People throw away their clothes,
because the price tells them that their shirt is as disposable as a paper cup.
Donate the old + buy the new,
because fast fashion is basically as cheap as buying used clothing at this point.
~Liz Ricketts
^ this contributes to this (via) ^ ^ this contributes to this (via) ^ ^ this contributes to this (via) ^ ^ this contributes to this (via) ^ People throw away their clothes, because the price tells them that their shirt is as disposable as a paper cup. Donate the old + buy the new, because fast fashion is basically as cheap as buying used clothing at this point. ~Liz Ricketts Photos on the left taken at a local thrift shop. Photos on the right via links.
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Consumption is a word that is being misused,
at least when it comes to the fashion industry... because "consumed" means...to use up...to finish something. But those of us who are upper + middle class people in the global north... we're barely wearing our clothes. We are not using them up by any stretch of the imagination. What we purchase is underutilized. We are just wasting the finite resources that are required to make new clothes, and at the same time, we are wasting our money. ~Liz Ricketts
The temperatures are dipping, and I'm experiencing just how cold it's going to be during these colder months where I work. I have only worn my work uniform to work for months + months...and I like it. :)
I've been adding my wool Ibex jacket on colder days lately. It's a good layer to take on + off as needed throughout the day. I think a sweatshirt or two will be nice to have as well. It is very nice to know exactly what I'm going to wear every day. Once I'm dressed, I don't think about my outfit at all. It just works. A few of the ways I've thought through my choices:
Here's what I'm wearing to work five days a week:
I've had most of these pieces for a while + will continue to enjoy wearing them over + over for a long time. Glorious "enough". :) All photos via links. Love, Jane Maybe you've noticed it too. More + more brands are getting into reselling their wares. These brands collect worn items with their own labels on them...give the previous owner a coupon toward a new purchase + resell the used pieces (or use a 3rd party reseller to do so).
I feel like there are a couple of drawbacks to this sort of system. As a seller, the return on my investment would be quite low. I might make more money by selling directly to a buyer on a resale site like Poshmark. But, if convenience is my goal, returning an item for the brand to resell might be worth it. Another drawback to this sort of system is that it takes quality preowned clothing out of the local area. There are lots of benefits to be had from this sort of system. Brands like Patagonia + Ace & Jig might have items repaired if they are in need of it, before reselling. Brands like Eileen Fisher may even cut up + reimagine more damaged pieces. What a great way to keep clothing out of the landfill + in use! A buyer of preworn clothing might find it convenient to have a selection of items in one spot. I might know exactly what size I wear in a certain brand. It might also be quite nice to check if an item I'm shopping for is available in the preowned section before I buy it new. A few brands offering buyback programs + preowned items for resale:
There are a few new ones here...and a few that I'd listed previously have disappeared. It's pretty cool to see more brands recognizing resale as a viable source of revenue...and that's all down to what consumers have signaled to them! So many of us are willing to wear preowned clothing + have the desire to do so! That is really exciting! Hopefully recognition of the value consumers are placing on sustainability will translate into further action...more fair-trade sewing, more deadstock fabric, more recycled natural fibers, more organic cotton, less synthetic fabrics, more localized supply chains, less overproduction. Let's let our favorite brands (+ everyone else's) know what we want! :) Love, Jane Yesterday I walked into work + declared, "It's sweater weather!" Everyone chimed in right away with stories of how they'd excitedly tried on four sweaters in order to choose that day's perfect match...or shared a conversation with someone who dubbed it "swetta wetha". (love)
These are the days when we reach for something already in our own closet or drawer with a smile. We can see what we have as an abundance of choice, and we just might be able to imagine doing that every day...with no longing for more. This has been one of my primary dreams for my own fairdare challenge...because I think the whole thing hinges on grasping the concept of contentment with what I already have. Our clothing creates long shadows...from fiber to spinning to cutting to sewing to dyeing to shop to closet...people are growing or extracting, spinning, cutting, sewing, dyeing, packaging, shipping + delivering each piece...and these people often are not being paid living wages. People + the planet are being subjected to the detriments of pesticides, extraction, transportation emissions, dye runoff, microfiber pollution + landfill dumping. I wish it wasn't so easy for me to ignore all of this. Why should my desire for something new overshadow all of that in my own mind? Right now is a great time to tune in to what feels like "enough". Am I experiencing just so much wonderful choice in my closet as the weather changes? (Which cozy layer do I get to wear today!?) Am I excited to pull on those leggings again or to roll up the long sleeves on that button-up again? Take note. The only thing that wears off is the feeling of newness. These pieces will possess just as much functional goodness three months from now. These realizations can shed some much needed light on the abundance already in our own closets. Let's cultivate intentional contentment...together. :) Love, Jane A few good fair-trade certified things from J.Crew. I'm not always sure how to think about brands that periodically have certain pieces that are made in fair-trade factories. These collections reveal that they obviously know how to source fair-trade manufacturing. I'd like them to make a more universal commitment to paying garment workers fairly. And also...we can let them know that we appreciate the pieces that they are making fair-trade. It is good to see that some of J.Crew's offerings are fair-trade certified. Fingers crossed this is just the beginning.
All images via J.Crew. A few gathered thoughts of my dream autumn wardrobe:
All lovely photos via links. Love, Jane These systems checks give me a chance to reevaluate + adjust the systems I'm using in various areas of my life. Whether or not we consciously choose or construct our systems, we are employing them. And...even carefully constructed systems need maintenance. So, this time, I'm doing a little midsummer check in with my summer wardrobe.
I've tried to spell out my values when it comes to clothing with the fairdare. I value farmers, garment workers + the planet. One of the key ways I address these values is to tune in to "enough" in my closet. Over the years, I've experimented with less in order to find my "enough", and this summer is no different. When I shared what I'm wearing this summer both at work + otherwise, I labeled it as a uniform. But I haven't actually spent much time thinking of it as an experiment in wearing a uniform...and maybe that is to save myself from noticing. :) I have been intrigued by the thought of wearing a uniform, and this little collection of pieces comes pretty close to the concept. What it honestly feels like, however, is that I'm simply wearing what I like. This summer I'm mainly wearing: 5 tees 1 pair of jeans 2 shorts birkenstocks trainers Midsummer thoughts ::
Love, Jane |
on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
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