Is Ragstock Fast Fashion?
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Fast fashion has transformed the buying practices of the average human to the extent that the value of garments has plummeted. It promotes the rapid production of trendy clothes and encourages customers to buy the newest trend and ditch the previous ones even though trends change every other day nowadays. This mentality has been destructive for customers and the environment as it is based on the extreme exploitation of the two.
The brand we are looking at today is unique from other brands in the way that it does not sell new clothes. Instead, it resells second-hand and recycled clothes to prolong their lives and lessen the harmful effects of manufacturing on the planet. Ragstock was founded in 1954 by two friends who hated to see millions of clothes go to waste every year despite being in good enough condition.
Founder Howard Weisskopf had the miraculous plan of starting a clothing brand based on the purchase of second-hand and vintage garments and reselling them at affordable prices. Ragstock is said to be a treasure-house, filled with all kinds of exotic pieces of clothing. Many customers have reported that they were reluctant to step into the store but then their companions had to drag them out.
In the beginning, Howard Weisskopf used to travel the world, looking for the most fascinating items to add to his collection. He had an interest in the collection of all kinds of clothing; “used capes from London; old army boots from Germany”. He brought them all back to Minneapolis, the company headquarters, to become a part of his unique thrift store.
In the growing world of fast fashion and inflation, people felt attracted to this new style. Moreover, this also offered them the opportunity to buy unique pieces of clothing from all over the world. Soon enough, the brand had expanded to states like Illinois and Wisconsin. In addition to clothing, Ragstock also sells accessories including bags and footwear.
Sustainability Rating: 4/10
Category: Clothing, Accessories
For: Women, Men, Kids
Products: Tops, Sweaters, Jackets, Shoes
Style: Casual, Contemporary
Quality: Low
Prices: -
Size: -
Fabrics: Polyester, Organic Cotton, Spandex, Viscose, Elastane, Linen, Leather, Nylon
100% Organic: No
100% Vegan: No
Ethical and Fair: No
Recycling: No
Manufacturing Countries: Not Transparent Enough
Certifications: Not Transparent Enough
Recently, Ragstock has begun manufacturing clothes as well but it makes a very small part of its collection. Its foundation still lies in selling trendy used garments. With the brand’s growth, it is hard for the team to go and physically buy such clothes from all over the world. That is why it has struck deals with many brands that sell their used items to Ragstock.
The clothing is sorted and processed at the warehouse in Minneapolis, where it is then shipped to stores all over the Midwest. Customers are generally quite satisfied with the items offered by the brand, but they do complain about the size of the stores. It has too much stuff and too many people crammed in a small space but the items make it worth it.
While Ragstock was previously most popular among college students due to its fashionable garments, it is now popular with all age groups, especially families who can buy large quantities of clothes at affordable prices.
According to all of this information, Ragstock does not fit the typical definition of a fast fashion brand. While it has started to manufacture its own clothing as well, it’s a very small amount that can easily be ignored. Its main selling point is still vintage and used garments. Moreover, instead of getting its clothing manufactured in other countries, Ragstock has factories in the USA where it can keep a close eye on the process.
Fast fashion brands especially choose factories located in developing countries where labor can be exploited and it can carry out its harmful activities with very little pay given to the workers. Workers in such countries barely make a livable wage and are made to work grueling hours with severe punishments in case of any mistakes.
By keeping its manufacturing process limited to the United States, Ragstock separates itself from such exploitative brands and provides another reason for it not being fast fashion. Some people point out that it can be considered fast fashion because it has built its entire business on such clothing. However, it can be argued that Ragstock is merely offering a solution to the problem of fast fashion.
Moreover, it has been proven multiple times that used and recycled clothing is comparatively better for the environment than new clothing because they do not demand the use of new natural resources and extensive labor, instead, they help lessen the waste in landfills by prolonging a garment’s life. In this case, Ragstock should be praised for setting up a new trend.
Ragstock does not provide a Sustainability Report but it can be because it does not emit any greenhouse gas or use large amounts of water as it barely manufactures any clothing. As it buys second hand garments from other organizations, its carbon footprint is little to zero. However, the brand does not provide much information about where it gets its clothing from. This can be ignored as the garments ending up in Ragstock are way better than those being dumped in landfills.
It would be responsible for Ragstock to talk about sustainability on its website as it is playing a major role in promoting durability and environmental-friendliness. A statement from the brand could encourage more people to buy from thrift stores instead of purchasing new items every time. It is everyone’s responsibility to remove the stigma against vintage and thrift garments.
Also, Ragstock does not say much about the clothes it manufactures itself. Even though they are noticeably trendy, the brand is not transparent about the materials they are made of. They are also not rated by any renowned sustainable organization like the GoodOnYou directory.
Overall, Ragstock seems to be a good and sustainable alternative to fast fashion as it allows you to wear unique garments while simultaneously helping the planet by not overusing its resources and emitting harmful chemicals and toxins that are proven to be detrimental to humans and animals.
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