Clothing as Currency
By: McKenna Sweeney
Society is ever changing. No matter where in the world, languages are constantly growing, cultures are adapting, and values are shifting. When looking specifically at clothing, they have been around for almost as long as the existence of humans.Yet their purpose and significance has not consistently remained the same for their entire lifespan.At the beginning of their production, they were strictly for functionality. Living in different climates brings up certain needs.To meet these, humans used natural materials to create garments that would protect them from the Earth’s elements. As time went on, machines were created to make sturdier fabric pieces, which developed into a more extended array of textiles.With this advancement, along with the production of dyes, clothing turned into something more expressive. Whether they were intended to portray a career or social status, they were much more intentional, and generally said something about the person wearing them.
Specific clothing standards are not enforced as much today, but garments are still used to exude certain messaging. Clothes have become very personal, and a lot of the time they are used as a creative outlet. Up until recently, trends were pretty much agreed upon by a whole generation, and they would last for years. When comparing the 70s and the 80s, there are very distinct styles associated with each decade. Almost every person would imagine fairly similar outfits to represent these eras, because there was not a lot of room for differentiation. That is not the case today. Now we have gotten to a point where trends are repeating themselves, and there are countless aesthetics that have been deemed acceptable by the majority of people. Because of this, how we dress has become more influential in social aspects and holds a weight that almost acts as its own currency. Despite how interested someone is in fashion, it is something that everyone has to be involved with and make choices about.
People’s brains are wired to be judgmental. We are programmed to assess situations, make observations and draw conclusions from what we gathered. So naturally when we look at someone, what they are wearing is going to trigger a reaction. This can be completely different from person to person because of our different backgrounds and preferences, but everyone will form some sort of response. Lots of brands use this psychology to push certain emotions on us when we recognize their logo. In terms of fashion, luxury brands are at the top of this game. Despite controversies and issues that may come up, luxury brands tend to remain popular. They build up their reputations to the point where not much can damage them. Their marketing is typically not intended to sell their products, but to sell a lifestyle that seems unattainable to most. So when we recognize one of those pieces, we automatically associate that dream life with the person wearing it. There is physical wealth associated with it, but it goes deeper than that. People are not necessarily pining after the money involved, but rather the richness of their life and the experiences that relate to it. Secondhand retailers are becoming increasingly more popular because it gives a larger span of people the opportunity to indulge in this fantasy.
The most exciting thrift finds are always the most expensive, high-quality brands that are being sold for a fraction of the price. Especially given the economic state of the world right now, it seems that any clothes that will be long lasting cost an outrageous amount, but anything affordable is made from the worst materials and will fall apart within a month. Sustainability is also becoming a higher priority for a lot of shoppers. So if we can not afford a sustainable brand, buying secondhand is the next best option. This has opened up a lot of opportunities within the fashion industry as well. While clothing holds a level of emotional wealth, people are also finding new ways to make actual money from old items.
Boutiques, thrift stores, and vintage stores are a great way to find secondhand clothes. However, the issue for a lot of people is the effort and time it takes to go through mass amounts of clothes that do not really have any relation to one another in terms of style. Nothing is worse than shopping around for hours and leaving with nothing to show. Some avid thrifters have taken advantage of this and will buy items to curate their own shops with a more intentional selection of pieces. They then up charge these from the price they bought them at. That way they can make a profit, while offering a solution for this segment of people. Apps like Depop have been a great way for people to do this online. There are also creators on TikTok and Instagram that will go thrifting for people. They receive inspiration pictures of clothes and will find pieces that match the vibe of what they are going for. Like Depop sellers, they will do a slight up charge to make a profit for themselves. These types of sellers can also be found in person at different types of markets.
Schools have been organizing this on campuses as well. They will set up events where students and local vendors can have a space to sell their items. Some people take advantage of this in a more artistic way as well. They might upcycle garments or add customizations to really create a brand for themselves. There are also functions where people can bring clothes right from their closet to trade. This is a really direct form of sustainability as well. Donating clothes is obviously much better than just throwing them away, but unfortunately a lot of the products that can not be sold still end up in landfills. By trading instead, you know exactly where your clothes are ending up, and that they are definitely getting a new life. This is the most literal instance where clothes can be used as currency. This is not a new concept, bartering and trading, especially with clothes and textiles, has been a practice used for centuries.
It is super interesting to see the evolution of the fashion industry though, and how elements like this can be reinvented to fit the current state of the world. It is no doubt that there are still many changes to come. With technology advancing so rapidly, we can only hope improvements will be made. But the next time you are shopping, it might be worth asking yourself, what is clothing worth to you?
