features dia has greatly increased consumers’ con“Instead of being the ‘small skinny sciousness on several topics. girls’ store, its [Brandy Melville’s] one“You can get viral movements started size-fits-all meaning is that one size fits [on social media], and even raise aware- all the people who matter,” Whitson said. ness,” Bloom said. “We’re way more aware “One size fits the ideal female form, or and there’s much more information out whatever that is.” there.” Singh points out that it is not fair for Yet one of the most popular shops for the store to label something as one-sizeteen girls is Brandy Melville, a clothing fits-all when the policy really excludes a store known for its controversial large percentage of girls. “one size fits all” policy. Despite “Not everyone is built the same the controversy, many of Palo way,” she said. “You know, one size Alto High School’s students doesn’t actually fit all.” choose to shop at Brandy According to Bloom and WhitMelville, choosing to spend son, trends are a strong factor their money in a when it comes to purchasing shop that is critdecisions, demonstrating how icized for a lack places where one spends monof inclusivity. ey can be influenced by the “Not everyone is Recently, current popularity of incluthe brand has sivity and ethicality, even if built the same way, received major it doesn’t affect shoppers you know, one size backlash for directly. its clothing, doesn’t actually fit which mainThe price of produce all.” ly offers exThe impact of — AVANTIKA SINGH, junior tra-small and trends is evident in the small sizes and example of organic prois tailored to duce. Bloom points out fit almost excluthat over time more and sively tall, skinny more Organic produce models. Critics arhas shown up on shelves as gue that this method awareness over environmental isof marketing to a single body type increas- sues mounts and people look for ways to es and amplifies existing body insecurities take action. of patrons and idealizes the “model” body. While buying organic produce has According to sophomore Melissa become a popular method of alleviating Garcia, Brandy Melville’s one-size-fits-all environmental stress, it is also a pricey policy can have serious implications on one: organic products are often anywhere a girl’s self-esteem and promote harmful from 15% to 109% more expensive ways of thinking. than their conventional counterparts, “Girls who don’t fit [Brandy Mel- according to the United States ville’s] standards feel bad about them- Department of Agriculture. selves; they want to change themselves For wealthier Palo Alto resiand sometimes that can be very negative,” dents, however, this barrier Garcia said. “They can go through serious has not impacted buying issues like being anorexic and have health decisions. disorders.” “We live in a Garcia is not the only person to voice wealthy community her concerns regarding Brandy Melville’s where we can buy controversial sizing policy. what we want, Paly Economics teacher Debbie or we can say, Whitson also says that the message the ‘I’m not going to store is sending out to young girls is only buy that,’” Whittargeting a specific kind of body type, son said. “Because thus perpetuating unhealthy expectations ‘that’ has too much regarding the “ideal body.” waste attached to it.”
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For Palo Alto resident and farmers market patron Elizabeth Gibbons, the source of her food is important. “I try and choose organic and sustainable foods as much as possible and I come to this market,” Gibbons said. “This one is a non-profit and very focused on sustainable food and that is why I come here.” Beyond just buying organic, Gibbons tries to purchase locally grown produce. She hopes these choices will help mitigate what she views as her negative impact on the world as a consumer. Another person often spotted at the local farmers market is Paly parent Virginia Rock. Before she heads out to the farmers market, she gathers part of her grocery list from her own garden. Rock constantly questions whether there is a more environmentally friendly alternative to the choices she is making. “I absolutely buy things in disposable items,” Rock said. “I sometimes shop at Costco or I sometimes shop at Trader Joe’s because it’s convenient, even though it’s wrapped in plastic when at the market it would be just in a bin.” Although Rock tries to be conscientious about the choices she makes, she doesn’t limit herself when she really needs something. The choices Rock and count
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