It’s much more complicated than you might think
When it comes to buying products, many consumers around the world have started experiencing the same problem: they purchase an item (like clothes or even some tech) and it becomes practically dysfunctional after an inordinately short period of time. Jeans rip after a season, washing machines malfunction after a few years, and even our phones seem designed to go obsolete. Well, there is actually a story hidden in every purchase.
Beneath the lure of fast fashion and tech innovation lies a cycle of convenience, waste, and often unrepairable goods. We’re encouraged to replace rather than restore, to chase the new rather than value the durable. Curious? Click through this gallery to find out more.
The truth of the matter is that many products (including cell phones, computers, and clothing) are breaking down sooner than expected. We as a society must question what is going on, and whether we can climb out from under the ever-growing pile of consumer trash.
Manufacturers traditionally focus on three aspects when creating a product: functionality, appearance, and ease of manufacturing. These factors are supposed to be balanced, but recent shifts in manufacturing have altered this balance.
Clothing is an example of these changes. Where people once paid for tailored garments, now mass production and online shopping have become the norm, which has reduced focus on durability and quality in favor of convenience and low cost.
With easy access to online shopping, people buy products more often. This frequent purchasing reflects a change not only in buying habits but also in people’s expectations around product lifespan and quality.
American advertising executive Earnest Elmo Calkins created the idea of "consumer engineering" in the 1930s, which introduced the idea that people should be encouraged to buy frequently by making products go out of style quickly.
Calkins laid the groundwork for what we now call "planned obsolescence," whereby products are deliberately designed to break down after a short period of time.
Other than breaking down physically, many products are also replaced due to shifting trends. The appeal of the “new” is what drives our desire to constantly purchase. This behavior has been cultivated over decades, especially in the fashion industry.
Modern-day trend cycles are often geared toward niche audiences and change rapidly. An example would be Hydro Flasks, which were 'rebranded' into Stanley cups to change audiences.
A survey found that almost half of US consumers buy clothing monthly, and the United Nations reports that average clothing consumption rose by 60% from 2000 to 2014, even though each item is kept half as long as before.
Consumers’ desire to save money has led to a demand for cheaper items. This puts pressure on manufacturers to reduce costs, often resulting in the use of lower-quality materials and manufacturing shortcuts.
To keep up with demand, companies may cut corners by choosing cheaper materials or simplifying design. This can mean using synthetic materials over natural ones or opting for less durable stitching patterns.
While the prices of many items haven’t risen much, inflation has. For a product to remain affordable, oftentimes something has to change. Usually the quality of materials or manufacturing standards are altered, which leads to products that don’t last as long.
In the early days of personal tech, each new device represented a major advancement, and so replacing them frequently made sense. However, technological advances have slowed, yet the replacement cycle still persists.
Manufacturers often make it incredibly difficult for consumers to repair or maintain items independently. They do so by deliberately designing products in ways that consumers cannot understand.
Modern devices contain complex technology like chips and circuit boards, which makes them hard to repair without manufacturer support. Some companies even restrict access to essential repair tools and parts, leaving consumers utterly dependent.
Many modern items are also created without repairability in mind. Instead of metal and screws, manufacturers may use plastic and glue, which can make them more likely to break and harder to repair.
As more everyday items include complex electronic components, it becomes harder to fix them without specialized tools. This trend has led to a substantial rise in electronic waste and dependency on manufacturers.
Aside from environmental waste, the lack of repair options also means that consumers must oftentimes replace items more frequently, costing them far more in the long run.
Advocates like the Repair Association aim to give consumers the right to repair their products. This includes giving people easy access to parts, tools, and instructions.
Despite the challenges, consumers actually have a lot more control than they might know. People can start to make changes simply by opting for quality and longevity over short-lived trends and disposable items.
In 2022, New York passed the first-ever right-to-repair law, which allows consumers to have easier access to parts and repair instructions.
Consumers can also curb the cycle of rapid consumption by avoiding fast fashion and micro-trends. By buying with purpose and caring for items, consumers can extend the life of their possessions and reduce environmental waste.
Learning to care for items (like following care labels on clothes) helps improve durability and prevents early wear and tear. Embracing a mindset of maintenance can lead to less frequent replacements and a shift away from wasteful consumption.
The abundance of cheaply made, short-lived items requires consumers to be more discerning. By choosing quality over quantity, they can move toward sustainable habits and create a demand for longer-lasting products.
Adjusting consumption habits doesn’t require drastic changes. Simple steps, like evaluating needs before purchasing, can help shift priorities toward quality and reduce reliance on cheap, disposable items.
One of the most important aspects of buying clothing is also to be aware of what material something is made of. If a label on a shirt doesn’t show the fabric composition, then that’s an instantaneous red flag.
When it comes to repairing older items and passing them down through generations (such as food mixers), they can actually generate sentimentality when they’re handed down. These possessions have far more emotional value than cheaper products purchased on a whim.
When it comes to the products that consumers buy, the only limit they have is their own drive. Ultimately, products are supposed to be made for people, not for manufacturers, and so consumers need to be clear about what it is they want.
Sources: (Vox) (MIT Libraries) (United Nations Environment Programme) (The Repair Association)
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When it comes to buying products, many consumers around the world have started experiencing the same problem: they purchase an item (like clothes or even some tech) and it becomes practically dysfunctional after an inordinately short period of time. Jeans rip after a season, washing machines malfunction after a few years, and even our phones seem designed to go obsolete. Well, there is actually a story hidden in every purchase.
Beneath the lure of fast fashion and tech innovation lies a cycle of convenience, waste, and often unrepairable goods. We’re encouraged to replace rather than restore, to chase the new rather than value the durable. Curious? Click through this gallery to find out more.