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Photographed by Hadley Carey’24 Featuring Arthur Fink’24
Photographed by Hadley Carey’24 Featuring Arthur Fink’24
From Dance to Dump: Fashion Consumerism at Deerfield
Let's dance to new tune: dump fast fashion and step towards sustainable spending.
By Charlotte Halpin ’23
Edited by Olivia Hohmann ’24
Reporting on the horrors behind the seams of the fast fashion industry are not new; we’re all familiar with stories of child labor and poor working conditions in sweatshops, and the environmental pollution it causes on a global scale. Despite knowing that fashion destroys individual lives and the globe, we still dance to “Timber” by Ke$ha in clothes from Amazon (of course, we ordered multiple outfits last-minute just to make sure at least one came in time) and chuck them in the landfill bin the next morning without a second thought. However, the consumerist nature of dance attire leaves a huge social and ecological footprint that we must work to reduce. When it’s time to disco, students search for silver skirts and neon tops, and for plaid flannels and cowboy boots before Throwdown. With its seemingly endless options at cheap prices and fast shipping, Amazon is the most popular platform. However, the site’s affordability and convenience come at a steep price that is paid by unprotected young workers in deep poverty.
An October 2019 Wall Street Journal investigation revealed that Amazon’s supply chains involve dozens of Bangladeshi factories that most
leading retailers such as H&M and Nike banned after the 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which killed 1,138 people and injured over 2,500 (The Wall Street Journal, “Amazon Sells Clothes from Factories other Retailers Blacklist,” 2019). Despite the dangers to underprivileged workers, Amazon continues to source clothing from blacklisted factories where conditions have not improved in the decade since the collapse. According to Earth.org, laborers in Bangladesh spend 14 to 16 hour workdays stitching shirts in “poor, unhygienic and unsafe” conditions (such as being exposed to harmful substances without enough ventilation) with little legal protection from the government. Protesters are often punished with dismissal from their jobs. Cheap clothing on Amazon is made by cheap labor, which comes at the expense of real people.
The environmental cost is also significant. Fast fashion is responsible for 10% of yearly global carbon emissions, more than international flights and shipping combined. In a March 25th article, the UN
reports that the industry also uses around 93 billion cubic meters of water per year. (Columbia Climate School, “Why Fashion Needs to be More Sustainable,” 2021) Additionally, fast fashion clothing is made using plastic microfibres such as polyester, nylon and spandex, which take up to 500 years to fully decompose. This means the remains of the sequined top you wore to disco this fall could still be circling the oceans in 2523. When the clothes’ poisonous dyes and chemicals enter the food chain, they can cause digestive problems, skin irritation and multitudes of other health problems. The poor quality of fast fashion clothes only increases the ecological damage; the thin fabrics, weak seams, and subpar construction make it easier for consumers like us to throw them away without much regret, perpetuating the cycle of fast consumption.
So the next time you are preparing for a dance, whether that be Throwdown or Junior Prom, stop before clicking on Amazon, Princess Polly, or Zara. Ask your proctors or other upperclassmen if they have items from years past that you could borrow, or if anyone else has any extra pieces. If you can’t source from within Deerfield, try online thrifting at stores like Depop, Poshmark, thredUP, and Vestiaire Collective. Turn to fast fashion only if all these options fail, but I would bet a pink cowboy hat that you can find something cute and cheap second-hand. The best part is that you do not have to fund the exploitation of a teen or fuel climate change to look hot on the dance floor.
Works Cited
“Amazon Sells Clothes From Factories Other Retailers Blacklist.” The Wall Street Journal, 23 October 2019, https:// www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-sells-clothes-from-factoriesother-retailers-shun-as-dangerous-11571845003. Accessed 22 May 2023.
Cho, Renee. “Why Fashion Needs to Be More Sustainable.” State of the Planet, 10 June 2021, https:// news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/06/10/why-fashion-needs-tobe-more-sustainable/. Accessed 22 May 2023.
Photo credits: Hasini Pundla’24 Mia Senturk’24 And Campbell Fealy’24
“The jersey is second hand. It’s an actual jersey that the Olympic Rwandan soccer team used for the Tokyo Olympics. My dad gave it to me this past summer, and that’s why it’s important to me.”
