5 Powerful Ways to Escape Fast Fashion (Without Sacrificing Style)
Small shifts, big impact—how to stop the cycle of buy-wear-discard without sacrificing style.
Fast fashion has crept into our lives so seamlessly, we hardly question it: buy, wear once, toss, repeat. Cheap clothes, constant new arrivals, and designs meant to fall apart—or go out of style—fast.
Think: brands that drop new styles weekly, $5 tops that fall apart after three washes, and clothes designed to look outdated within months. That’s fast fashion.
Before I get into how to break free from it, let me say this: I’m not perfect. I’m still figuring out which retailers fall into this category. I’ve even linked brands I love in my ShopMy that I later found out were considered fast fashion. And let’s be honest, purchasing from all sustainable brands isn’t feasible at times, whether it’s a financial constraint, timing, or something else all together.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—and paying attention. I’m adjusting as I go—and that’s all any of us can do.
But the more we talk about how to shift away from fast fashion, the closer we get to changing it. Because this is a global issue. And it’s only getting worse.
It’s gotten so bad that even Forever 21—the mall mecca of my high school years—filed for bankruptcy again and is expected to shutter all of its stores. One of the OG fast fashion giants can’t even keep up anymore. Wild. And sad.
If Forever 21—arguably the blueprint for the buy-and-toss era—can’t survive, maybe that’s our cue. Do it for your wallet. Or hey, do it in memory of your teenage mall era.
The Staggering Reality of Fast Fashion
Before we get to the solutions, let’s talk about what we’re up against:
The fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions—more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
A garbage truck full of clothes ends up in landfills every second.
Clothing sales have doubled over the last 20 years, but the average garment is now worn 36% less.
Most clothes today are only worn 7 to 10 times before being tossed.
Around 75 million people make our clothes—80% of them young women aged 18-24, many earning as little as $96/month.
And yet, the throwaway mentality is so normalized that we’ve stopped questioning it.
We’ve all had versions of this exchange:
“I love your dress!”
“Thanks! It was $20 from [insert whichever fast fashion brand we purchased it from].”
“Oh, I love buying from there. It’s great for one-and-done outfits.”
Buying clothes to throw them away has somehow become acceptable—celebrated, even. That’s exactly what the fast fashion industry counts on. And exactly what we need to change.
Okay, Kiley, but what now? Great question. I’m still learning, but here are five things that have actually helped me step away from fast fashion—without stepping away from great outfits.
Before we get started, I do want to make sure you’re aware:
Quick note: Items with affiliate links earn me a small commission at no cost to you. "Similar" pieces stand in for items that are sold out or from brands whose values don't align with mine. If you ever spot a concern with a linked brand, please don't hesitate to let me know.
ThredUp: While I'd rather you shop what you already own, if you are looking to add pieces, I genuinely love (love, love, love) ThredUp for secondhand finds - it aligns with the "shop what you have" philosophy by giving clothes a second life.
Also while I try to find similar items, some of these items I wear are either older or purchased through secondhand retailers so finding an exact match is difficult. If there's anything I'm wearing and you can't find it on my ShopMy, please reach out!
How to Break Free from Fast Fashion
1. Take a Social Media Detox from Maybe…Everything
Social media is built to make you want things—usually things you didn’t even know existed five minutes ago. From haul videos to “this dress changed my life” reels, it’s all designed to make you feel like you need more.
Try unfollowing accounts that focus heavily on shopping hauls and new purchases. Seriously, when did dumping a box of clothes on the floor become #goals?
After the 2024 election, I deleted most of my social media apps and didn’t log back on until I launched The Kiley Edit in May 2025. During that break, I got my fashion fix from Substack—real people, real writing, no algorithm yelling at me to BUY THIS.
That detox broke the “BUY! BUY! BUY!” loop for me. And yes, I still have a ShopMy account, but my goal has never been and will never be to push fast fashion. I link things I actually wear—bright colors, fun prints, and heels that make me happy—and I try to rewear them as often as possible. But like I said, I’m not perfect.
Not ready for a full detox? Follow vintage lovers, rewear advocates, and people who inspire you without making you want to spend. Mute the hauls. Unfollow the trends. Make space to find what you love and to get rid of what doesn’t serve you.
Your brain—and your bank account—will thank you.
2. Implement the 30-Day Rule
Before you buy something new, write it down and wait 30 days. That pause gives you time to figure out if it’s something you actually need—or just a quick hit of dopamine.
Something that has helped me is giving every potential purchase the 5-Outfit Test. If I can’t imagine styling it five different ways—say, with jeans, a dress, a skirt, layered under a tee, or dressed down with sneakers—it’s a no.
According to the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at London College of Fashion, imagining multiple ways to wear an item makes it more likely you’ll rewear it often. So it’s not just about outfit planning—it’s about getting creative with what you already have.
