From Fashion Obsessed to Sustainable: My Journey Toward Conscious Consumption

One of our volunteers has kindly shared her personal story of how she shifted from being consumed by fast fashion to embracing a more sustainable and mindful approach to style. It’s worth reading and reflecting on, as she shows how personal reflection and a commitment to reduce waste can lead to true happiness by choosing quality over quantity.

This is the story of how I shifted from being consumed by fast fashion to embracing a more sustainable and mindful approach to style. Through personal reflection and a commitment to reduce waste, I’ve learned that true happiness comes from choosing quality over quantity

This is the story of a girl who was always fascinated by fashion—seeing it as a form of art. There was a time when neither I nor my family could afford new clothes, yet I managed to be creative, sometimes to an extent that few could understand. I often attracted looks that eventually made me follow the crowd. Despite that, I never lost my unique sense of style.

Once I started earning money, I began buying more clothes, shoes, bags, and jewelry—always more and more. I even took a course to become a personal stylist, and I became quite skilled at it. However, I still ended up purchasing extra items. Knowing how to style every piece in my wardrobe made it easier to spot something that complemented my outfits. I must mention that trendy, tech-enhanced items became indispensable to me—like an IT bag or a stylish pair of shoes. I loved them so much that I eventually became obsessed. Everyone tried to warn me, but I refused to listen. I was delighted with my accumulating clutter. Some items remained unworn, and honestly, I didn’t even remember them until I reviewed my wardrobe. Although I mostly bought second-hand clothes, they weren’t always inexpensive. In the end, I had an uncountable number of clothes, more than a hundred pairs of shoes, and countless bags. I didn’t have time to wear all of them, and more importantly, I lacked other essentials in my home because clothes were my entire world. I devoted all my time to chasing trends and watching the latest videos on styling.

I was obsessed and unhappy, though I couldn’t see it at the time.
Then, last year, I lost someone very important and close to me, and my world changed. I was devastated and experienced a mental breakdown, but this painful period helped me realize what truly matters. I began to remember my creative roots—how I once made my own clothes, repaired my favorite pair of shoes, and even knit a sweater that I wore proudly because I had designed it myself. I didn’t have much back then, yet I was much happier. I recalled the beauty of nature and the joy of spending time outdoors, without obsessing over trends in stores. I started watching documentaries about climate change and the pollution caused by the fashion industry, and I finally decided that I had had enough of the endless pursuit of fashion.

I want to clarify that I’m not against creativity or sustainable fashion. I admire stylish, authentic people who maintain their individuality regardless of trends. I didn’t burn my wardrobe; instead, I donated many items and have been working to reduce my belongings. One documentary mentioned that there is no place called “Away,” and everything we throw away eventually finds its way back to us. Today, we produce too much, buy things we don’t need, and forget what’s truly important.

To sum up, this year is my year of resisting the urge to buy junk. Before making any purchase, I ask myself if what I already have truly makes me happy. I now choose quality over quantity and believe that if something breaks, it can be fixed. Sure, buying new might be cheaper sometimes, but would we replace a person if they had a problem? Why do we waste our precious time on all this excess? Perhaps it’s time to make some changes and start with ourselves.

Thank you.

:)