I Relapsed At Z*ra
When I was 15, Zara was the place for cheap deals, thrills, and a life hack for looking older and being treated as such.
Naturally, at that age, you never wondered how a garment that involves the laborious process of sowing, growing, harvesting, combing, spinning, knitting, cutting, stitching, finishing, printing, labelling, packaging and transporting costs a mere $15.
I stopped shopping there when I finally realized that, compared to my vintage treasures, all of my 4-letter purchases never made it past the 1-year mark. Either the jeans would rip at the seams or my t-shirt holes started to form a constellation.
Don't get me wrong, this wasn't an overnight habit kick. It took me over a few years to walk by these stores without resisting their magnetic consumer pull.
At one point, I submitted and promised myself I would just browse and scoff. My eyes darted towards a linen dress.
"Linen….", I thought.
"That's au-natural," said the devil sitting on my shoulder.
I bought the dress and walked out of there proudly. Upon returning home with my millennial appetite fulfilled, I sat in between my sewing machine and navy kraft bag and understood this dress wouldn't last 3 months. The next day, I rushed back to the store, and returned it.* Ultimately sealing my desire to shop there and anywhere else ever again, regardless of how trendy their pieces are presented.
When you look at the bigger picture, the three pairs of jeans you might buy at some cheap retailer might cost you the equivalent of a pricier yet, reputable independent brand in a year. You just have to do your research.
Naturally, at that age, you never wondered how a garment that involves the laborious process of sowing, growing, harvesting, combing, spinning, knitting, cutting, stitching, finishing, printing, labelling, packaging and transporting costs a mere $15.
I stopped shopping there when I finally realized that, compared to my vintage treasures, all of my 4-letter purchases never made it past the 1-year mark. Either the jeans would rip at the seams or my t-shirt holes started to form a constellation.
Don't get me wrong, this wasn't an overnight habit kick. It took me over a few years to walk by these stores without resisting their magnetic consumer pull.
At one point, I submitted and promised myself I would just browse and scoff. My eyes darted towards a linen dress.
"Linen….", I thought.
"That's au-natural," said the devil sitting on my shoulder.
I bought the dress and walked out of there proudly. Upon returning home with my millennial appetite fulfilled, I sat in between my sewing machine and navy kraft bag and understood this dress wouldn't last 3 months. The next day, I rushed back to the store, and returned it.* Ultimately sealing my desire to shop there and anywhere else ever again, regardless of how trendy their pieces are presented.
When you look at the bigger picture, the three pairs of jeans you might buy at some cheap retailer might cost you the equivalent of a pricier yet, reputable independent brand in a year. You just have to do your research.