The Sustainable Movement Is More Than A Price Tag

The classism and idealism involved in voting with your dollar.

“Sometimes we have to attack the beast that is often fast fashion in the way this industry inherently operates rather than putting all of the onus on consumers.” - Aditi Mayer

I was listening to the Green Dreamer Podcast episode on decolonizing fashion with Aditi Mayer (click here to access her blog) and wow was it an eye opener. This quote from Aditi Mayer, sustainable fashion blogger that focuses on inclusivity in the sustainable movement, really captures the essence of today's blog post.

The way we are publicizing sustainability as a whole puts a lot of the burden, onus, and responsibility on consumers. It prioritizes the consumers role in the environmental movement and showcases “voting with your dollar" as the primary way of contributing -- which I now realize can be extremely toxic. Going into that episode I (like many people) believed that voting with your dollar is what I as an individual should advertise for the sustainable movement, because really it's all I have known. Social media has especially put this mentality into play. I always say that social media can be the best thing and worst thing in your life. While sustainability has really skyrocketed on social media within the past decade or so, the main message it has at the forefront of for example Instagram's perception of sustainability is that we as consumers need to change our ways.

BUT all of these forms of publication and the message that drags along with it comes with the idealism that everyone is in a place of privilege where they can access these sustainably made alternatives. Time, money, location, and education are all barriers that make sustainable "swaps" a much harder task than most would imagine. The mentality of thinking everyone can make these changes narrows the acceptability and puts shame on those who can't. When talking about realistic sustainable initiatives and solutions we have to look with a wider perspective and in a sense that addresses the classism embedded into these sustainable swaps. 

My message within all of this is that we can’t buy our way into the environmental movement and that if we try it won’t create the impact we seek. Things like signing petitions, writing emails to brands/your local MP, voting for people you believe in, and giving this burden back to big corporations will make that impact and create a more inclusive presence for the sustainable movement.

If you are an activist, and even if you are not, I challenge you to incorporate inclusivity into the conversation. Learn about these topics and spread awareness to change the name of the game. I still am working to do this and am nowhere near perfect in terms of finding that balance between corporate and individual responsibility, but I am working hard to get closer to those solutions. What we all have to remember is that every single person on this planet - no matter your race, gender, ethnicity, etc. - are worthy and WILL be impacted by these injustices. We have to decide how we can effectively tackle the "beast".