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Thinking of Ordering Fast Fashion? Here’s How It Went For Me


10 minutes

I went to the dark side. I’m not proud of it. I ordered apparel from one of the giant fast fashion companies in China. Despite the myriad of reasons to avoid fast fashion, I know I’m not the only one to fall into the rabbit hole. The site I used gained 82.4 million shoppers in just one year! If you’ve been tempted and you’re thinking of ordering fast fashion, let me spare you some trouble. I’ll share what I actually liked, what I didn’t, and other fast fashion confessions.

I wasn’t really thinking of ordering fast fashion, but…

I didn’t really intend to betray my sustainability values, honestly. These sites are just so good at following consumers around the internet and targeting them with the exact right merchandise in their ads. As a career marketer, that interests me. I’m curious about their next-level tactics. Originally, I took notice for purely professional reasons. One major fast fashion retailer is expected to spend $3 billion on advertising this year, with over half of their budget going to Meta (Facebook and Instagram). With that kind of volume, surely they’ve gained some significant expertise that I could use. 

I tip-toed into the dark side while searching for some eco-friendly party supplies. I needed to feed a couple hundred people, so I was looking for disposable dinnerware and serving pieces that wouldn’t end up in the landfill. Sure enough, I began seeing ads for exactly what I needed at significantly lower prices than I found anywhere else. What could possibly go wrong? Fast fashion is a no-no, but fast party supplies are different, right?

I clicked the ad and went into the site. As I scrolled through party supplies, a pair of sandals made it into the scroll. A weird user experience, yes, but they were cute! And omg—the price! How can these be only $8.38? How could I not buy them? 

The prices are mind-boggling, but there’s one thing to know: there are order minimums—in the $20-$50 range as I recall. That keeps you invested in the scroll, and Pandora’s box will open. I added not one but TWO pairs of cheap sandals, some fun earrings, and two pairs of sunglasses. Then I crossed the line into fast fashion: a dress I’d seen on Instagram, a matching set similar to a favorite Armoire rental, a couple of graphic tees, …etc, etc, etc…and, of course, the party supplies. By the time I was done spiraling out of control, I ordered 35 items for a grand total of $211.97.

Shipping

If you’re thinking of ordering fast fashion because you think it means your purchases will arrive quickly, think again. Shipping took about two weeks, which felt like an eternity considering I was accustomed to receiving my Armoire goods in just two days. Tracking information was non-existent. The company provided a wide date range and a “shipping guarantee” which turned out to be a $5.00 credit towards a future purchase if a package arrives after the date range. There was also a curious feature: a button to “urge shipment.” What does this mean? I clicked it and a message popped up saying, “Successfully sped up. We have received your request to speed up shipment and will arrange shipment for you as soon as possible. Please wait patiently.” Because there was no charge for expedited shipping nor further explanation, I suspect this does nothing to change the shipping timeline and is simply a marketing ploy.

Even more disappointing: the order was split into four shipments that arrived separately over a couple of days, increasing the environmental impact through 4x carbon emissions and packaging materials. Remember, the transportation of goods requires large amounts of fossil fuels, particularly in air and sea freight, contributing to air pollution and global warming. Remorse was setting in.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to see the order arrived in shipping bags similar to what Armoire uses. The production of cardboard and paper for packaging often leads to deforestation, which impacts biodiversity and contributes to climate change. Additionally, sometimes items are over-packaged with unnecessary layers of protection, leading to more waste. This was not the case with my order; packing materials were minimal.

First Impressions

Remember the party supplies that led me down this dark path? The first item I opened was a set of wooden serving spoons meant to dish up salads and sides. What I received: doll-sized utensils. Strike one.

While unpacking my loot, I discovered why their listings for sunglasses never show a model wearing any of the styles. It’s because they’re not cute. They fit awkwardly, like they weren’t intended for a human face. It’s hard to explain, but think of them as only resembling actual sunglasses. Strike two.

I ordered several pairs of earrings. The prices were too good to pass up, with most styles costing just a couple bucks. Most pairs I received were wildly disappointing due to their scale. Earrings that looked substantial in pictures were actually miniscule, and styles that appeared to be dainty were larger than expected. Nearly all of them were plastic, which was not clear online. I did end up with a pair I liked and I was able to wear them a couple times before they broke. Strike three.

Both pairs of sandals exceeded expectations—until the first time I wore them. They were cute, comfortable, and perfectly unique. When they broke so completely on day one, it wasn’t the few bucks I had wasted or even the contribution to the landfill that bummed me out the most. It was the fact that I was in public with a non-functional shoe. In the most egregious incident, I was traveling and didn’t have a back-up pair. It’s no secret that fast fashion is not made to last, but I didn’t consider where I would be when it failed.