- Songa Rwamucyo’23
Photographed by Sophia Burke’23 Featuring Song Rwamucyo’23
Photographed by Sophia Burke’23 Featuring Song Rwamucyo’23
Dress Up, Dress Down: Weekend Wear
Deerfield’s formal attire may influence fashion choices past the weekdays and inadvertently inspire ultra-casual weekend wear
Though Deerfield’s dress code has become more open to student interpretation, it remains rooted in the goal of promoting formality and presentability in attire. Specifically, the formal dress code is a defining characteristic of Deerfield’s professional academic environment during the fall and the spring. While the extent of dress code stringency is up for debate, it does ensure that students are tidily dressed for class. I have noticed that this relative formality in dress code, however, invites stark contrasts in weekend wear.
My observations of friends from other high schools, both from home or other peer boarding schools, have yielded the same impression– weekends are often a chance for students to dress up and showcase their personal style. The opposite is true at Deerfield; weekend wear typically consists of hoodies, sweatpants, crewnecks, and t-shirts. It is rare to find a student rocking a pair of jeans, trousers, or a nice blouse on the weekend. And, in the case they do, the natural assumption is that the student had just returned from an off-campus obligation where dress-up was necessary.
The reason for this contradistinction is easy to identify. By logical inference, the strict dress code during the academic week compels students to seek a break from the formality, making comfortable clothing all the more appealing on the weekends. In fact, if we had a looser dress code, I would imagine weekend wear might present itself differently than our current standard.
However, Deerfield students’ spirits to fashion are not diminished by ultra-casual weekend wear. In fact, the assortment of lounge wear, oversized shirts, and tailored sweatpants is so diverse in stylistic influences and personalizations that some Instagram accounts have sprung up to spotlight it.
When I asked a student behind one of the accounts about the page’s rationale, they mentioned, “I created this account in order to open up a space where so-called ‘calm-drip’ or more relaxed outfits could be showcased in similar manner to the class dress featured on other accounts.”
While the weekend clothing norms between Deerfield and other high schools are striking, they reveal a deeper truth about the role of clothing in self-expression. Even when our outfits are considered “pajamas” in other contexts, weekend wear at Deerfield is a means of expressing one’s style and personality organically. As the aforementioned interviewee added, “Without tags and posed photos, [redacted] account aims to veer away from emphasizing brand names, and encourage students to embrace their weekend wear and personal comfort preferences.” By celebrating relaxed attire during the weekends, Deerfield students assert their individuality and step away from the rigors of academic life.
Written by: Ashley LaBrucherie
Edited by: Iris Wong
Photographed by Margaret Melnik’24 Featuring Amelia Goetzke’24
Photographed by Margaret Melnik’24 Featuring Amelia Goetzke’24
DA ily Style
By: Zoe Gavros
Everyday outfits cumulate into expressive styles that are unique to every Deerfield student. Led by Zoe Gavros ’23, BeyondTheValley’s Daily Style feature has captured an array of weekday stylistic choices.
Photographed by Adaugo Nwaokoro’24 Featuring Miu Tatsuka’24
Photographed by Adaugo Nwaokoro’24 Featuring Miu Tatsuka’24
“Lottery Love” Creator Spotlight: Hawk Okpokwasili’25
By Osegie Osayimwen ’23 | Edited by Iris Wong ’23
Get lucky in love and style with Lottery Love: where fashion is your winning ticket! Sophomore Hawk Okpokwasili ’25 sat down with Beyond the Valley to share more about his clothing brand Lottery Love. Inspired by the concept of love by chance, he hopes his work inspires people to take a moment and be thankful for the relationships they have as it all happens for a reason.
Some of this interview’s quotes and contents have been slightly edited and redacted for clarity and concision.*
OO: “Hawk, introduce yourself.”
HO: “Hi, I’m Hawk Okpokwasili, I’m a sophomore.”
OO: “Thanks, Hawk. Can you first introduce your brand and talk about what inspired you to create it?”
HO: “My brand is named Lottery Love. The name is based on the idea of “love by chance,” that love is a gamble sometimes, and also the question “What are you willing to risk for love?” In terms of what inspired me to create it, I’ve always been a creative kid, I just never really knew what I wanted to put my creative mind towards, because it wasn’t painting, drawing, or anything like that. I’ve always been very thoughtful about what I wear, so I wanted to think of a brand where I could create clothes that I would want to rock.”
OO: “You speak about the brand being centered around this idea of “love by chance,” so are you talking about romantic love?”
HO: “I guess you could say that. Romantic love, for sure. But, honestly, not only romantic love. We love between friends, family; sometimes you just run into people and you form relationships way deeper than you ever thought you could form. And those always happen for a reason—there’s a reason for everything, and these always happen by chance.
