Whether it be mean-girl energy coming from Irina Solomonova in Season 4 or unnecessary and somewhat alarming lewd comments from Stephen Richardson last season, one thing Love Is Blind has no shortage of is ick-worthy behavior. Season 8 of Netflix’s reality dating show is no exception. Devin Buckley of Love Is Blind Season 8 is a self-described “sneakerhead” who owns over 100 pairs of sneakers. While discussing finances with his fiancée Virginia Miller in Episode 8, Devin said the only thing he splurges on is shoes, admitting that he buys a new pair every couple of months, sometimes two pairs a month.

After Virginia asked how much this hobby of his is going to cost them, Devin priced one of his many pairs at $700. While it’s everyone’s own business how they choose to spend their money, it was hard for me to ignore the blatant overconsumption at the heart of this shoe-collecting habit. Set within a broader context than the show alone, I don’t think Devin’s sneaker collection is quite the flex he thinks it is.

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

Virginia seeing Devin’s shoe collection for the first time brought me back to a moment in Love Is Blind Season 3, when Alexa Alfia admitted to her then-fiancé (now husband) Brennon Lemieux that she never wears the same outfit twice, saying, “I have, like, literally so many clothes,” and “I don’t re-wear outfits.” Alexa faced backlash from fans of the show over this comment – backlash that, so far, Devin doesn’t seem to be facing – with one Redditor writing, “I’m concerned about the environmental impact of this lifestyle choice,” and another writing, “Alexa slays, but can we not glamorize only wearing an outfit once?” Afterward, Alexa defended her statement clarifying that she re-wears her clothes just not the same outfit, but that she relies on fast fashion to support this lifestyle, which fans also called into question.

Overconsumption, particularly that of clothing, has been known to be a significant detriment to the environment. Devin’s shoe-collecting habit falls into this same category, especially when the shoe industry has long been criticized for having poor working conditions and a negative impact on the environment. It seems to me that Devin’s sneaker collection in Love Is Blind Season 8 should be viewed just as critically as Alexa’s burgeoning closet was in Season 3.

Reality Dating Shows and Overconsumption Go Hand-in-Hand

Both Devin and Alexa point to a deeper link between Love Is Blind, overconsumption, and fast fashion. Shein, the Chinese fast fashion conglomerate, partnering with Love Is Blind contestants after they leave the show isn’t uncommon. For example, Jessica Vestal of Season 6 partnered with Shein for the Shein x Jess collection that launched in August 2024. PrettyLittleThing, a UK-based fast fashion retailer, partnered with Jackie Bonds of Love Is Blind Season 4. Fast fashion collaborations are also common with stars from other reality dating shows, like Love Island and Love Island USA.

So, while Devin fully embracing his overconsumption of sneakers isn’t entirely unusual for Love Is Blind, it’s a red flag for me. People on TV, especially on shows as popular as Love Is Blind and Love Island, undoubtedly influence others. It’s time we stop normalizing and glamorizing overconsumption, and I’m looking forward to the day when a Love Is Blind contestant takes this same stance.