Why Am I Wearing Shorts in November?

By Megan Gauthier | Graphics by Gianna Claus | Photos by Olivia Mauldin |

Each year, bold souls choose to brave the Chicago winter in shorts. Whether the choice is made to exercise free will, commit to an outfit, or simply honor secondhand nature, it cannot be ignored that climate change is blurring the lines of seasonal wardrobe. As Chicago’s November temperatures rise each year, so does the trend of wearing shorts deeper into the ‘colder’ months. 

With synthetic, flimsy materials suited for warmer weather, fast fashion seems to benefit from the maintenance of summer trends into the winter months. As the rapid textile sector accounts for up to 10 percent of global carbon emissions and reaches record breaking revenues each year, the necessity for shorts in November may exacerbate global warming in increased textile consumption. 

Fast fashion not only leaves a significant environmental footprint during production, but also fails to address the end-of-life phase of clothing, contributing to record-high levels of textile waste. Then, landfills become ever-crowded with synthetic-chemical-ridden articles, keen at polluting local water sources and depleting the land in which they litter. 

So, in deciding your November outfits, be sure to direct your purchasing power to sustainable, slower textile sectors. Recognizing the global impact of your fashion choices opens the door to addressing climate-harming overconsumption trends. A common sentiment within sustainability-focused communities is that individual actions seem insignificant. However, these small efforts collectively build momentum, driving the movement toward an environmentally just future.