Whether or not it’s mean-girl vitality coming from Irina Solomonova in Season 4 or pointless and considerably alarming lewd feedback from Stephen Richardson final season, one factor Love Is Blind has no scarcity of is ick-worthy habits. Season 8 of Netflix’s actuality relationship present isn’t any exception. Devin Buckley of Love Is Blind Season 8 is a self-described “sneakerhead” who owns over 100 pairs of sneakers. Whereas discussing funds together with his fiancée Virginia Miller in Episode 8, Devin mentioned the one factor he splurges on is footwear, admitting that he buys a brand new pair each couple of months, typically two pairs a month.

After Virginia requested how a lot this passion of his goes to value them, Devin priced one among his many pairs at $700. Whereas it’s everybody’s personal enterprise how they select to spend their cash, it was exhausting for me to disregard the blatant overconsumption on the coronary heart of this shoe-collecting behavior. Set inside a broader context than the present alone, I don’t suppose Devin’s sneaker assortment is kind of the flex he thinks it’s.

Devin Isn’t the First Individual to Glamorize Overconsumption on ‘Love Is Blind’

Virginia seeing Devin’s shoe assortment for the primary time introduced me again to a second in Love Is Blind Season 3, when Alexa Alfia admitted to her then-fiancé (now husband) Brennon Lemieux that she by no means wears the identical outfit twice, saying, “I’ve, like, actually so many garments,” and “I don’t re-wear outfits.” Alexa confronted backlash from followers of the present over this remark – backlash that, up to now, Devin doesn’t appear to be dealing with – with one Redditor writing, “I’m involved in regards to the environmental impression of this way of life alternative,” and one other writing, “Alexa slays, however can we not glamorize solely carrying an outfit as soon as?” Afterward, Alexa defended her assertion clarifying that she re-wears her garments simply not the identical outfit, however that she depends on quick vogue to help this way of life, which followers additionally referred to as into query.

Overconsumption, notably that of clothes, has been identified to be a big detriment to the atmosphere. Devin’s shoe-collecting behavior falls into this similar class, particularly when the shoe business has lengthy been criticized for having poor working circumstances and a detrimental impression on the atmosphere. It appears to me that Devin’s sneaker assortment in Love Is Blind Season 8 ought to be considered simply as critically as Alexa’s burgeoning closet was in Season 3.

Actuality Relationship Reveals and Overconsumption Go Hand-in-Hand

Each Devin and Alexa level to a deeper hyperlink between Love Is Blind, overconsumption, and quick vogue. Shein, the Chinese language quick vogue conglomerate, partnering with Love Is Blind contestants after they depart the present isn’t unusual. For instance, Jessica Vestal of Season 6 partnered with Shein for the Shein x Jess assortment that launched in August 2024. PrettyLittleThing, a UK-based quick vogue retailer, partnered with Jackie Bonds of Love Is Blind Season 4. Quick vogue collaborations are additionally widespread with stars from different actuality relationship exhibits, like Love Island and Love Island USA.

So, whereas Devin absolutely embracing his overconsumption of sneakers isn’t fully uncommon for Love Is Blind, it’s a pink flag for me. Folks on TV, particularly on exhibits as common as Love Is Blind and Love Island, undoubtedly affect others. It’s time we cease normalizing and glamorizing overconsumption, and I’m trying ahead to the day when a Love Is Blind contestant takes this similar stance.

​​​​​​​Love Is Blind is on the market to stream on Netflix within the U.S.