The Problem
Dressing up for concerts in creative and themed outfits has become a trend for young attendees; the expanding market for flashy attire is leading to overconsumption and fast fashion, which could be detrimental to the environment.
For decades, fans have been mimicking artists’ clothing when attending their concerts, but the trend has grown over the past few years with creators on TikTok and other social platforms showing off their themed concert outfits, inspiring others to do the same. If you look up “outfit inspo” on TikTok, you’ll find videos for any concert, with a different theme for each artist. Harry Styles fans wear boas around their necks after Styles debuted the look on his stage. Taylor Swift fans take inspiration from her different albums to dress up in festive, themed outfits. Beyoncé fans wear silver at her shows upon request from the performer herself, and the list goes on.
While it’s fun to dress up and go all out for events, silver and glittery clothes are not typical household items. Most teenagers are not willing to spend a lot of money on outfits they will probably not wear again, so they resort to fast fashion brands like H&M, Zara and Shein to purchase low-budget concert outfits that will still be on-theme and impressive. As a result, millions of outfits end up in landfills, which contributes to pre-existing environmental issues like waste and pollution.
Business Insider reported in 2022 that 101 million tons of clothing end up in landfills each year, and the fashion industry is responsible for 8 to 10% of global gas emissions. However, most fast fashion companies have taken advantage of the growing concert costume trend by producing more extravagant clothing items. Some fast fashion brands, like ASOS, are even tagging artists’ names to certain clothing items to make it easier for shoppers to find outfits to wear at their upcoming shows.
While Poshmark is one of the more sustainable online spaces to purchase clothing from, with options to buy and sell second-hand clothing, company spokeswoman Mallory Smith said that listings for items with descriptions referring to the Taylor Swift and Beyoncé concerts have had an increase in sales between 350 and 500% ever since the artists began touring the United States in March and May.
Statistics like these show a correlation between concert fashion culture and the fast fashion industry. Mass production of clothing that ends up in landfills creates a vicious cycle that continues to harm the environment.
The Solution
There are countless alternatives for concert attendees to dress up for the event without giving into consumer behavior and harming the environment through fast fashion. The easiest and cheapest way is to borrow or exchange clothing with friends or relatives; they might not have everything you are looking for, but what they can provide might inspire a more creative take on a themed outfit. Similarly, getting a little creative by using what you already own to create your outfit is a more environmentally friendly way to go all out with your concert outfit. Whether it’s writing on a plain white t-shirt at the last minute or crocheting a two-piece set over the course of a few weeks, DIY-ing your outfit will be better for the environment and provide a way of expressing your love for the artist.
There are also multiple ways to get your hands on second-hand clothing to help steer away from the fast fashion industry. Thrifting is a prime and accessible method, whether you find thrift shops in person or take to the internet, which has endless options such as thredUP and Depop. There is also the option of renting outfits through the internet, made easy with sites like Pickle and Rent the Runway.
Although concerts are a large contributor to the environmental impact of the fast fashion industry, there are countless ways to be more sustainable when choosing your outfit for your next concert, and above are only a few suggestions compared to the thousands of ideas you can find online.