Fashion: It’s how we express ourselves, how we communicate without saying a word, and—let’s be honest—how we treat ourselves when there’s a sale. But behind every piece of clothing or accessory lies a story, and "Buy Now", the Netflix documentary taking the world by storm, is making us rethink what we’re really buying.
This isn’t just about your clothes—it’s about the entire fashion ecosystem, including those handbags we sling over our shoulders without a second thought. Buy Now forces us to ask: what’s the true cost of fashion, and can our choices actually help the planet?
Fashion Industry's Heavy Luggage
Fashion is often seen as fun, glamorous, and personal, but it’s also one of the most resource-intensive industries in the world. Whether it’s the pair of jeans you live in, the dress you bought for a wedding, or the handbag that holds your entire life (plus snacks), everything has an environmental cost.
Here’s the reality:
- Textiles: Producing materials like polyester or leather involves significant water, energy, and chemicals.
- Production: Most fast-fashion items are made in factories with questionable ethics, where labor laws are minimal, and sustainability isn’t a priority.
- Disposal: The average person throws away over 70 pounds of clothing and accessories each year, with most of it ending up in landfills.
And handbags? They’re not off the hook. Whether made of leather, faux leather, or synthetic blends, most conventional handbags are tied to the same unsustainable processes that plague the rest of the fashion industry.
What Buy Now Gets Right
Buy Now is a wake-up call for anyone who’s ever bought something without thinking about where it came from or where it’ll end up. It sheds light on the environmental and social toll of fast fashion, from water pollution to greenhouse gas emissions and labor exploitation.
The documentary challenges us to look beyond the price tag. Because when you buy that $10 top or $20 handbag, someone, somewhere, is paying the real price—be it factory workers, the environment, or future generations.
But here’s the silver lining: it also shows that better choices are within our reach.
How Handbags and Fashion Can Be Planet-Positive
We believe fashion doesn’t have to harm the planet. It can be beautiful, functional, and sustainable—all at once.
Here’s how we (and other sustainable brands) are making that possible:
- Better Materials
- Conventional Fashion: Think leather, polyester, and PVC—materials that require massive amounts of energy, water, and toxic chemicals to produce.
- The Eco-Friendly Alternative: We use GOTS-certified organic cotton and recycled materials for our handbags. Other brands are exploring plant-based leathers.
- Sustainable Production
- Conventional Fashion: Mass production often prioritizes speed over ethics, relying on exploitative labor and outdated machinery that guzzles resources.
- The Eco-Friendly Alternative: Our factories are powered by renewable energy, operate under ethical labor practices, and use water-efficient processes.
- Circular Thinking
- Conventional Fashion: Most items are made without considering their end-of-life, leading to mountains of waste.
- The Eco-Friendly Alternative: From biodegradable materials to recycling initiatives, sustainable brands are creating products designed for reuse, repair, or safe disposal.
Why Handbags Matter in the Larger Fashion Picture
Handbags are more than just accessories—they’re staples of our daily lives. They travel with us, hold our essentials, and reflect our personal style. But they also embody the broader challenges of the fashion industry:
- Material Impact: A leather handbag requires the resources of livestock farming, tanning, and dyeing—industries notorious for their environmental footprint. Faux leather options, while cruelty-free, are often plastic-based and non-biodegradable.
- Longevity: Many handbags are designed to follow fleeting trends, leading to quick disposal when styles change.
By choosing a sustainable handbag, you’re doing more than making an eco-friendly fashion choice—you’re setting a precedent for how fashion can be reimagined.
Isn’t Doing Nothing Better?
The simplest solution to reducing the impact of fashion is to stop buying altogether. But let’s face it, that’s not realistic for most of us. Fashion is a form of self-expression, and we all need functional pieces—like handbags—to get through our day.
Here’s where conscious consumerism comes in:
- Buying less, but better.
- Investing in timeless, versatile pieces instead of chasing trends.
- Supporting brands that prioritize sustainability and ethics.
Think of it this way: every purchase is a vote for the kind of future you want. When you choose a planet-positive handbag or piece of clothing, you’re voting for a more sustainable fashion industry.
What We Stand For
Our handbags aren’t just functional and stylish—they’re designed with the planet in mind:
- Materials That Matter: From rPET to organic cotton, every material we use is chosen for its low environmental impact.
- Factories You Can Trust: Ethical labor practices and sustainable production processes are at the heart of everything we do.
- Built for Longevity: Our bags are timeless, durable, and designed to last through all your adventures.
When you carry an Ecoright handbag, you’re not just carrying your belongings—you’re carrying your values.
The Fashion Industry Needs a Makeover
Buy Now makes one thing clear: the fashion industry as we know it isn’t sustainable. But with conscious consumerism and brands like Ecoright paving the way, change is possible.
Here’s how you can contribute:
- Choose Quality Over Quantity: Invest in well-made, timeless pieces that you’ll use for years.
- Research Brands: Support companies that prioritize sustainability, ethical practices, and transparency.
- Spread the Word: Share your knowledge with friends and family. Every conversation helps shift the narrative.
Your Handbag as a Statement
Your handbag might seem like a small part of your wardrobe, but it’s a big part of the solution. Every time you choose a sustainable option, you’re helping to reduce waste, cut emissions, and demand better practices from the fashion industry.
Netflix’s Buy Now isn’t just a documentary—it’s a call to action. Let’s answer it by making smarter choices, one handbag (or jacket, or dress) at a time.