Concerned about the clothing crisis? Why do we impulse buy and what is bad about it?

Concerned about the clothing crisis? Why do we impulse buy and what is bad about it written by Julie Kovacova, edited and images by Heather Sykes

Hanging clothes with a sign saying 'Why do we impulse buy and what is bad about it?' — **Why do we impulse buy and what is bad about it?**

We all impulse buy at some point in our lives. There are different reasons why we do it. For example, for some of us, it is a coping mechanism. With pressures seemingly increasing every day, stress impacts all of us at some point. When our mental health is impacted by this stress, we need a release. Endorphins are produced when we buy something online. We know we have something to look forward to if we order online, so we get a kick out of impulse shopping.

When we impulse buy, we don’t just affect our bank balance. It can have a serious negative impact on the planet. Vast amounts of textile waste end up in landfills having created a huge carbon footprint. There are ethical issues to impulse buying too.

There are ways of combatting this. First, learn why we impulse buy. Often, we can be persuaded by social media to fall into bad habits. Next, you can learn there are alternatives. Using charity shops is a great way to shop sustainably.

Why do we impulse buy as a coping mechanism?

When we impulse buy, it gives our brain a rush. We crave this rush when dealing with something that makes us feel low. Endorphins and dopamine enter our body and they can raise our mood.

It’s not that we don’t care about saving money, but it is a quick way to resolve an issue. However, an issue doesn’t go away when we impulse buy. In fact, we only make more problems. We are burying something that should be talked about.

Maybe it is just stress from work or a family issue. But impulse buying unnecessary things is not going to sort those problems out. The best thing to do is to talk. Friends, a family member you trust, or someone from school or university.

If you feel you need help and support you can contact Samaritans for someone to talk to.

What is bad about impulse buying?

Often what you impulse buy in a shopping spree ends up in the bottom of your wardrobe.

It’s mostly clothing we like in the moment, but then we do not think about it as a long-time wearable piece. And mostly it’s even more clothes than we actually need at the exact moment.

This leads us back to environmental impact, which we produce when we impulse buy. The more fast fashion we buy, the more environmental impact we have. From the fuel used for shipping to the methane emitted from the growing landfills.

How does social media make us impulse buy?

Understanding why we impulse buy could help us break the cycle. There are factors beyond the idea that it is just a coping mechanism.

Social media has a huge impact on many of us today. Teenagers who have grown up with access to the internet have endless creative outlets which are amazing. However, creativity is somewhat stunted when it comes to viral trends.

Fast fashion thrives online. Certain brands market themselves to teens with a small disposable income. They sell their items at the lowest price possible, causing serious ethical issues during production. But it also means that fads thrive for five minutes, then die. All of the clothes bought for one trend follow suit. They all die and end up unfashionable again.

Influencers promote this excessive consumption of clothes. Trends like the rise of the colour brown and the return of y2k fashion are not wardrobe statements. They are not necessarily going to be worn in a few months let alone years. The way these trends thrive is through the content shared online. When you are shown that the top celebrities and famous influencers are wearing a certain style, instinctively, so many of us want to join them.

It is a way to feel like you have control. You are part of a group. Maybe you feel people’s perceptions change to favour you in a more positive light? There are lots of reasons why we follow trends, but it is time to break the habit.

Reduce your environmental impact and be sustainable

We can always reduce our environmental impact by looking for different options. Instead of using fast fashion brands, support local charity shops. There are so many reasons to shop this way beyond the fact that you can find some real treasure.

You will reduce the emissions of shipping and production of that piece.

Options for online shopping include buying second hand. There are some great sites you can visit to find certain items second hand. You could even start your own small business selling your old clothes to avoid throwing them in the bin.

If that seems like too much work or you want to feel good about what you do, donate. Donating old clothes is another great way to support local charity shops and to avoid textile waste.

This way, you can be sustainable for both your pockets and the planet.