OO: “Yeah, I’ve thought about stuff similar to that as well. All your friends, all your relationships, are all just a product of proximity, whether that be your school, the place you live, or whatever. Statistically, it’s very improbable that you would have ever met that person, so you do kind of have to get lucky.”
HO: “Exactly.”
OO: “The message of your brand, why did it resonate with you so strongly to create a brand based off of it?”
HO: “ everyone needs to be reminded that they should be grateful for the people that they have in their lives, because it’s really all a result of chance. things that you could
have done in your life differently that would’ve changed your path and those relationships could’ve never formed. And, at the same time, even though it’s by chance, it’s also by no coincidence.”
OO: “What do you mean by that?”
HO: “What I mean is that everything happens for a reason. So the events leading up to it, the fact it’s by chance, it’s for a reason, it’s not a coincidence.”
OO: “So, given the statistical improbability that said relationship would have ever formed, the relationship occurring in itself means that it was truly meant to be?”
HO: “Yes, exactly.”
OO: “Why is fashion a big part of your life?”
HO: “Fashion is a big part of my life because it's a way for me to express myself without really saying anything. can wear something a little out of the ordinary to be bold, and the people who understand fashion can look at you and see what you’re trying to express through what you wear. And, it’s also a way to differentiate yourself from the others around you. Being bold in your fashion choices, not really caring what others think except yourself, it’s a good thing. Just like in life, you might be scared to do certain things because you're afraid of what other people think, but you shouldn't—just be you and commit to doing what you want to do. So I think fashion really teaches you a very valuable life lesson, which is to be you regardless of what others say or think.”
OO: “What age did you start getting into fashion?”
Photographed by Ana Holmes’23 Featuring Hawk Okpokwasili’25
into my clothing. And, of course, it’s evolved and gotten to a more sophisticated place since then, but it really started summer before freshman year.”
OO: “What are your goals for your brand?”
HO: “I want to expand the brand. I want to make enough profit from selling t-shirts that I can move to bigger things like hoodies and jackets. Also, instead of just making graphics [t-shirts], I want to start making more unique pieces. I want to get to a point where I’m making stuff that’s out of the ordinary.”
OO: “Like some MSCHF boots type of stuff?”
HO: “Yeah, almost like some Foam Runner type of stuff. Stuff that people see and they’re kind of like, “What the f*ck is he wearing?”
OO: “What have been the biggest challenges of founding your brand?”
HO: “I'd say just commitment honestly. Of course, you're going to be a little afraid to start thinking, ‘What if I don’t get enough sales,’ and this and that. But, you just got to start and build yourself a foundation. Of course, you're going to start and you're going to lose money. It costs money to get a Shopify account, it costs money to get samples, it costs money to access platforms to draw designs, but you gotta bet on yourself and just go for it really—because if you don't go for it now, you might regret not going for it later. But, if you really just commit to it, then you're gonna get that money back in no time. And, since I’m 18, I had to create my Shopify account with my dad’s information, and I had to converse with him too about my plan for the brand. However, I will say, it’s definitely been all worth it, and I’m glad I took the risk.”
OO: “What has been the biggest triumph in the founding of your brand?”
HO: “First two days, I did $500 in sales [of the t-shirts]. The numbers surprised me—I was expecting less. But, it was very satisfying and motivated me to continue doing what I’m doing. So, I came out with about $200 in profit, which is all going to go towards samples and designs.”
OO: “How would you describe your own personal style?”
HO: “I’d say mostly streetwear, [dressing] pretty boldly. A little sophisticated.”
OO: “In your opinion, who in the Deerfield community has commendable fashion sense and style?”
HO: “I’d say Josephine [Louis] ‘23. She has some really good style that you don’t see a lot of people wearing, and you can tell she puts serious thought into her clothing. I’d also say Osegie [Osayimwen] ‘23, Tom Spater ‘23, Songa [Rwamcuyo ‘23], and Campbell [Fealy] ‘24. Oh, and Kiefer Ebling ‘25, he’s definitely up there in the sophomore class.”
OO: “Hawk, who’s your biggest fashion inspiration?”
HO: “Myself. Kidding—I’d probably say Shai Gilgeous-Alexander [an NBA player for the Oklahoma City Thunder]. Even though I don’t dress exactly like him, I get inspiration from his boldness, doing things other people won’t do. He’s not afraid to be different, despite knowing a lot of eyes will be on him. And, with the way Shai dresses, I think it’s important to note there’s a difference between dressing differently for the sake of dressing differently, and dressing differently because of who you are and how you express yourself. Shai does the latter. If you can set yourself apart and be unique from others for yourself, that’s when you’re actually different.”
