Faster and cheaper seems to be the theme in retail today. It's unfortunate, but today's society has become accustomed to instant gratification. As the saying goes: Good, Cheap, Fast, only two of those can occur together. Good and cheap will never be fast. Fast and cheap will never be good. Good and fast will NEVER be cheap.
Even as recent as 10 years ago the majority of footwear available in my store was in some way able to be repaired to prolong it's usable life. Since then, each year a greater percentage, nearly nil, have fallen victim to planned obsolescence. The shoe will be out of style in a year or so so why build it to last? When styles change drastically in a matter of months, fashion has become a factor in determining a shoes "usable" life. When will the trend finally buck towards sustainability in footwear again? I see such rhetoric these days about sustainability. Even the largest corporations claim it as their goal. Some of the biggest "greenies" I know still drive throw away cars and wear throw away shoes to the local recycling center.
Maybe I am a little biased watching our shoe repair income drop each year. I am in my mid 30s and don't consider myself old-fashioned but something deep down just tells me that there has to be a balance here. So really the argument comes down to how you view your shoes, as a necessity or an accessory.
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