“Threads of Uncertainty: How 2025 Tariff Tensions & Global Conflict Are Shaping Fashion—and Our Feelings”
- Nakia Holliday
- Jul 5
- 3 min read
When Global Shifts Hit Our Closets
Fashion is never just about clothes. It’s about how we express ourselves, how we cope, how we resist—and how we feel.
With the 2025 tariff changes under the Trump administration—particularly the new duties on imported textiles and raw materials—and rising conflict tensions between the U.S. and Iran, we’re not just watching global shifts unfold. We’re wearing them.
At Mood Roc, we’re breaking down how these shifts impact not only what we buy, but how we feel as conscious consumers in a rapidly changing world.
Tariffs, Trade & the Fabric of Fashion
In early 2025, the Trump administration introduced new tariffs on imports from several countries, including China, India, and parts of Southeast Asia—many of which are major players in the global textile and garment trade.
These policy changes are affecting:
Pricing: Expect to see a 10–25% increase in basic goods like activewear, loungewear, and wellness accessories.
Supply Chain Delays: Brands are grappling with material shortages and shipping delays.
Sustainability Setbacks: Smaller ethical brands relying on imported organic fabrics are hit hardest—potentially pushing shoppers back toward fast fashion out of necessity.
Iran Conflict & Emotional Undercurrents
Simultaneously, the growing possibility of U.S. military involvement with Iran has stoked national anxiety. War rhetoric doesn’t just hit headlines—it hits home. For many women, especially those managing families, businesses, or mental health, this manifests as:
Increased financial stress: Fear of recession or inflation makes wellness and style feel like “luxuries.”
Doomscrolling fatigue: Social and emotional burnout can lead to numbness, detachment—or overspending for emotional relief.
Identity conflict: How do we care about fashion in a world on fire?
The Mood-Consumption Loop
Consumer behavior is deeply emotional. Economic uncertainty and political tension often lead to:
Impulse spending (dopamine shopping)
Emotional saving (self-denial, hyper-frugality)
Guilt/shame cycles around consumption
Psychologists call this “retail therapy burnout”—a short-term mood fix that leaves long-term emotional fog.
At Mood Roc, we’re not here to judge your cart. We’re here to help you buy—and live—more mindfully, especially in turbulent times.
Style as Self-Care in Uncertain Times
Here’s how to stay centered and conscious when global instability starts affecting your personal world:
✨ Reframe Fashion as Ritual
Choose fewer pieces, with more intention. Ask: How do I want to feel today? What supports that feeling?
✨ Support Small & Local Brands
If possible, redirect spending toward domestic brands and indie makers. Many are absorbing tariff costs to stay affordable.
✨ Build a “Mood Uniform”
Create 3–5 go-to outfits that help regulate your energy—soft knits, grounding colors, breathable fabrics.
✨ Pause Before You Purchase
Ask: Is this fulfilling a need—or soothing a fear? Both are valid. Just knowing the difference is powerful.
✨ Dress to Anchor, Not Escape
Your clothing can be your armor, your prayer, your reminder: I am still here. I am still soft. I am still strong.
Final Thought: What We Wear, We Feel
Tariffs, war, supply chains—these sound like headlines. However, their impact is evident in your body, budget, and breath.
In uncertain times, dressing well isn't about aesthetics. It's about agency. It’s about choosing softness over fear. Color over chaos. Ritual overreaction.
At Mood Roc, we believe that fashion is an integral part of wellness. And wellness is a form of resistance.
Stay Informed, Stay Grounded
Subscribe to the Mood Roc Newsletter for more reflections, wellness rituals, and community resources that help you live with softness and strength, no matter what the headlines say.
In the storm, be your own sanctuary.
By Nakia Holliday
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