Holiday fashion is a huge market within the fashion industry. Whether it’s cozy sweaters and loungewear to rest and unwind during the holiday break, the perfect staple shoe or bag to gift your loved ones, or sharply tailored blazers and coats to stunt at holiday parties, the Holidays usually means one thing: buying more clothes. In particular, there is one fabric always on display during the holiday season that grinds my gears. Sequins. So many Sequins. Just the other week, I made a pit stop at Old Navy for a basic t-shirt, and was affronted by black and gold sequined skirts, blouses, and maxi dresses on racks front and centre. Every year, sequins have appeared, becoming impossible to kill during the holiday trend cycle, and I think now is the time to officially declare a fashion war on sequins for the upcoming holiday season.
For years, there have been countless articles detailing the unsustainability of the small glittering discs attached to your garments. Fashion Roundtable has a very extensive article, explaining that sequins are made from “petroleum based plastics such as PVCs that contain toxic chemicals including carcinogens and hormone disruptors.” These chemicals make it impossible for the material to break down when it ends up in landfills, and can take thousands of years to fully decompose. A lot of wasted sequins end up in bodies of water, contaminating water sources and harming wildlife like other microplastics that end up in the ocean. Not only are sequins awful for the environment, but ethical labour is called into question in the making of sequins garments for fast-fashion retailers. Although garments created by luxury fashion houses for celebrities and runway models can afford to compensate each worker fairly for the extensive hand-sewing, the rush to imitate those designs for the masses on the fast fashion market calls into question whether those employees are being fairly compensated– and ethically treated– for their work. Not to mention that almost 33% of sequins material is wasted through the punching process, and the little round demons often are sewn onto synthetic fibres like polyester or acrylic, rendering the entire outfit unsustainable.
Sequined clothing has a tendency to only be in one’s closet rotation for a week or two– maximizing holiday wear and then being disregarded completely. Oxfam, in a report 5 years ago, claimed that in the United Kingdom alone, 1.7 million sequined items are thrown away after only 5 wears throughout the Holiday season. We should be utilizing every piece in our closet whenever we can, so sequins popping up in stores only once a year is no coincidence. Between the Holiday season, and the sequins upon sequins used in outfit inspo for the ongoing— almost finished– Eras tour, never before has sequins been worn this much– for one night, and then never again. Not only is sequins in fast fashion not sustainable to wear year round due to the garment being out of the comfort zones of many people in their day-to-day life, but fast fashion sequins also don't last very long regardless. After a few wears, the threading starts to unravel, and you end up leaving a lot of rogue sequins behind. Not to mention, any top or dress with sequins under the arms causes a lot of cutting on the underarm, making the garment unwearable even for a few hours!
However, I can understand the appeal to be decked out in glitter this time of year. There are other ways to make a bold, shimmering statement this holiday. There are some sustainable sequins options out there. Designer Stella McCartney made bold moves in the fashion industry last year by announcing her own line of biodegradable sequins made out of plant based materials. However, this is entirely out of many price ranges, with the one body-suit retailing for over $5100 Canadian Dollars. A much better option is to shop for an array of sequined clothing that already exists! Shopping for sequins second-hand, and then re-donating it once you no longer get much wear out of the piece can ensure that the clothes will still circulate from person to person, and not end up in landfills. Fashion also extends beyond clothing. If you want to make a statement, why not utilize some sparkly eyeshadow? Or if you’re like me, and have just seen the new film Anora in theatres, why not opt for some washable, heat-resistant hair tinsel? The small extensions go way beyond single use, and can add a whole new look. Just make sure you do research on how to make sure you get the most eco-conscious use out of the product. All in all, let’s be finished with sequins this holiday season, and prioritize outfits this winter that not only look good, but make you feel good about your environmental impact!
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