OO; “Do you consider yourself different?
HO: “I do consider myself different, in a multitude of ways. Not just my brand, but the way I carry myself, what I do, the activities I pursue. Me as a person, as a character, I consider myself unique. I think everyone should consider themselves unique as well, because there’s only one you.”
OO: “Last question—what role do you think fashion will play in your future, at Deerfield and beyond?”
HO: “I want to start my own club based on clothing entrepreneurship, I want to be a part of BeyondTheValley as well. But, I’m just trying to take it how it goes, and just seeing where that takes me. I know everything happens for a reason, and what happens will happen.”
Note: Any opinions and statements shared are attributed to individuals and do not represent those of BeyondTheValley unless explicitly stated.
Photographed by Ana Holmes’23 Featuring Hawk Okpokwasili’25
Photographed by Lila Church’25 Featuring Anna Ogborne’25 and Campbell Krotee’25
Photographed by Olivia Waterfall’23
Featuring Joe Brown’23 And Tom Spater’23
SANDALS You Need for Spring
By: Caroline Weller ‘23
After a long, gray winter, it is finally warming up here in Deerfield! While you will definitely not find me lazing by the river just yet, the sun is definitely shining, the birds are chirping, and the flowers are blooming. Even on the colder, New England spring days that are all too familiar, campus looks just a little bit brighter with the Deerfield community back in class dress. While the cozy sweatpants for Winter were essential, I find that class dress gives me and my peers more opportunities to express ourselves through our fashion choices. Although, while the Deerfield community is very stylish, I have not experienced a limited amount of discussion around shoe pairings to ones outfit, which as any true fashion fan would know, is a key factor to any outfit.
The snow has clearly melted and I hope that by now, everyone has shelved the short Uggs and fuzzy slippers that dominated Deerfield’s feet the winter. I would recommend booking a pedicure because we are finally entering sandal season. I love a classic black or white sandal that can be paired with any ensemble. However, there are so many trendy, fun sandals available that are so much fun to shop for. Here are a few of my top pics for fun sandals this spring to adorn your toes in class, spectating games, or lounging by the river on a Saturday afternoon.
Fun
Arizona Love, the brand producing these fun and floral sandals, become an internet sensation. Located in Paris, they use recycled fabrics and are known for their bandana tied sandals. However, I thought this fabric embodied spring even more perfectly with its feminine, floral print, with a bit of Y2k flare with the chunky foam platform.
Are you looking for a way to look a bit more put together in a hurry? Trade flops for these glossy hot pink slides from Sam Edelman. The combination of the color and the jelly material of these sandals reinvent the classic style to be a bit more fun and eccentric.
Another perfect example of a vibrant color putting a fun twist on a classic style. These are also super easy to slip on when you wake up late after a night of studying!
Throw out your shower shoes and trade it in for these adorable pink are everything! Honestly, I would wear these everyday with if I could. This high-fashion twist on your typical flip flop will keep your footwear game as elevated as ever. These sandals can be worn in the summer not only at the beach, but also with dresses and
skirts for a fun, daytime look.
I love these dainty, lace-up sandals. The thin straps around the ankle adorned with the ornate star details are feminine with a bit of an edge. They are also very versatile and can be thrown on with virtually any outfit. The stars on these sandals add a cool touch to the timeless, gladiator sandal style.
These green sandals are adorable! The design is very classic and sophisticated, while the pop of green adds a playfulness perfect for spring and summer. They’re also a great way to show some school spirit while in class dress and throughout the school day!
These sandals look a lot like the Dior Act without the price tag! Chunky sandals are back and better ever, and these ASOS ones are perfect if you are looking to hop on the oversized footwear bandwagon. While the colors are classic, these are a bit more difficult to style with their modern design and we would be excited to see your take Deerfield!
That’s it from me this time Deerfield. While you may not see me sporting the shoes on this list, you will definitely see me walking to class in many a pair of sandals this spring. I encourage you all to do the same and hope to see a few of these pairs on our instagram or on the paths in the coming weeks! Instagram
Photographed by Olivia Waterfall’23 Featuring Chigozie Oge-Evans’23 And Joesephine Louis’23
Photographed by Olivia Waterfall’23 Featuring Chigozie Oge-Evans’23 And Joesephine Louis’23
Photographed by Olivia Waterfall’23 Featuring Chigozie Oge-Evans’23 And Joesephine Louis’23
