Claire Powell

The Downfall of Micro Trends

May 23, 2022 by Claire Powell Leave a Comment

Claire Powell

Staff Writer

As I scroll on my instagram or tik tok, I see a variety of young women pushing a certain type of style. This usually consists of quirky, colorful tops, pants and bikinis. One trend that has been on the rise recently are crocheted shorts and tops. I’ll admit they are super cute and sometimes I have to stop myself from adding to cart. Sometimes these treds last years but recently, these fashion trends are coming and going quickly. As climate change is a major concern with the new generation, we ask ourselves, is it worth it? To have these cheap-made clothes mass produced, and then thrown in our closet and only worn once.

One major brand that falls into this mainstream fast-fashion category is Shein, an affordable online market for womens clothes. When I visit their website, the top of the page reads, “New Arrivals Dropped Daily.” and “New Trends in Clothes. ” I do browse this website quite a bit, just because of the thousands of clothes that are listed as well as the cheap prices. Last time I bought from Shein, the clothes were thin and see-through as well as extremely over packaged, so I choose to never buy from there again. But it’s not just Shein. Stores like ZARA, H&M, Urban Outfitters, American Eagle are all contributing to this climate crisis.

Dana Thomas from NY times says that our clothes will end up as part of the fossil record for future generations. “More than 60 percent of fabric fibers are now synthetics, derived from fossil fuels, so if and when our clothing ends up in a landfill (about 85 percent of textile waste in the United States goes to landfills or is incinerated), it will not decay.” (Thomas) The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions. Along with this, toxic dyes are leaking into our soil, oceans, and other waterways. Just the simple act of washing our clothes leaks tons of microplastics into the ocean. Approximately 500,000 tons of microplastics are distributed into the ocean every year.

One way our generation can combat fast fashion is through thrifting. Shopping at thrift stores is not a new thing at all, but it has become more popular to the younger generations through social media. Personally, I love thrift shopping, it is an affordable way to buy unique clothes that most people don’t have. I would say about half of my closet is from a thrift store because I often find great clothes for super cheap.

As we grow out of our old clothes and out of micro trends, donating or selling these clothes are definitely the most environmentally friendly option. Some consignment shops like Buffalo Exchange or Greene street will even give you cash in return for some clothes, which I think is super cool. I personally love shopping at these stores because they are more affordable and I know I am helping the environment. When I clean out my closet, I always have a donation pile that I choose to take to either store.

This issue has also become more apparent to a lot of SLA students, especially Lucy Silveman, a senior at SLA who created her capstone around the reuse of clothes. Lucy set up three clothing racks in the entrance of SLA filled with clothes donated from other students. I saw many people looking through these racks and picking out great pieces, as well as donating! Our community realized our effect on climate change, and luckily a lot of us are trying to slow it down.

Colliding Schools

January 10, 2022 by Claire Powell Leave a Comment

Claire Powell

Staff Writer

As Science Leadership moved into the building of Ben Franklin High school in 2018, both expected and unexpected difficulties arose. First, dangerous asbestos pushed us out of the building, and then COVID pushed us onto Zoom. .

As SLA spent the majority of the year online, the student body was not able to connect with the students at Ben Franklin. And now, Because of a dividing glass wall that splits the two schools, there is still not much of an opportunity for the two student bodies to interact.

The SLA chapter of the National Honor Society would like to see that change, and discussed the issue at length at their recent meeting..

At the recent NHS meeting, there was a huge urge to make a positive connection with the conjoining of these two schools. Students like Paula Vekker, a senior at SLA, and Vice President of the schools National Honors Society, makes it clear that these schools are very divided.

“I believe the divide between Benjamin Franklin High School and Science Leadership Academy is one rooted within the misunderstandings and stereotypes of each other’s livelihoods, as we have been pinned against each other due to the continuation of a narrative that we are just too different to connect and come together as a whole community,” she stated.

“But class, income, and race will not be the primarily defining fates of our schools’ relationships. As we continue to remind ourselves that each and every student on each side of the wall are human beings with passions and a will to learn.”

In light of a recent event, tensions may be rising. Shortly after 9 am on Thursday december 2nd, both schools went into lockdown. The students were told by principal Lehman that a student from Ben franklin had been arrested for a potential robbery and police were in the building. The lockdown lasted until 11:45, where principal Lehman announced a modified schedule for lunch. Many peers have brought this up as being a Ben Franklin issue. They believe that their students are responsible for the tension that is now current in this building.

Lucy Silverman, treasurer of National Honors Society says, “I think right now we are at an awkward stage. I think that building a relationship with them will take many many years.”

“I have heard some discouraging words and maybe with time, we can reach out more and work on our positive relationship, especially for the grades below us.”

As for potential solutions, Vekker saw the divide as being a practical one.

“SLA and Ben Franklin share no classes together. There is no common space to collaborate and students believe that this is part of the issue.”

Avery Buglione, member of National Honors Society thinks about her time at the old building,

“I honestly think that our relationship has gotten worse since being told by the schools we have to change stairwells because of how the kids are interacting between classes. It’s really sad how far both schools have come just to be what feels like strangers in the same room.”

If these two schools are going to mend their relationship, it needs to start with the administrators, meaning the principals on both sides. Students can only do so much. SLA seniors in the National Honors Society have a plan to create a social atmosphere where the two schools can live in peace and collaboratively work together. We don’t know when this will happen, but it is going to take time. Time is what can mend these kids and these schools.