The Twilight of the Ethical Consumer
The Twilight of the Ethical Consumer
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Elizabeth L. Cline is a journalist and expert on consumer culture, fast fashion, sustainability, and labor rights in the fashion industry. She is the author of two books Overdressed and The Conscious Closet. This piece was originally published in Atmos in October 2020 and is the first in an ongoing collaboration highlighting stories that bring a critical lens to consumerism and its impact on our planet.
During the pandemic, like everyone else, I made promises to myself and tried to take up healthier habits. I started knitting, drawing, and journaling again. I traded in my reality TV addiction for Ken Burns documentaries. And, while others were learning to bake bread or garden, I decided to stop being an Ethical Consumer. One day, I needed new pajamas. Gap was selling two pairs for $40, so I bought them. I needed home office supplies, so I orde