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‘Humans eat “human” food’. The same applies to our clothing choices: ‘humans wear “human” clothes’. But what is the ideal diet for humans? And what is the best way for men and women to dress, when you consider the critical question of survival and aesthetics?

Being omnivorous has commonly been defined as a biological need to eat all kinds of food, such as vegetables, fish, and meat. In reality, ‘omnivorism’ is mainly about adapting to the natural environment in order to survive, not overexploiting it to satisfy all your desires.

The impact of consumption on the natural environment

Since the beginning of time, populations living next to a river fished, those living near a forest hunted deer, and those living in the plains gathered fruits and vegetables. Clearly, man’s strength has always been an aptitude to adapt to different natural habitats.

The question that arises today is: what does our natural environment impose on us, here and now? When we look around, we realise that there are far too many of us to hunt or to fish. Fish farming is destroying our rivers and oceans. Intensive farming is ravaging our forests and polluting the air, the land, and the water. The consumerist system is slowly but surely damaging the ecosystems and the diversity of our wildlife and plants.  Although we all depend on nature, we are overexploiting, polluting, and destroying it. The human population consumes our planet’s resources in six months, whence the term ‘Overshoot Day’. So, have we made the same mistake with clothing choices as we have with our diet?

Adapting to today’s natural environment

Apparently, man does not feel a need to adapt to his environment anymore. He wants to dominate and exploit it, but clearly that approach does not work. However, according to Charles Darwin, the species that survive are not the most intelligent ones, but the ones that know how to adapt themselves in the best way possible. Being reasonable and responsible in today’s context means eating food that contributes less to overexploitation and wearing what is already available. Buying second-hand clothing and exchanging eco-responsible clothes and fashion accessories are good ways of doing this. Clothes that have already been made and worn once or twice are often sturdier and last longer than the brand new ones sold in shops. They are also cheaper than the brand new ones, and they can often be more luxurious. The object’s sale price depends on its initial purchase price, brand, and condition, as well as demand. It is still possible to buy new clothes, while making sure that they have been produced in conditions that respect the environment. One of the most effective alternatives is to buy up-cycled, recycled, or plant-based clothing.

Conclusion

Being omnivorous means eating what enables our species to survive. Being ‘fashionivorous’ means wearing clothing that will enable our species to survive. We must not forget the origins of humankind and lose sight of why we are here.

So, have we made the same mistake with clothing choices as we have with our diet?