Fashion has always been a powerful part of everyday life. Whether someone sees it as an art form or simply a daily routine, style is personal as it continues to evolve. Do you have to spend a lot to feel fashionable? Or is creativity more valuable than the cost? Everyone has a unique taste in fashion, and in today’s world, people shop from everywhere such as malls, thrift stores, online and even vintage pop-ups. But fashion isn’t just about where you shop— it’s also about how people view clothing, trends and the culture of consumerism. 

 Kyrii Valdima, a Fullerton College student, shared her thoughts on how consumerism affects the fashion world. “Consumerism is only good for business and not good for our environment,” says Valdima, “70s and 80s fashion held on to those styles longer, that is why everyone chases them.” Today’s fashion often relies heavily on recycled trends that are mass-produced and rarely built to last. Companies profit from quickly turning out styles and micro-trends that fade within a year. Yet many consumers, knowingly or not, keep buying into it. With the rise of social media, thrifting has seen a major comeback. According to a recent flash poll of Fullerton College students, more people now prefer shopping at thrift stores over malls. That might sound like a good thing, but it’s had a downside as prices at some thrift stores have surged as demand has increased. Places like Goodwill, once known for being incredibly affordable, have started raising prices, a surprising trend, considering these stores mostly donated secondhand items.

Taken from the Winter 2025 print issue of Inside Fullerton. Read it here.