Jewellery will always have a place in our ensembles and wardrobes, but the quality and the longevity of our jewellery is continuing to diminish following the rising trends in fast fashion and over-consumption. While we’re not saying that wearing cheaper jewellery or following micro-trends is bad, it’s apparent that investing in good quality pieces is becoming less and less popular. So how do you float above the urge to dip into the fast fashion well?
For jewellers, one of the most important things to remember is that jewellery is made to stand the test of time, not get lost in a sea of fleeting trends. There are just some pieces that are ‘trendy’ regardless of the era or the latest Tik-Tok craze. As a jeweller, it’s important to maintain your own unique style, and not create carbon copies of other pieces (unless you want to, of course). The good thing about the micro-trends that drive fast fashion production is that they’re micro. Meaning that these trends have a fleeting spotlight before being forgotten for another. Considering the short timeframe of the trend, and the much longer timeframe of a jeweller’s process, it can be unsustainable to try to keep up with the ‘latest and greatest’, so why not just create what you wish to, or stick to simplistic and timeless.
For customers, it can be a little bit harder to resist the pull of the latest ‘thing’. Whether it be cowboy boot earrings, or eclectic charm necklaces, there are a few important things to remember before succumbing to fast fashion’s siren call.
Firstly, do YOU like the piece, or have you been TOLD that you like it? One of the dangers of social media, is that it almost brainwashes its consumers on ideas and products. Before buying something that you’ve been influenced on, think about the following things:
These simple questions can help you from drowning in over-consumerism.
In a more jewellery centric area, there are several different things to keep in mind, including quality. Fast fashion can be great, it’s cheap, it’s fast, it’s trendy. But does it have quality? The short answer is no. When you’re paying $12 for a set of earrings, chances are your earlobes will start to turn green! Now we’re not saying that cheap jewellery doesn’t have its place, I’ve personally bought plenty of cheaper pieces for costumes or one-use wears if an outfit has called for it, but it’s often very worthwhile to invest in pieces that have a higher quality of materials and craftsmanship.
Keeping it simple can really help you keep that fast-fashion consumption to a minimum. If you’re like myself and can’t decide on one style to keep in your wardrobe, investing in good quality, simple jewellery that easily compliments any outfit is the way to go. However, if you have a very set style, why not have some fun? Look at different jewellers to find a style that best suits you.
While fast fashion has its place, it’s definitely becoming a large problem, both in our fashion industry and for our environment, keeping our over-consumption to a minimum could not only save cupboard space, but also our planet.
