Clothing is not only a fundamental need but also a way of expressing oneself. Especially with mass production making it possible to afford many items and offering lots of different choices, clothing has become more subjective and diverse. Also there is a huge fashion industry which mainly decides what is fashionable and what is not. In this environment, many people are into fashion as social media and streaming platforms offer so many ideas and tips. Although I agree that wearing fashionable clothes boosts people’s self confidence and creates a positive image, this trend produces a large number of negative consequences as well.
I have to admit that being fashionable offers acceptance and a confidence boost. It has been proved that in some cases the way people dress has a certain effect on their energy and mood. The impact of fashion is not only limited to people’s feelings about themselves. Other people also get some ideas about a person by looking at how they dress. It is safe to say nowadays people first judge a person by their appearance. For example, when you apply for a job you are more likely to get the job if you are dressed presentably as it is generally considered as a way of showing how much you care and take it seriously. Additionally, statistics show good-looking people have more chance to be employed than others so it is scientifically proven that appearance has an important role in the business world. Besides, when they see a nicely dressed person, people often have a propensity to assume that person is successful and must have a good job. These assumptions contribute to a person’s self-esteem and confidence.
However, as more people aspire to wear fashionable clothes, this creates serious consequences for other people and environment. First of all, the more people consume the more clothing companies are encouraged. In order to minimize costs and maximize profit, companies set up their factories in underdeveloped countries as they can make the poor in these countries work for minimal wages. When the exchange rate is considered, foreign investors pay almost nothing to these workers compared to what they would pay the workers in their own country. This cheap labour opportunity also causes unemployment in the origin country of companies. Furthermore, people used to wear a piece of clothing until it is worn out but now, they constantly buy new items whether they need or not. This, in turn, leads to substantial waste and therefore, damage to environment. Lastly, overconsumption of clothing adversely affects some people’s psychological well-being. Not everyone can afford to buy many clothes and even when they can they do not always seem to be fashionable. Giving being fashionable too much importance, effort, time and money may cause anxiety and depression as there is always a risk of not being good enough and being judged by other people. Thus, people should not care about fashion way too much.
To sum up, it is a fact that being fashionable has various benefits such as boosting confidence and providing positive first impression but it must also be noted that it may be a threat to environment and well-being of people.