go green
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Today is Blog Action Day and the theme for this year is the environment.
I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see so many people making small (or big) changes in their day-to-day lives and in their consumption choices. I am old enough to remember (as a child) when “greenies” were in the minority and much maligned. If only the world and it’s leaders had listened back then!
I have been making changes in my life on a more serious level over the last six months or so. Thanks to Wardrobe Refashion, I haven’t bought any new clothes for myself for over four months, and I have enjoyed it so much that I am going to make it an ongoing lifestyle choice. I love love LOVE to look down and notice that every single thing I am wearing (except for underwear and shoes) either came from the op shop (thrift store) or was made by me and my sewing machine.
I remember years and years ago, going second hand shopping meant avoiding the “smelly” old clothes and heading for books and toys only. Yes, there can be a musty smell in some of the shops, but either they have cleaned up or I simply don’t notice it these days because now I am more likely to make a beeline for the clothes first and then the fabric second. I have found some excellent “as new” clothing, Summer and Winter, and all of it cheap.
My 4 year old daughter has her entire Summer wardrobe sorted already (we are still in Spring here in Australia) and ALL of it is from the op shop. Clothes for my 6 year old and 15 year old sons are much harder to find but I pick up things when I see them.
My sister is happy to buy used toys for her child, but she still can’t get over the “old” and “musty” clothes idea and jokingly asks me if what I am wearing came from a dead person. She thinks that I could be wearing something from someone who was murdered, or even that I could be wearing a murderer’s clothes, for instance. My attitude is that it’s much more likely that I am wearing something that someone got too fat or skinny for, got sick of or simply didn’t like.
I like that I am reusing these perfectly good clothes and I like to think that I am doing my part to change things, just a little.
These photos show some of my recent (and favourite) finds - from skirts, pants, dresses, sweaters, fabric (old sheets) and even shoes. And look at it all, in near perfect condition - we all buy too much and throw too much away.
Sure, you’ll have to search hard to find the treasures in amongst the old daggy things but really, the thrill of the chase and the eventual finding of that special item is half the fun of thrift shopping! An added bonus is that you’ll be able to afford to wear things that you never normally would, or to try brands from shops that you wouldn’t normally step inside (because you would prefer chain stores prices to designer boutique prices).
I also find that I am experimenting with wearing new styles and new colours - all because I am spending less than $10 instead of more than $40. Suddenly, I have more options - just so long as you don’t mind a little searching. And remember the golden rule - just because it’s cheap (and second hand) doesn’t mean that you need it! Practice responsible consumption and think: do I really need this?
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Katie Said,
Thursday, October 18, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Hear, hear! I’m doing Wardrobe Refashion, too, and it has made me look at buying clothes so differently. And I’m a perfect example of someone who gives away perfectly good clothes — pants worn just a few times (or in the case of one disastrous impulse shopping trip, not at all!), because they don’t fit anymore (or never did). I’m happy to think of a woman finding a nice piece of clothing that she can feel confident about wearing. And I’ve found some great things with so much character.
I love your ensembles!
christie Said,
Saturday, October 20, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
yea!! i love this post! this is my kind life, i know what you mean about looking down and being proud of what your wearing. we made or bought secondhand most of my kids clothes this year. i love it when people ask where i got their cute clothes….