Lots of Fish in the Sea, but They All Wear the Same Shirt: How Micro-trends are Plaguing Our Society

Walking through the Fredericton High School hallways at break is like driving the wrong way onto a freeway. People swarm from rows upon rows of doorways, all going about their own individual lives. One thing that they all have in common, however, is the clothing they’re wearing.

A popular fashion retail store in Fredericton N.B. — taken by Maddison Hoyt

At the beginning of the September 2022 school year, during the trek from period two to period three it would be almost guaranteed that you’d come across at least five students wearing the same Garage Stella Seamless Tank. That’s how many people have it: it’s known by name. Now as we approach the month of November, seeing this top has become far less common.

Why does that matter? It’s just a shirt, right?

Although yes, it is just a shirt, it also makes you wonder: what happened to all of those tops?

We surveyed 200 local teens about the trendy items they have owned and whether or not those pieces are still well-loved in their wardrobes. Of 83 people who owned the Garage Stella Seamless Tank, 40% of teens claimed they no longer wore it as often as when they initially bought it.

The Garage Stella Seamless Tanks are a visual representation of the rapid micro-trends that are sweeping through our society, particularly in teens. They are the epitome of fashion for a month, but then they suddenly lose their appeal.

We asked that same group of teens what fashion brands they purchased from most frequently. Of about 60 responses, 35% answered Garage Clothing, with some other popular answers being Lululemon, Zara, Aritzia, America Eagle, H&M, Brandy Melville, and Urban Outfitters — all well-known brands who’ve had their fair share of these lightning-fast trends.

In fact, some of these ultra-trendy brands will drop up to 16 new collections every year. That’s more than once a month! With that many new pieces going out, you can see how many of those garments — despite being initially all the rage — might quickly be overshadowed by new drops within a few weeks.

Since fast fashion companies are now able to mass produce trendy items in the span of a few days, anyone and everyone can access them with the snap of their fingers. Everyone wants to be up to date on the latest trends and so anytime a new garment goes viral, you can be sure that everyone you know will have it.

But what happens to these garments after they lose their sparkle?

The simple answer is nothing. They sit to rot in the abandoned drawers, cowering in the dust and darkness, dreaming of the day they’ll be loved that much once more. Eventually, they’ll likely be discarded and forgotten, making room for new micro-trends to take their short-lived reign.

Because these micro-trends are now often made from synthetic fabrics, it causes a major problem for our environment: they don’t degrade. When we discard our clothing and they make their way to a landfill, they don’t simply disappear. Garments sit in heaps for what might as well be an eternity.

What can we do to make a change?

One really easy way to reduce the waste of clothing we produce through overconsumption is to simply stop caring what everyone around you wears. By focusing on what clothing you truly love and ignoring trends thrown at you left and right, you automatically have a much higher chance of keeping this piece for a long time — years, decades even.

Then, we’re faced with the question: is it worth it? Our environment is incredibly important, but it can also be a big ask for some people to give up their trendy shopping habits.

At the end of it all, whether or not you ditch the micro-trends is a very personal decision. Everyone has different values, but it’s critical to know what yours are and just how much they impact the world around you.