April brought the iconic Coachella music festival, unofficially signaling the start of festival season. Coachella is one of the biggest music festivals in the world, with a line-up including the biggest names in the music world. This year, the stage saw performances by Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, Tyler the Creator, and many more.
Alongside its A-list performers, Coachella gains attention for its influencer attendees. In the lead-up to the event, social media feeds overflowed with shopping sprees and clothing hauls from influencers meticulously planning their Coachella outfits.
Since a viral tweet in 2019, the festival has earned the name “The Influencer Olympics,” highlighting the influx of influencers showcasing their attire on social media in hopes of setting new trends.
This is not surprising, seeing as Coachella is a breeding ground for new trends. From the Bohemian style rocked by Vanessa Hudgens and Kendall Jenner to bold bikinis and unique fashion statements like the “ass-less” pants, Coachella has seen it all.
But festival fashion is not limited to Coachella or influencers anymore. “Regular” people have also embraced, creating elaborate outfits for music events, including concerts such as the Eras tour by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé’s Renaissances tour.
Fashion brands have capitalized on this trend, making it effortless to discover the perfect glittery outfit for any occasion. Brands like PrettyLittleThing, ASOS, and Boohoo even have dedicated categories for festival outfits on their websites.
Yet, amidst all this excitement of outfit planning and looking for the latest trends, one crucial aspect seems to be forgotten—the environmental impact of our fashion choices.
The Dark Side of Festival Fashion
In recent years, festival fashion has become synonymous with extravagant and often disposable. From glitter-coated faces to sequin-studded garments, the pressure to stand out in a crowd has led to a culture of fast fashion that prioritizes novelty over sustainability. Beneath the shimmer and sparkle lies a concerning truth: our love for festival fashion fuels a cycle of overconsumption with significant environmental consequences.
The fast fashion industry operates on a rapid production cycle, emphasizing low costs and quick turnover. As festival-goers seek out the latest trends to flaunt at events, they often purchase clothing items destined for single-use or limited wear. According to Fashion Magazine, a staggering 7.5 million festival outfits were deemed single-use in 2019 alone. This number has undoubtedly increased over the past four years, highlighting a concerning trend.
The primary reason for the disposable nature of these garments lies in their poor quality and extremely low cost. Festival fashion often relies heavily on materials like polyester and nylon, both of which are derived from non-renewable resources and carry significant environmental consequences. The production process for synthetic fabrics demands substantial amounts of energy and water, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Moreover, the use of harmful chemicals in dyeing and finishing only worsens the environmental impact. Of course, once these garments fulfill their brief moment in the spotlight, they are often discarded, adding to the mountains of textile waste that already plague our planet.
But it’s not just the production and disposal of clothing that poses environmental concerns; it’s also the hidden costs embedded within the supply chain. From the extraction of raw materials to the transportation of goods, each stage of the fashion lifecycle takes a toll on our planet, depleting natural resources and polluting ecosystems.
How to Dress Sustainably for Festivals
Luckily, many options exist to make more conscious choices about your festival outfits. Let’s take a look.
Shop in Your Closet
As always, the most sustainable thing to do is to re-wear something you already own. Before going on a shopping spree, look around your closet—there might be a hidden gem you have forgotten.
Many hesitate to re-wear festival outfits, having concerns like “What about the pictures? Someone will notice I have already worn that.” For those who share that concern, allow me to echo the words of the all-knowing Lizzie McGuire: “I may be an outfit repeater, but you’re an outfit rememberer, which is just as pathetic.”
Borrow From Friends
One thing that I love to do for festivals or party nights is to borrow something from a friend. It is the perfect solution for wearing something different without shopping for it.
If you do not have the same dress size as your friend, you can also opt to borrow accessories, as they are excellent for uplifting an already amazing outfit with just a little bit of extra glamour.
Just don’t forget to give it back!
Rent an Outfit
As mentioned, people rarely like to re-wear festival outfits. In that case, renting an outfit is a great alternative. Renting platforms have gained substantial popularity over the years, and not without reason. It is a fantastic initiative to lower the carbon footprint and make luxury items more available to the public.
Renting an outfit is a perfect way to be mindful and sustainable while wearing something different on every occasion. Look at platforms like Circle Closet, Rent The Runway, and Nuuly to find your festival outfit.
Buy Second Hand
Thrifting a festival outfit is a sustainable alternative if you want to wear something different. Second-hand stores and online platforms offer many unique and affordable options. Gather your friends and go on a shopping spree to vintage stores. With the many available options, you will find the perfect festival outfit.
Prefer to stay at home during the cold days? Platforms like Vestiaire Collective, Vinted, and Depop are great options. Type in the name of the brand or a description of what you’re looking for and see what options are available. Personally, I love using Vinted to find cute, affordable heels. However, be sure to order on time because delivery can take a while!
Shop From Eco-Conscious Brands
If you do wish to buy someone new for a festival, look into brands that prioritize sustainable and ethical practices. Luckily, sustainability is gaining momentum, and fashion brands are increasingly implementing eco-friendly practices. Research and discover brands that align with your values.
Final Word
The rise of ‘disposable fashion’ has normalized a culture of excessive consumption, where clothing is viewed as disposable commodities rather than long-term investments. The allure of low prices and ever-changing trends encourages consumers to buy more than they need, perpetuating a cycle of overproduction and waste.
To overcome the challenge of overconsumption, we need to rethink our relationship with fashion and prioritize quality over quantity. However, until we are at that point, there is still a long way to go.
If you are curious about why we crave fast fashion, you can read my earlier article on “The Psychology of Fast Fashion.”
Sources
- TeenVogue – A Recent Report Found That Single-Use Outfits for Music Festivals Account for Approximately $307 Million Worth of Items Per Year
- Remake – Festival Fashion Is a Catalyst for Overconsumption
- Fashion Magazine – How To Dress Sustainably for Festival Season
- The Chronicle – From festival to arena: The impact of fast fashion on the concert industry
- Good On You – Festival Style, Done More Sustainably
- A Guide to Sustainable Holiday Outfits
All pictures link to their source, and all credits go to the rightful owners.
You can find the header picture here.
Image Credit: Benjamin Farren
