Shein, Zara, and the Fast Fashion Trap

04/12/22 • 30 min

1 Listener

It seems like everyone is obsessed with fast fashion, and social media has been huge in helping brands like SHEIN, Zara and other online retailers show up in your Instagram, Facebook and TikTok feeds.

Love ’em or hate ’em, you can’t deny these brands have changed many people's relationship with clothing. Shopping is cheaper, sizing is seemingly more inclusive, and being trendy is more accessible than ever. SHEIN even landed a spot on TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies of 2022 list for its impact.

But before you hit check out on your cart, know this: there are some real environmental costs to buying these uber cheap clothes. Ahead of Earth Day, we’re returning to one of our favorite episodes to share the three questions you should be asking yourself to see if that $20 top is really worth the cost.

You’ll hear from:

Aja Barber, writer, stylist, fashion consultant and author of “Consumed: The Need for Collective Change”

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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You’ll hear from:

Aja Barber, writer, stylist, fashion consultant and author of “Consumed: The Need for Collective Change”

Want more Skimm?

Sign up for our free daily newsletter
Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts

Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

Comedy, Cancel Culture, and the Joke Behind the Slap

When one of the most successful Black actors in Hollywood slaps one of the most famous Black comedians on international television, it's bound to spark conversations. One debate that keeps coming up is whether or not Chris Rock should have even made that “G.I. Jane” joke aimed at Jada Pinkett Smith, who has publicly spoken about her struggles with alopecia.

But it feels like we've been having this discussion about comedy — and where we draw the line — a lot lately. Plenty of comedians have come under fire recently, like Dave Chapelle for his comments about trans people in his specials and Joe Rogan for frequently dropping the N word on his podcast.

So is there a line comedians shouldn’t cross with their jokes? If so, where is it? And is it ever OK to punch down? This week, we unpack our evolving relationship with standup and how the industry is changing — and isn’t. We get some help from a culture writer, and from a comedian who understands the difference between a punch and a punchline.

And while you’re here, we want to hear from you! Help us bring you the stories you want us to cover by checking out this quick listener survey.

You’ll hear from:

Aja Romano, culture staff writer at Vox

Hari Kondabolu, standup comedian and writer

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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Next Episode

Bad Jokes, Classic Sitcoms, and Convos We’re Still Thinking About

Each week, we have incredible conversations with smart culture critics and experts about the biggest pop culture stories, but we don’t get to include every moment.

Today, we’re going back to interviews that stuck with us — and sharing moments that didn’t make it into the show before. Like the story comedian Hari Kondabolu told us about an unforgettable encounter at a comedy show that taught him a valuable lesson.

And check out our deep dive into Black TV sitcoms with Shadow & Act editor Trey Mangum, where we talked about representation and the new wave of binge-worthy shows. One to add to your queue: Peacock’s “Fresh Prince” reboot “Bel-Air.”

You’ll hear from:

Hari Kondabolu, standup comedian and writer

Trey Mangum, managing editor at Shadow & Act

Want more Skimm?

Sign up for our free daily newsletter
Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts

Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices