10 Reasons Why I Don't Wear Sneakers
I sincerely hope that some of you will reconsider your sneaker habits after reading this.
Sneakers have been a staple in the world of fashion and sports for over a century. In the early 1900s, sneakers were first introduced as a comfortable and lightweight alternative to traditional shoes. Over the years, the popularity of sneakers has only increased, with the industry now worth billions of dollars.
Sneaker culture has evolved into a global phenomenon, with fans and collectors seeking out rare and limited-edition sneakers. Sneaker conventions, trade shows, and events have become popular gatherings for sneaker enthusiasts to buy, sell, and trade their prized sneakers. Sneaker influencers and bloggers have also emerged, sharing their sneaker collections and reviews online.
But despite their popularity and cultural significance, sneakers have a dark side when it comes to sustainability. From the materials used in their production to the environmental impact of their disposal, there are numerous reasons why sneakers are bad for the planet.
Here are 10 reasons why sneakers might not be as great as we think:
Sneakers are often made from synthetic materials, such as polyester and nylon, which are derived from fossil fuels and do not biodegrade. So basically, your sneakers are made from ancient dinosaurs.
The production of sneakers involves the use of toxic chemicals, such as glues and dyes, which can pollute the air and water. Yum, just what we need, more pollution.
Sneakers are often shipped long distances, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Talk about a carbon footprint!
Sneakers are frequently discarded after only a few months of use, contributing to the problem of waste and litter. Just imagine all those lonely sneakers in landfills, crying out for attention.
Sneakers are often produced in developing countries, where workers may not have access to safe working conditions or fair wages. So you can feel extra guilty while strutting your new kicks.
Sneakers are often made in large quantities, leading to overproduction and unnecessary waste. And we all know how much the fashion industry loves waste.
Sneakers are often packaged in excessive packaging, which adds to the problem of waste and litter. More waste for the win!
Sneakers are often made from non-renewable materials, such as rubber and leather, which are not sustainable. Sorry, Mother Nature.
Sneakers are often sold at high prices, which can make them inaccessible to many people, especially those living in poverty. But hey, at least the rich can feel good about themselves.
Sneakers are often marketed as fashionable and trendy, encouraging people to buy multiple pairs and contributing to the problem of consumerism and waste. Because who needs a functional wardrobe when you can have a closet full of sneakers?
In conclusion, while sneakers may be comfy and fashionable, they are not without their sustainability challenges. From the materials used in their production to their impact on the environment, there are numerous reasons why sneakers might not be as great as we thought. It is important for the sneaker industry to address these challenges and find ways to reduce their impact on the planet. Let's all do our part to make the sneaker world a little bit greener.
Everything you just read was written by AI. You‘ve probably heard about ChatGPT already. It’s an AI that interacts in a conversational way. You can ask it things like ‘write me an essay on the impact Karl Lagerfeld had on the LGBTIQ+ community’ or ‘tell me about the biggest problems of the fashion industry from a garment worker's point of view’. It can write code, too, answer your follow-up questions, reject inappropriate requests, and so on. The most baffling thing for me is that it can do my job so well. For this newsletter, I asked ChatGPT to write me an article with 10 reasons why sneakers are bad from a sustainability point of view with an introduction that contains a few facts about the history of sneakers. Then I asked it to add humor to the whole story and it did it.
If AI can write a clever, humorous, and even sarcastic article with information that at this point should be checked, but is mostly correct, what’s next? Will we need desk journalists ever again? Will we need creative writers, movie makers, designers, developers? This could be the next big revolution and I wonder if I should change careers while I still can and go into the whole bread-making thing I mentioned a few weeks ago. We’ll always need bread. Or will we?
For those who want to know more - weigh in in the comments! Could you tell I didn’t write this? Could AI take your job, too? If AI can give us creative solutions, will we need creative industries ever again?
While I was reading the text it felt a bit cold and un-personal. It lacked some inner perspective and maybe short comments why you actually no longer wear sneakers.
PS. Good writing will always find its way to the readers despite AI.
I couldn’t quite tell but before I finished reading I was contemplating on how to tell you that this wasn’t that great 😅. Its impressive if you want to sound generic, repetitive and tell us what we already know. But creativity and exposure to unique ideas is why AI will always fall short to a good journalist.
Maybe it’s exactly what we need to conquer all the wannabe journalists with poor click bait titles and push people to do better.