The Fashion

As I unpacked shirts, dresses, jumpsuits, and rompers, there were some clear winners and losers. The graphic tees worked out better than expected; they are soft and they’ve held up to machine washing and drying thus far. Like other garments, they were oversized. The site offers US sizing, but everything I ordered in my usual size was much, much too big. I can make due with the graphic tees by tying them into a knot at the waist, tucking them in, or by cutting a few inches off the bottom.

In addition to off-sizing, I noticed the other garments didn’t have any tailoring to give them shape. No darts, no pleats, no tucks, and no interfacing. Essentially, they were just big blobs of fabric in different prints. 

Some customers complain of a smell to their garments from fast fashion marketplaces. I didn’t notice that, honestly. It was the feel of the items that stood out to me immediately. I’ve never worn fabric quite like this, and all of the pieces I ordered were made from this material. The tags say the fabric is 95% polyester and 5% spandex. I’m not sure if that’s accurate, but I do know it’s 100% uncomfortable. The fabric traps heat, so it felt like wearing a Hefty bag in a hot car. I didn’t make it through a single day in any of these garments.

Thinking or ordering fast fashion? First, spot the difference

Thinking of Ordering Fast Fashion? Spot the difference.
A favorite high-quality rental by Sarah Alexandra feels light and airy.

I’ve been living in Sarah Alexandra button-downs, like this one and this one. They’re a game-changer in my wardrobe all year round. No matter the occasion, these shirts just work. They retail for $365—a little steep for me—but I’ll never run out of variety to rent from Armoire. There are dozens available to rent in every possible pattern and cut, short sleeves and long, and even in shirt dresses.

I rely on these button-downs so much, that I ordered a fast-fashion version for my forever closet. To say they are not created equal is an understatement. If you’re thinking of ordering fast fashion, read on for some noticeable differences:

Fabric. As I mentioned, the fabric in my fast fashion version is unwearable. It’s a low-grade polyester with the look and feel of a cheap garden flag. Meanwhile, my Armoire rental is crisp, comfortable, and resistant to wrinkles.

Pattern. While both shirts are on-trend with stripes, the fast fashion shirt is subpar with one-sided printing. This is abundantly obvious if you wish to roll the sleeves.

Cuffs. The cuffs on my poorly made shirt are flimsy with uneven stitching and no structure. My Sarah Alexandra version has well-constructed cuffs that hold their shape. The stitching is neat and even, and the buttonholes are precisely cut and reinforced.

Number of Buttons. The button score: 5-6. This was no surprise as any poorly made shirt will have fewer buttons. Fewer buttons causes gaping, especially around the chest or midsection. The buttons themselves are made of cheap plastic and are loosely sewn. A high-quality shirt will have a sufficient number of buttons, with an extra button placed strategically to prevent gaping. They are stitched with a shank (a thread stem) to allow easier fastening and durability.

Sarah Alexandra’s shirts are expertly tailored to flatter.

Tailoring. Poor tailoring is evident in my fast-fashion version, which lacks proper shaping and contouring. The shirt hangs loosely and fails to follow the body’s natural lines, leading to an unflattering fit. Seams are uneven, and the shirt is likely to twist or shift when worn. I wouldn’t know for certain, because I didn’t even try to wear it. My quality Sarah Alexandra shirt is expertly tailored to provide a flattering fit. Seams are straight and even, with precise stitching that ensures the shirt sits well on the body without twisting or shifting. Darts and shaping seams are used to enhance the fit around the chest, waist, and back.

Collar. The collar structure of my poorly made shirt is best described as “limp.” Of course, the quality shirt has a well-structured collar that stands up properly. If you’ve never popped the collar of a $365 shirt, you’re missing out on a powerful experience.

Construction. Poor construction is evident in the overall quality of the cheaply made shirt. Seams are loosely stitched, with threads hanging loose and unraveling. The fabric edges are not be properly finished in some places. The well-constructed shirt features tight, even stitching with a high stitch count per inch, which enhances durability and gives a refined appearance. Seams are neatly finished for a clean look. The stripes are meticulously aligned across seams and pockets, reflecting attention to detail and craftsmanship.

Thinking of Ordering Fast Fashion? Rent instead.Thinking of Ordering Fast Fashion? Rent instead.

Disposing of your fast fashion regrets

It’s been just over two months since my walk on the dark side and I’ve given away 31 of the 35 items I purchased. If you’re thinking of ordering fast fashion, let me tell you: it’s not easy to get rid of this crap. Textile recycling is hard even with the highest quality items. No resale shops will touch fast fashion, so forget about recouping your costs. The sizing was so off that I didn’t think they’d sell well at a thrift shop. I eventually found some friends to take the clothes off my hands. I will try to repair the sandals and the earrings when I find time, and I’ll use them to style something wildly unaffordable, rented from Armoire.


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