RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Fast fashion and overconsumption are driving environmental waste and labor exploitation at unprecedented levels. But two women from Nevada are fighting back—pushing for a more thoughtful approach to shopping that puts people and the planet first.
Cluttered homes, overflowing landfills, and garment workers paid pennies on the dollar—this is the price we’re paying for the culture of consumerism. But there’s hope, and some people are actively challenging these unsustainable trends.
“I’m passionate about saving the planet, one house at a time,” says Jasmine Cividino, owner of Upside Tidying, a business inspired by the Marie Kondo method. While Cividino helps her clients declutter their homes, her mission extends beyond organization—it’s about breaking the cycle of excess consumption.
“It takes so much work to buy all this stuff, consume it, and then, you don’t even love it anymore. And where does it go? Is it going to the thrift store, or is it just going to the dump,?” asks Cividino.
For Cividino, the key is awareness. When people recognize the impact of their habits, they’re more likely to make lasting changes in how they shop and consume. She recalls a client who was repeatedly buying backstock of dog food without realizing she had plenty already.
“That is a very common thing I’ve noticed with clients. So, you’re going to save more money and have more free time,” said Cividno.
Cividino’s advice for buying less? It’s simple: “You can shop and still be into fashion, but you don’t have to buy fast fashion.”
This philosophy resonates with Ali Conway, the founder of Strange Bikinis, a slow-fashion swimwear brand. Conway has spent years working for Patagonia, and now her own brand produces swimsuits designed to last—while ensuring ethical treatment for the people making them.
“Do people know how much work goes into making a t-shirt? So much! So if you’re buying a t-shirt for $8, somebody didn’t get paid,” Conway says, highlighting the harsh reality behind cheap, mass-produced garments.
Unlike fast-fashion giants that release new collections every few weeks, Conway focuses on small, thoughtful collections each season. She even repurposes unsold garments to create new designs, helping reduce waste.
“When you produce your own things, you have to hit a certain quota for sizes,” Conway explains. “If I want to offer larger sizes, I often don’t sell them, so I sew them down to smaller sizes. I try to have zero bikini waste at the end of the year.”
Conway also encourages customers to avoid mass-market retailers and support small businesses or thrift stores instead. “Our landfills are filling up, and I just feel like I have to do my part,” she says.
While the issues of fast fashion and cluttered homes may seem personal, their impact is global. Experts agree that small, mindful changes—such as shopping secondhand, investing in quality products, and simply being more conscious of consumption—can help break the cycle of overconsumption.
Both Cividino and Conway emphasize that they’re not trying to stop people from shopping altogether. Rather, they want to inspire consumers to think twice before making a purchase, helping create a future where consumption aligns with sustainability and fairness.
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