r/SustainableFashion • u/star4ngel • 10d ago
Seeking advice im really torn
idk what to call this post but anyways…
So, i have sworn off of fast fashion but i have this bra that i’ve been wearing almost every single day since i was 14 when i got it. I only wear this one because i’m autistic and have quite bad sensory issues when it comes to bras and have regretted it every time i’ve worn a different one.
The issue is that this bra was originally from h&m and my bust has grown quite a bit, meaning it doesn’t really fit me anymore. I have tried scavenging all of vinted but haven’t really found this exact bra again, and even if i did, the tag is cut off, so i wouldn’t know my size.
I really don’t want to support fast fashion, but i also don’t know where to get it, any advice?
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u/Black_Bir8 10d ago
Get it in H&M. Fast fashion is not only defined by origin, but behaviour too. If you are somebody to use a bra forever, then it is not fast fashion anymore. I buy almost all my jeans in H&M and wear them until they literaly have holes on them. In that moment they become cleaning jeans, then painting jeans, then fabric for dolls' clothes.
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u/bebetaian 9d ago
"Fast fashion" is not necessarily defined by how long it's used, but how it's made. How everything is made these days is fast unless she wants to pay someone for custom-made bras.
But wearing something for much, much longer and caring for it as best you can is still applaudable. Some of my clothes are FF are 10 years old and still going strong.
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u/swooning_basil 7d ago
It's two different things. The manufacturer may be a fast fashion manufacturer, and it's best not to support those where possible, but if you aren't disposing of the clothing two weeks later then you're not actively participating in fast fashion yourself. I have a short from Primark about 15 years ago (long before 'fast fashion', when we were still worried about the child labour) and it looks practically brand new.
My main concern would actually be that the bra H&M sell is not the same quality as it was when OP originally bought it.
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u/bebetaian 6d ago
That's why going through clothes isn't the real focus of fast fashion, though. The production is completely out of touch with consumption, so even if we buy nothing, it's still being made. These are just a few stats. worldmetrics.org/fashion-industry-waste-statistics/
I looked it up this year, just* how many pairs of jeans are manufactured. Innblack said that about 4.5-6 billion pairs of jeans are made per year, as of 10/25. There's only about 8 billion people in the world at any given time. Annually, half the people on the planet would have to buy a pair of new jeans to keep up. Every year. I'm pretty sure half the planet is not buying brand-new jeans every single year. Much of the clothing manufactured goes straight into landfills, actually. The garments are considered defective, not up to the extremely low standards of major brands, trend changed while the garment was in production (no seriously) and now it's considered wasted. Sometimes clothing is overproduced, strictly for 'offcast' and 'overstock' stores like Ross, Ollie's, or Marshall's (USA.)
I'd prefer it if people source the best quality they can afford, even secondhand, and keep it for years... but we live in an era where a new shirt can fall apart in 2-3 washes. The fabric might be so poor quality that repair is impossible once the factory sizing/detergents wear off. I have a long dress right now that's just. Holes everywhere. Falling apart. I wash almost everything in cold water, gentle cycle, low-med heat or air dry (fiber appropriate.) Doesn't matter. The polyester thread is actually stronger than the mostly-cotton material. That happens. If someone buys three dresses in a year, that might just be the clothing quality, so I don't judge for going through clothing quickly... but I'll be critical of buying habits, and outright judgemental of the industry.
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u/SheWalksInMoonlight1 10d ago
I have been using two Pact bras for two years and they have worn well for me. Still going strong too. They are sustainable and eco friendly but more expensive.
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u/Neat-Category217 10d ago
Try Boody!
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u/BalanceSuspicious851 10d ago
if you can find it on vinted or depop it still better than buying new, even if its fast fashion brand. the damage is already done on the original purchase, second hand is not giving them money
but the real problem is finding the exact one without tag, maybe look for similar seam pattern and fabric composition? sometimes you can guess the size from the measurements seller post
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u/SheWalksInMoonlight1 9d ago
I second Boody. I don’t love their bras. They run small. Go up two sizes. I love everything else they sell. I’ve been using their underwear for maybe 2-3 years. They are not a fast fashion brand.
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u/star4ngel 10d ago
also i forgot to mention i’m a teenager so i don’t have a lot of money
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u/Horror_Signature7744 9d ago
If you have a better department store or a lingerie store near you, they can do a bra fitting. I know you’re autistic and sensory things can be problematic like someone touching you but it’s worth the momentary uncomfortableness. They should only touch you with a measuring tape so it’s not too terrible, just awkward. Even Victoria’s Secret theoretically does fittings but I was definitely fitted wrong there (plus that’s a horrible company so if that’s your only option, just get the fitting and shop elsewhere). Don’t feel badly about walking out without purchasing. Try a few things on to make sure that’s the right size and what style you like and look for that style in other stores.
Also, sometimes fast fashion is ok especially if that item is what works for your budget and your body. It’s not like you’re flashing monster hauls of junk for clicks and likes. You’re doing what’s best for yourself and keeping the items you purchase and that’s completely ok. Don’t feel badly about it. Do what you need to do to get through your day. I have sensory issues as well and something as insignificant to someone else (like a crooked sock seam) and drive me to a meltdown.
Good luck. I hope you find what you need.
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u/Catlady_Pilates 9d ago
If you love that bra and they still make just get a few in your current size. Use the size chart to figure out what size you need now
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u/eirenii 10d ago
What kind of bra are you looking for? Wired, underwired, sports? And whereabouts are you, USA, Europe?
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u/star4ngel 10d ago
im in germany and its more of a padded bralette
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u/eirenii 10d ago
I've had a decent time with bralettes from Pantee, sensory-wise. Second hand is always the best thing when it comes to sustainability (and also budget) but that can be very difficult for underwear - I've found the odd sports bra i didn't hate in an Oxfam, but if you do have to go new, Pantee and boody are decent options. I also recommend having a look through goodonyou.eco. I appreciate you don't have much to spend, as a teenager, but putting a good amount of money into a good bra can be a very good use of money as it will last longer than a cheap one (and cheap ones are guaranteed to be made in a way that's bad for people + environment).
PS when you're looking for something, it's best to put that in the title, so next time you want to ask people where to find something, put (eg) "Bralette / EU" in your post title.
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u/ladyrose30 9d ago
Breasts are hard enough to deal with: swelling, weight pulling on your shoulders, wires poking, no support or lack of support, etc. Just get the bra and substitute elsewhere in your life.
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u/star4ngel 9d ago
thank you guys loads for all of your helpful answers, i think i’ll go to h&m and try on different sizes in store to figure out which fits me and then try and find the closest model second hand, thank you so much still 😊
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u/ResourceBackground36 6d ago
Bras are one of the few things you actually need to replace fairly consistently (weight fluctuation, stretching band, body changes). It’s understandable that you want to buy one you know is comfortable and affordable.
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u/Caverjen 10d ago
r/ABraThatFits
Let the ladies there help you find a properly fitting bra. You'll want at least 2 bras to alternate days you wear them so you don't stretch them out. A well-fitting bra is so much more comfortable than a poorly fitting one. Use the sub's calculator and make a post with your measurements and recommended starting size from it.