Every year, Black Friday is gaining momentum, turning the end of November into a period of large-scale shopping. However, behind the huge discounts offered by most brands these days, there is often something else.
So, today we invite you to learn all about the Black Friday tradition and decide for yourself whether it's worth participating in it.
When did Black Friday appear and why was it named so?
Black Friday dates back to around the 1960s, when stores in several states across the United States announced big discounts right after Thanksgiving. Their goal was to sell slow-moving goods and move from “red” losses to “black” profits. (These terms in quotes come from the widely accepted accounting system of that time, where “red” was used to indicate losses and “black” - profits). This is only one of the versions of the origin of the name of this day.
According to another version, Friday was called “black” because of the crowds that surrounded the stores before they opened. Wanting to buy things with a discount -80% or even -90%, there was a real collapse on the roads and streets that even the police could not cope with. It was they who called this day “black”.
Of course, when you see such colossal sales prices, the question in your mind is: “How can I resist buying something?” Store owners around the world quickly realized their benefits and picked up this emerging tradition. That's why we can now observe that Black Friday is held in almost any part of the world.
Interesting facts about Black Friday
- In some US states, Black Friday is an official holiday.
- Chinese merchants have also adopted the Black Friday idea, but discounts on their goods begin on November 11, the national Bachelor's Day.
- Every year, nearly 140 million people participate in Black Friday shopping.
- In 2006, in the United States, seven people died and 98 others were seriously injured in the Black Friday stampede. According to statistics, this is more than the annual average number of shark attacks.
- Most Black Friday shoppers are widows or divorced women (about 65%).
What is wrong with Black Friday?
Despite the magnetism of discounts, this day has its negative aspects. The main ones are as follows:
- Overproduction and resource depletion
The demand for big discounts stimulates overproduction of goods, which often does not meet real needs. This leads to the inefficient use of natural resources and subsequently to landfill overload when brands utilize unwanted stuff.
- Increase in the amount of waste
Often, goods purchased at special prices quickly lose their emotional value for the buyer. People buy items that they rarely use or throw away quickly. In addition to the product itself, they also get rid of its packaging, which causes irreparable damage to the environment.
- Greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation
Intensive production of goods and their transportation during Black Friday significantly increases carbon emissions into the atmosphere. As a result, the burden on the environment increases, contributing to global warming.
- Stimulation of consumer culture
Black Friday popularizes the idea of “buy now, think later,” which leads to impulsive purchases. Tempted by discounts, people buy goods that they might ignore on a normal day. This culture of consumption promotes unnecessary expenses and creates a habit of buying for pleasure rather than need.
Orxata's point of view
We always advocate conscious consumption. For us, transparency is not a trend — it’s a principle we build everything on.
That’s why at Orxata, we don’t offer Black Friday discounts — and we have one simple reason for it. To “cut” the price by at least 30%, you first need to mark it up high enough to make that discount possible. We don’t consider this approach fair — and we choose not to take part in it.
Our pricing is intentionally honest, with minimal margins that allow us to create complex, engineering-inspired designs while remaining accessible. And this principle applies every single day of the year, not just when the calendar turns to late November. We believe that the modern approach is transparency and mindful consumption, not seasonal blowout sales.
Instead, we offer a warm welcome discount for new subscribers on our website, as well as personal offers for our loyal clients. For us, this is a healthier and more sustainable way to build long-term relationships — without pressure, hype, or artificial urgency.
Ready to explore pieces that stay honest all year long? Discover our collections.
