the cycle of overproduction that micro trends perpetuate.
It’s worth noting that investing in these long-lasting pieces can also reduce our carbon footprint. The fashion industry’s environmental toll is largely due to the overproduction of short-lived garments. If we buy fewer items but choose them more wisely, the impact can be profound.
Here’s a reality check: To lower your carbon footprint, you need to wear a single garment at least six times. That’s it. Six times. Less than a week’s worth of wear over your entire lifetime. Sounds easy, right? And yet, many people don’t even reach that number before discarding a piece. This is the mindset fast fashion has created, a culture where clothes are seen as disposable, rather than something to be valued.
By choosing better quality items that you wear more often, you’re sparing the planet. Imagine if every consumer made a commitment to wear each piece six times before discarding it. The number of garments in landfills would dramatically decrease, and the demand for fast, wasteful production would begin to slow down.
What Can We Do About It? It can be overwhelming to think about the impact of micro trends and fast fashion. But the good news is, we have the power to change the narrative. I’m not saying all of this to instill guilt in you. I’ve fallen victim to this system and continue to, for that matter. It’s nearly impossible not to when brands make it so easy, so cheap, so addicting. But what we can do is educate ourselves and those around us. We can try to do better, even in small ways. Buy less, choose well, and invest in ethical purchases that promise longevity.
By supporting companies that prioritize sustainability, you’re contributing to a shift in the fashion industry. And that doesn’t mean you have to completely abandon trends. Rather, it means being mindful of how, when, and why you buy.
The next time you’re scrolling through a sale or browsing new arrivals, ask yourself:
Do I really need this? Will I wear it more than six times? Is this a trend, or is it something I can see myself wearing for years to come?
These are small but powerful questions that can help guide your decision-making process. In addition to making these mindful choices, we can also support the growing community of sustainable brands. More and more companies are opting for ethical production methods, sustainable materials, and fair labor practices.
It’s important to note that we’re not alone in this journey. The movement toward a more sustainable fashion industry is growing every day. People are rethinking their approach to fashion, from secondhand shopping to clothing swaps, and even upcycling old clothes. Every step toward sustainability matters.
At the end of the day, your dollar is your voice. Every purchase you make sends a message about the kind of fashion industry you want to support. Whether it’s buying from ethical brands, supporting second-hand shops, or choosing higher-quality, longer-lasting pieces, you have the power to shape this conversation.
So, what are we saying?
https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/shein-confirms-intention-to-float-n3p8kb2wx?utm_source=chatgpt.com®ion=global
https://nypost.com/2024/10/02/lifestyle/hypocritical-gen-z-cant-stop-buying-this-planet-destroying-product/
https://time.com/7022660/shein-ai-fast-fashion/
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/oct/01/oxfam-secondhand-clothing-fast-fashion-statement-garment-industry-preloved-water-consumption-labour-rights
