Chapter 3: And then it all unraveled
Just as fast as that other woman’s Shein shirt fell apart, so did my relationship. It turns out that the only thing keeping us together was the summer warmth. Once the election came upon us, the divide ensued… you see. Politics and fast fashion always seem to cause tension and divide. But the thing is, we don’t live in a world that really works that way. Everything is much more nuanced than that which meets the eye. We are complex beings with complex personalities and intricacies that connect us far more than they separate us, and yet we continue to look for reasons to be separate.
It's almost like we’re drawn to the simplicity of fast fashion and political divides because, at first glance, it’s easy. There’s comfort in things that don’t require much thought, but just like that cheaply made top, those things wear out fast. The seams don’t hold because we never bothered to check if they were strong in the first place. We chose the quick fix, the shiny distraction, without considering the long game—the durability. Whether we’re talking about the clothes we wear or the people we surround ourselves with, when things get tough, cheap doesn’t hold up.
Now, I’m not saying we should all start discussing politics like we’re picking fabrics at a tailor, but it wouldn’t hurt to treat each other with a little more care. Life, like fashion, isn’t about taking the easiest or most popular path. It’s about understanding the process, the effort behind it all. The fast option isn’t always the best one. Sometimes we need to invest in the more thoughtful, deliberate choice. The one that’s made to last, that isn’t just trendy but timeless.
In fashion and in life, the most sustainable choices are the ones that truly align with who we are. So, instead of chasing trends that fall apart or relationships that can’t withstand a little friction, let’s choose to focus on what holds up when things get a little rough. Let’s choose quality over convenience, patience over instant gratification. Because in the end, it’s those thoughtful, deliberate decisions—whether in what we wear or who we stand beside—that keep us grounded.
Hopefully at some point shopping sustainably will be something everyone can agree on.
Riverspell doesn’t just offer fashion. We offer ridiculous and sometimes not so ridiculous stories to help us make some sort of sense of this wild ride we call life.