In 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed, killing 1,138 people. Multiple stories of heavy concrete crushed the innocent workers trapped inside. These workers had already been subject to long workdays, often ranging from 10 to 14 hours, and seldom were allowed to take any breaks. These workers were making cheap clothing for overseas markets.

What does the Rana Plaza collapse have to do with Americans? Everything. Americans have become obsessed with cheap clothing and quickly changing trends. The amount of clothing Americans buy has grown dramatically in the past century. According to the Atlantic, the percent of clothing that was imported in 1991 was 43.8%, and by 2015 it had grown to 97.5%. The average American woman owns $550 worth of unworn clothing. 10.5 million tons of clothes wind up in U.S. landfills annually. Americans are consuming an excessive amount of clothing, at the expense of overworked, underpaid workers in other countries.

The fast fashion industry is also devastating to the environment. According to the documentary The True Cost, fashion is the second largest polluting industry behind the oil industry. Toxic dyes, fuel used for transportation, and waste from discarded clothing are just a few of the ways fashion harms the Earth. It is not worth damaging the planet just to look cute.

The preposition of avoiding fast fashion may seem daunting at first. Teenagers face peer pressure to have a large wardrobe and fit in with the crowd. I used to shop frequently at fast fashion retailers. I was obsessed with the latest styles, and constantly tried to find the best deals. However, those “deals” I was getting came at a cost. An $8 crop top from Forever 21 costs the life of another human being. Cheap clothing cannot be made without injustice.

It is possible to be fashionable and comfortable without endorsing companies who use underpaid, overworked sweatshop workers. Popular brands such as Forever 21, Hollister, American Eagle, Urban Outfitters, Topshop, and Zara are not as pretty behind the scenes as they are on the outside. Isn’t high-quality, ethically-made clothing expensive? Absolutely. However, there are many accessible and fashionable alternatives to shopping fast fashion, including thrifting, buying used clothes online, swapping clothing, sharing clothing, renting formal dresses, wearing hand-me-downs, and upcycling used clothing. Buying high-quality, classic pieces can prevent consumers from having to shop more frequently to replace low-quality clothing and match trends.

Consume less. Save more. Reducing frequent, fast-fashion purchases has a positive impact on mindset and style. It reduces pressure felt from peers. Wearing vintage pieces from Dad’s closet expands style.

It is understandable that this is not going to be an easy transition at first, so don’t fret over the occasional fast-fashion purchase. Even the slightest change in lifestyle impacts the world. Teenagers are major supporters of the fast fashion industry, but have the power to shape it through their purchases.