fairdare

jo wrote beautifully about the fair dare earlier, and i want to renew my pledge for the warmer wardrobe i'm thinking about now. i've already had the chance to refuse to buy things that are probably not made fairly.  the new collections are coming out in the stores, and boy-oh-boy, those colors are speaking to me.  they promise bare feet, warm breezes, and picnics on big blankets.  i want to support people being treated fairly, so i look and get inspired, and move on.   

we find that warmer temperatures are easier for shopping fair-trade, so i'm going for it…i want to buy nothing but fair-trade.  using what i have is of course the first choice.  i can also mend and remake things.  thrifting comes next, and sewing clothing myself also goes into the mix.  

right from the start, i need a fair dare strategy.  i need to decide what i am going to do before i am faced with temptation to buy something that is not up to standards.  i need to start by looking at what i want, then what i have, and then what i need.  i need to buy only what fits in that "need" category.  this is in keeping with my simple wardrobe desires.  next i need a strategy for when i find myself in the shops.  can i avoid them altogether... or am i going to end up there with friends or while shopping for, say, toilet paper?  what am i going to do?  well, if i already know that i am not going to purchase clothing there, i can just look for inspiration…see what colors catch my eye, what styles excite me, etc.  i will just know that this is not my place to buy, period.  my strategy is to have my decision already made…before i encounter the situation.

then, i can go to the thrift store and shop.  i can browse patterns and the new fabric collections.  i can peruse etsy and the sites i have decided are ripe for the picking.  i don't feel restricted.  i feel free to follow the plan i've already committed to.

i'm taking the fair dare, are you?

love, 
jane