To feel so guilty about shopping in primark

[Arkk]

I feel so guilty after shopping in fast fashion shops like primark. I haven’t bought pjs for well over a year so really needed some and ended up in primark as my friend wanted to go in there. I got some lovely pjs really cheap and a few other bits. I start to feel guilty thinking I should have spent a few quid more and bought more ethically. AIBU?

If you can afford it, yes, you should avoid these stores. By using them you are actively supporting exploitation of both people and the environment.
If you can’t afford it there isn’t much you can do. However expensive doesn’t mean ethical!

Go second hand. It's a win win if you're shopping for kids or yourself.

i think Top Shop is particularly unethical , at least so i have been told.

Primark is one of the more ethical chains.
For those who say we should shop differently do you have recommendations?

Yes, where is better to shop then? Never mind telling us all where to avoid, where do you go?

I shop a lot in charity shops, ebay and Facebook marketplace (second hand), a but also during the sale at seasalt (workwear), rapanui and from one-woman sewing businesses. Not at primark price levels, but similar to Next, m&s etc on average. I work in a corporate office based role, so need to dress according to business dresscode.
Kids get stuff from charity shops, ebay and Facebook marketplace (second hand), frugi, kite, picalilly (these in the sale) and eco outfitters. Again, not at primark/supermarket levels, but cheaper than next etc,

As others have said, it’s the whole high street you need to avoid.

I do r buy much in primark but dds do and I can’t get enervated about it.

I don’t have much money and they need clothes and it’s all the bottom end of the high street. New look. Primark. H&M.

@PercyKirke

You are absolutely NOT keeping clothing factory workers from starving by shopping in Primark. Framing it like that is sheer colonial behaviour

It's not "colonial behaviour" (whatever that may mean) it's the way the global economy works.

Yes, and the global economy is based on colonialism.

We do shop for them in topshop and Zara but knickers and T-shirt’s for eg are almost all primark. I can’t afford top end and charity shops where I am rarely have anything they would like or would fit them (I buy there for mysekf)

I've worked in ethical fashion for years and also consulted for Primark, and Primark is definitely one of the better high st retailers. They have a large ethical team working on improving working standards, and as someone else has already mentioned, Primark signed up for the Bangladesh Accord almost immediately, and paid compensation, whereas other retailers (Zara, United Cols of Benetton, GAP) didn't.
I saw a talk with Olivia Firth and Lucy Siegle where they agreed that shopping fast fashion isn't terrible as long as you turn it on its head and make it last a long time. Olivia said she even owned a Primark nightie that's lasted years. So there are definitely worse brands you could be shopping; I'd say don't worry or feel guilty.
Having said that, I try to buy organic cotton and bamboo wherever possible, mainly in the sale, because there are no chemicals in the final product and workers are paid well. I know that's not an option for everyone but check out the sale/clearance of brands like People Tree, Arket, Boody, BAM (and for kids - Mori, Little Green Radicals, Sleep No More). Part of the organic certification ensures the company has similar standards to Fairtrade brands, so the workers are paid fairly and treated well.
H&M have their sustainable range but for a long time they've produced their main range with organic cotton and not even shouted about it. Individual items aren't 'organic' but organic cotton is 50% of their cotton supply chain, possibly more now, as it's years since I've spoken to the GOTS team (Global Organic Textile Standards) about organic cotton trade.
Also look out for companies involved in the HERproject that supports female workers, and BCI (Better Cotton Initiative), as well as Fairtrade or Organic.

You should feel guilty for chucking out pyjamas after only a year.

Do you have a TK Maxx in your town? I shop almost exclusively there, and get good quality clothes at Primark prices.

You should feel worse about working for the Daily Mail.

I look TKMAXX and I don’t think they’re primark prices. More Marks and Sparks/next.

I like the Good on You site - not used it before, but just had a play
they do mark organisations down for using wool or leather, but there's a background explanation to support their rating.

GoodOnYou

They are probably better than a lot of the other cheap shops and some of the more expensive ones, I’m not a Primark clothes shopper But if they sold something I want I would buy it, I buy my coat hangers from there

I bought some Seasalt pyjamas in the sale for about £25 which are excellent quality and will last years, proper price is about £50 which is quite a large outlay though

Good on You is helpful. But second hand where possible. There are a few Instagrammers who do ethical fashion that I follow. I find them helpful too.

i buy cotton duvet covers from primark

@haveagoodyear

Go second hand. It's a win win if you're shopping for kids or yourself.

This is not the catch all. If we all went second hand, how would we all shop then? By shopping second hand, you are relying on others buying new.

Make sure it is your last visit there. What's done is done. I am sure next time if you are shopping with a friend they would respect your decision not to shop there.

I buy mainly second hand but often not the option for my children so I do have to go where I can get the items, school uniform etc, there doesn't seem to be any ethical school uniform suppliers and as a single mum ii have to buy what I can afford.
They both only want 'skinny' trousers and all school trousers seem to be man made fibres.
School sweatshirts which are compulsorily branded with the school badge so I have no choice in those but try to buy used where I can.
My kids are still in primary school and I feel I will struggle to kit them out in second hand when they hit their teens and I worry I won't have the money to keep them feeliing appropriately dressed.
I was dressed awfully at school and terribly bullied.
I will get second hand where possible and the same with school shirts but struggle with the greyness once they've been worn a few times.
I have disabilities so struggle with laundry, separating colours etc iis just a step too far for me.

I genuinely don't know though, if I buy second hand 'fast fashion' am I still generating a desire for those items? Does my interest in those brands mean that the factories make more of those brands because I'm still searching them out and inadvertently being an ambassador for them? Eg when someone says 'that's nice, where's it from?'
Or does me buying 'ethical' such as second hand people tree make a difference?
Despite working, I am poor. The second hand ethical brands cost more than I'd ever consider paying new so my second hand purchases still tend to be high Street stores and catalogue stuff.

It’s all very well to say shop second hand and that works for kids and for older adults, but

We all need knickers and I’m not buying second hand underwear or socks.

And

Teenagers want to look the same as their friends. It’s hard enough being the one who can’t have as many clothes as your friends and has to get free school meals etc - outfits from fast fashion shops are what they want and they need clothes

Also, charity shops vary - the ones in my town are full of tatty primark stuff sold for the same as you could get it new.

@nosswith

Make sure it is your last visit there. What's done is done. I am sure next time if you are shopping with a friend they would respect your decision not to shop there.

no, continue with primark, as said, it has better ethics than many places, and if it is what you can afford, go for it.

Yes second hand can’t work for everything. I have some goat coats from charity shops and ha s bought on eBay too