Lifespan affects social media, clothing trends fast fashion

Half a decade after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the way quarantine has changed has become more and more clear. People think differently, interact differently, dress differently – and the fashion type that changes as people change faster than the previous Covid.

At a time when the world was closed internally, social media became a source of unity among most people. In particular, Tiktok has been at the heart of the attention of many internet users and helped it become the birthplace of new fashions in the summer of 2020, explained Juan Mandel, an associate professor of advertising and public relations.

“We weren’t exposed to friends’ purchases or decisions, so Tiktok has become a source of information on trendy and acceptable things,” Mandel said.

Mundel explained that the numbers aspect of social media makes it extremely influential. When someone receives many likes and follow, the audience is more likely to reflect what is shown in their posts, expecting to receive similar appreciation and satisfaction.

“Social media exposes us to patterns of what we see and what we are accepted,” Mandel said. “So if someone else is doing something and they’re doing well, we expect the same thing to happen to us when we do that.”

Social media can be thought of as a race where users are trying to be the first person to say, wear, or wear the next big thing first. In a fast-paced digital age, things can quickly lose their glow if enough people get it. Junior Release Trobe of Apparel Textile and Design said the rise of social media platforms like Tiktok and the ease of online shopping have speeded up the trend cycle.

“Because of the short content style (Tiktok’s) it’s sending out very fast fashion trends,” says Stroub. “These trends change weekly and are toxic.”

Stroub said it could be difficult not to fall into these trends, especially on university campuses. Many students have found themselves buying items that their peers can see without making a full note of whether they will get the value of their money, explained Emme Davis, a primary school freshman.

“I encourage people to take a step back and ask themselves if they really need something or if it’s something everyone else has,” Davis said. “Quest yourself if you still use it when the trend is over.”

Stroub said many popular online stores, especially first fashion websites like Shein, can respond to these rapid trend cycles by promoting production, resulting in poor quality clothing that doesn’t last too long. Consumers find themselves need to exchange beloved items more frequently.

“Today, clothing is made from much cheaper materials and is no longer made to last,” Stroub said. “If you’re really wearing items, it won’t last for more than a year. Where we buy doesn’t think about them.”

Davis said the ability of other fast fashion outlets to mass-produce these items can raise questions about how they get the job done. Internet users rely on strict labor practices to boast of such a wide range of clothing, speculating that they could quickly replenish trendy pieces as soon as internet users start picking up.

“I think it’s a good thing for people looking for something on a budget, but ethically, it’s not that great to shop from a fast fashion website,” Davis said.

It appears to have not been consistent in the middle of the 2020s for ten years. Stroub said that in retrospect, there were items that defined the era, but today’s staples don’t last long. Every year it had its own unique and unique look, Davis said.

“Sometimes, you look back and you’re like, ‘Wow, that outfit is straight for 2020,'” Davis said. “It was a very specific type of appearance.”

The majority of people online know the impact that social media has on them, but Mundel explained that no one has immunity to them. As barriers decrease and shopping becomes more accessible, trend cycles continue to speed up. Mundel advises others to be more aware of how the internet is affecting your purchases and decisions.

“Learn the effects of social media just like learning mathematics and language,” Mandel said. “We need media literacy so that we can protect ourselves.”