| Before COVID-19, Stephanie A.*, a corporate lawyer from Washington, DC, considered herself an impulse shopper. Her office was located close to the city’s premiere shopping district and she often found herself popping into H&M or Ann Taylor to browse for clothes, leaving with a new, office-appropriate skirt or dress. But after five months of stay-at-home orders, A. has successfully reigned in her spontaneous approach to shopping. Not only does she no longer have the temptation of stores beckoning on her way home from work, A.’s mother passed away in April due to COVID, which caused her to seriously reflect on her life. “It made me realize that my impulse buying was me trying to find some kind of joy or happiness whereas now, I feel, what do clothes even matter when we’re surrounded by death all the time?” In fact, “do as little harm as possible” has emerged as a crucial guiding principle since COVID-19 appeared. From wearing face masks to prevent the transmission of infectious droplets to protesting against the disproportionate number of Black people killed by the police, we’re currently living through a moment in history where it’s of utmost importance to consider how one’s own actions affect those around us. This moment of dual pandemics—COVID-19 and anti-Black racism—has made many consumers more mindful of how their purchases align with their values. |