For items under $50, a one-week pause might be enough. But any space you create between want and buy? That’s where the magic happens.
3. Shop Your Own Closet First
Most of us wear only 20% of our wardrobe regularly. Which means 80% of our clothes are just sitting there. Wasting potential.
This is where outfit tracking helps. You can see what you’ve worn, what you haven’t, and start remixing what you already own. And I get it, it can be daunting. Some days I open my closet thinking I have nothing to wear—then remember I do. I just need to get creative. And I get to work figuring out how to put together new outfits whether by layering or adding different shoes.
Pull out something you haven’t worn in months and build three new outfits around it. Mix dressy with casual. Layer in unexpected ways. Dig out that accessory buried in the back of your drawer.
That summer dress you wore to a wedding? Try it with sneakers and a denim jacket. Or toss a white tee underneath and a belt overtop like I did on Insta. That dress deserves more than one spin. Give it lots.
The only rule I follow? Comfort first. After that, anything goes.
4. Focus on Longevity Over Labels
Fast fashion thrives on trends that vanish overnight. But a closet built on longevity? That’s where personal style lives.
Look for quality, not brand names. I’ve had big-box boots last five years and designer items fall apart after two wears. The key is construction: reinforced seams, good zippers, substantial fabric.
And let’s not ignore the red flags—thin fabric, twisted seams, zippers that stick. If it feels cheap, it probably is.
Cost-per-wear is real. A $200 coat worn 100 times costs $2 per wear. A $30 top worn twice? $15 per wear. Sometimes the “expensive” piece is actually the smarter buy.
5. Embrace Secondhand and Rental Options
If you need to add to your wardrobe, consider secondhand. Thrift stores, consignment shops, Poshmark, Depop, ThredUp—they’re treasure troves of one-of-a-kind pieces at a fraction of retail prices.
Since I started shopping ThredUp, I’ve barely bought anything brand new. Okay, some things I still buy new—but most of my dresses, jeans, shoes, and purses? All secondhand.
If secondhand feels like too much work, try rentals. Services like Nuuly and Rent the Runway let you play with trends or dress up for events without commitment (or clutter). Several of my friends swear by them for weddings—and honestly, the quality is chef’s kiss.
And yes, I know I keep shouting this from the (thrifted) rooftops—but if you’ve been thinking about trying ThredUp, use [this link] for 45% off + free shipping on your first order. (It’s an affiliate link—I get a credit, but I only recommend it because I’m genuinely obsessed.)
Need proof? Here’s a post on 5 ThredUp Finds I Can’t Wait to Style. Spoiler: there's a poncho dress involved. Obviously.
The Bottom Line
Breaking up with fast fashion doesn’t mean swearing off new clothes forever. It just means slowing down, being intentional, and actually enjoying what you already own.
When you start to shop more mindfully, you’ll probably find that you feel more satisfied with your wardrobe, spend less money overall, and build a personal style that’s actually yours—not just whatever’s trending this week. Because that’s the thing about fast fashion: it thrives on the idea that you’ll keep buying and discarding so it can keep making money.
But I don’t know about you—I want to love the clothes I bring home. I want to find new ways to wear them. I want to give them an extended life.
So start with just one strategy. Try it this week. See how it feels. You might be surprised how freeing it is to step off the consumption treadmill and rediscover the joy of dressing in a way that feels good to you.
And remember—this isn't about perfection. I'm still learning, still making mistakes, still figuring it out. But every small step away from the buy-and-toss cycle matters. We don't have to be perfect; we just have to start.
Clothes aren’t disposable—but the buy-and-toss mindset? That can go.
Ditch what’s not serving you. Keep what brings you joy. (Even if it’s a poncho dress.) And if you can’t do it for your wallet, can you at least do it... in memory of Forever 21?
Which of these tips are you already doing—or which one are you going to try first?
Sources
10% of global carbon emissions: Earth.Org, "Fast Fashion and Its Environmental Impact in 2025"
One garbage truck of clothes to landfills every second: Earth.Org, "10 Concerning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics"
Clothing sales doubled, times worn decreased by 36%: Earth.Org, "The 10 Essential Fast Fashion Statistics"
Clothes worn 7-10 times before disposal: UniformMarket, "Fast Fashion Statistics 2025"
75 million garment workers, 80% young women: World Resources Institute, "By the Numbers: The Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts of Fast Fashion"
Bangladesh worker wages: World Resources Institute, "By the Numbers: The Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts of Fast Fashion"
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5 ThredUp Finds I Can’t Wait to Style
I used to scroll right past secondhand sites, convinced my style was lost somewhere beneath a sea of outdated office blazers. While I had heard of ThredUp, I hadn’t really given it a fair shot—until I came across a tip from Danielle Vermeer, ThredUp’s Head of Social Commerce, on