Ep 4: 'People of WE THE EARTH' — stories from our community
Ep.4 ‘People of WE THE EARTH’ — a series that explores how mindful living, conscious choices, and personal well-being can create a positive impact on the world.
In this edition, we chat with sisters Rahel and Nadia, both part of Gen Z, as they share honest reflections on navigating personal style, social media, and the growing awareness of sustainability in their everyday lives.
Both young women offer refreshing perspectives on what it means to be intentional - even while still figuring things out.
Q: Let’s start with something fun – how would you describe your personal style in three words?
N: Chill, neutral, and creative.
R: Casual, simple, and vintage.
Q: Do you have a favourite outfit that makes you feel the most you? What do you love about it?
N: My favourite outfit so far are my jerseys and jeans because they’re simple, comfortable and in a way ’stylish’. They easily go with everything and are suitable and likely ‘appropriate’ for most occasions.
R: My favourite outfit would have to be simple jeans and a solid colour top. I love how put together it looks without putting much effort, it still allows me to look presentable.
Q: Who or what influences your fashion choices the most – social media, celebrities, friends or something else?
N: My outfit ideas and fashion choices are influenced mainly by social media, my friends and my sister.
R: Most of my fashion inspiration comes from the social media platform TikTok. A lot of streetwear is from big cities such as New York City, London, and Jakarta. I usually get recommendations from friends on where to find these pieces of clothing.
Q: ‘Sustainability’ in fashion is a big topic, but it can feel overwhelming. What does being ‘conscious’ mean to you when it comes to fashion?
R: Being ‘conscious’ for me would have to be purchasing good-quality pieces that can last at least the next 10 years. Purchasing cheap clothing results in it wearing down quicker and resulting in waste. Being ‘conscious’ also means purchasing second-hand clothing. There are a lot of beautiful pieces in op shops, and it’s great to give these clothes a second life.
N: Being conscious when it comes to fashion means to be aware that other people are able to see your outfit and judge you based off of what you wear. Sustainability in fashion can feel overwhelming but it also means to be conscious of awareness and intention. When I think about being conscious in fashion I think of how the clothes are made, who’s making them and how much effort people put into their work. The realisation really influenced me into looking out for items that I would be buying and if they are sustainable or if it was fast fashion that seemed wasteful.
Q: Do you or your friends ever talk about sustainability when shopping for clothes, or do you think it’s more of a personal mindset?
R: Today’s trends include going thrifting and purchasing second-hand clothing. My friends and I do talk about sustainability when shopping for clothes. It could definitely be a personal mindset, such as some who purchase second-hand clothing for the ‘style’, but others could purchase second-hand clothing purely for the sustainable drive.
Q: With all the ‘haul’ and ‘trend’ videos online, do you ever feel like social media encourages overconsumption? How do you personally navigate that?
N: Yes, I do think that social media encourages overconsumption and personally I navigate that by being mindful on what I spend on. I apply a budget for myself as well as habits - habits that include pausing before purchasing so I could think if it is really worth it or if I would just wear it once or twice. I also curate my feed to ignore the accounts and videos that make me feel pressured and limit browsing online for clothes.
R: Yes, with all the influencers trying to promote ‘the latest product’ it leads to many ‘fast trends’. ‘Fast trends’ are short-lived trends that many younger audiences fall into. With these ‘fast trends’, individuals will buy these pieces of clothing, wear them twice max, and the trend will pass, and now this piece of clothing has become a waste. I try not to fall into fast trends by creating mood boards and my own style, which correlates with my personality. The best way is by going on Pinterest.
Q: Fast fashion brands make it easy to buy cheap clothes in bulk. Do you think affordability makes it harder for young people to shop mindfully?
N: Yes, I believe that younger people want to keep up with fashion trends and as a result, buying from fashion brands that make it easy to purchase more items with lower prices and tells you to ignore what is actually necessary. I have felt the pressure of being rushed into buying unnecessary things through ads and videos that promote it and personally it has been pretty hard to resist because they talk about bargains and sales that allow you to buy several items for only a price of one. It makes you curious and kinda hooked - like, you can get a whole haul without spending much, which is super tempting for my age.
R: For a university student, high-quality pieces of clothing can be very pricey, which may lead younger people to buy cheaper clothing in bulk even though it may not be the best quality. There are some statement pieces of high quality that are worth saving for, brands such as Kookai, Essentials, etc. But most of the time, the basics, such as a black or white top, make purchasing cheap clothing easier and cheaper.
Q: Outside of fashion, are there any other ways you try to be mindful of the environment in your daily life?
R: I try my best to reuse glass jars and plastic containers from restaurants. But I would love to implement more sustainable lifestyles in my everyday life. I try my best to eliminate food waste and clothing waste. I have been much more successful in reducing clothing waste by recycling old clothing or purchasing clothing at second-hand clothing stores.
N: I try to be conscious about what I use, what I purchase and how I might be purchasing like how relevant is my purchase. I’m starting to minimise food waste, use eco-friendly products, reuse bags, cups, bottles and utensils as such, and upcycle containers, boxes and even old clothes.
Q: If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?
N: I would most likely wear my jeans, my sneakers, a baggy shirt and a cap.
R: It would have to be a pair of jeans, a bright colour pair of shoes, and a white or black shirt. It’s simple and classy, and it can be accessorised in many ways to match the vibe you are aiming for.