By Madeline Bates
Mail

A local fashion expert says the low price and poor quality of some clothing lines create a mindset that leads consumers to believe that the items are disposable, creating thousands of pounds of waste every year.

“Fashion is one of the biggest culprits of ruining the planet,” said Angela Johnson, CEO of Tempe’s FABRIC Incubator. “It’s an urgent problem that needs to be fixed, and it really comes down to the consumer.”

FABRIC is a nonprofit in Tempe that helps students design and develop their own fashion brand using sustainable practices and find a niche in the fashion industry.

Arizona State University has over 50,000 in-person students and over 5,300 who participate in Greek Life. Many of these events have themes that require specific garments that are often only used one time.

Johnson says that this has become a trend around the world and that consumers will often only keep something for six months to a year before giving it away or discarding it.

Having a brick-and-mortar location is better than an online-only model, as it cuts down on fossil fuels as fewer packages are sent and allows consumers to touch and feel the product before committing to it, she said.

Johnson said the most sustainable shopping options often come with a bigger price tag, and while many consumers can only afford to buy from certain brands, they can still change habits in order to shop more sustainably.

“We used to pay $2 for a hamburger, and now we pay $20 for one. That’s because we care about the cow, we care about the restaurant owner, we care about how it got there and we have to wrap our brains around that because the fashion industry is the same way,” she said.

Johnson says that trends often drive the market and create a culture of anxiety around finding the next new trend.

For consumers looking for better shopping practices, Johnson says that buying local, shopping secondhand, and repairing or repurposing garments is the best way to improve sustainable shopping habits.

“There’s no perfect answer at this point, but thrifting, keeping things in circulation longer as well as buying things only when you need them and from small brands are the best things brands are the best things you can do,” Johnson said.

FABRIC Incubator will also be educating the public about sustainability and shopping at Eco Fashion Week from April 18-25. The event will feature fashion shows, educational opportunities and a clothing swap for those who are looking to refresh their wardrobe.

To learn more visit Eco Fashion Week – FABRIC Incubator.

To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.