News

Headline: Tinsel and Trash: The Ugly Side of Holiday Wardrobes

Elena Casillas, News reporter • December 16, 2024

Clothes hanged mycurrency.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year in the United States of America and quickly falls in succession after Halloween and Thanksgiving. Many consumers’ spending on new clothing trends or so-called “needs” have created a significant increase in clothing waste.

Over 134,000,000,000 pounds of clothing wind up in American landfills yearly. Holiday waste, clothing worn a few times and discarded after a holiday party or get-together, is a main cause of clothing waste.

This clothing waste refers to clothing discarded after use without recycling, including home decor and accessories that are as important as clothing. Nowadays, not only is the style and use of clothing dazzling, but the speed of new trends creates a huge demand that is increasing with the development of the economy. The clothing industry produces and consumes huge amounts of clothes over time, and a lot of clothing waste is formed when people update their holiday wardrobe wardrobes.

To ensure there is a decrease, there are five ways to determine whether or not the clothing is worth buying. How will the clothing fit the theme and style of the event? Will this garment be worn again? What accessories will enhance the outfit? How could this clothing’s life extend? Is this clothing biodegradable if thrown out? In conclusion, clothing shouldn’t enter a landfill after one use.

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About the Contributor

Elena Casillas, News reporter

Elena Casillas is a 16-year-old junior news reporter at Agua Fria. Elena enjoys informing people in all different ways such as journalism and ‘broadcasting’. Elena enjoys hanging out with friends, writing, and reading. She loves her two cats, Maurice and Nugget. She despises the Arizona summer heat. This is just a short introduction to Elena Casillas. Not many people know what they’re going to do after High School but Elena has a plan she hopes to succeed in. Elena dreams of going into any variation of filming, or broadcasting. To achieve this dream she hopes to attend ASU Cronkite. She plans to leave her comfort zone and maybe become a news broadcaster for CNN, Fox News, and any similar news channel. Getting to know Elena, I decided to ask how her high school experience has been for her so far. She explains high school for her has been ‘like a wave’ or in other words like a roller coaster. She says she’s been ‘going with the wave’ of things throughout high school. Between Freshman and Junior year, she says how there has been a big change in her mindset; way of thinking, and maturity. She has learned how to procrastinate less and become more social. Talk to people more and become more comfortable talking to them. In becoming more social she decided to join film which she said made her feel like she truly wanted to make some change. Throughout high school, her feelings have changed in seeing how different people can consider their feelings rather than yours. On a more serious note, though 16 years may seem like a short amount of time it can still change your perspectives on many things. I asked Elena, ‘How has your perspective changed in life/ what has changed your perspective?”. Elena said growing up she realized how fast something can change in life. We aren’t promised the same every day. She said her having family issues showed her this, how things can change so fast without you even seeing it. Her perspective also changed in paying more attention to how you view things and how certain things can affect you and your personal or school life. In school, she's seen and got a deeper understanding of how ignorant and selfish people can be when it comes to your feelings, if it doesn’t have much to do with them they may not care as much. Finally, I decided to ask her a fun question. “What is one thing people would be shocked to know about you?”. Elena said she is a big Marvel person. Every time she tells people they’re just a little bit shocked. Her favorite Marvel hero would have to be in between Iron Man and black widow. Elena has such a beautiful personality. If you want to get to know her, it is so worth it.