Intentional Wardrobe
About 2 years ago I purchased a high priced item of clothing and rationalized buying it by calling it an investment. It was the most expensive piece of clothing I have ever purchased but it is also the one that I wear the most. AND I LOVE IT! It’s 100% my style. Buying that piece ignited a change in mindset with how I purchase clothing for myself and for my family.
Last year in July I made a goal to not purchase any new clothes for the rest of the year. This was primarily for me to hone in on pieces/style that I actually love and curate a versatile wardrobe. I found myself wearing the same outfits over and over again without feeling like I needed something new. This also helped me dial down on pieces that I owned but gave no value to me but just took up space in my closet for no reason.
In 2013 I posted on Instagram about a movement that was happening within the fashion industry at large. This movement was after the devastating event in Bangladesh where a garment factory collapsed and killed over 1,100 people. Long story short the workers were forced to return to work despite being aware that the building was unsafe resulting in them being killed. With Bangladesh being the second leading exporter of clothing, producers are pressured from western markets to meet deadlines.
As consumers, we live in a time of “fast fashion”. Although the term is new, the driving principle behind fast fashion has been evolving since the 1800’s. Starting with the invention of the sewing machine, and on to more advanced innovations that have led to mass production — construction of clothing has evolved. I would say that as a society we have benefited from fast fashion, but we can’t deny the cons that have come from it as well. With a consumer base that is all to willing to accept fast fashion, our want for cheap clothing that looks expensive (for a few washes), but costs very little. The push to mass produce clothing at low costs has been rampant. We can’t ignore what happened in Bangladesh in 2013. I think that if we look at it from a different perspective we probably all feel a little bit of responsibility for creating that environment. I’m not here to demonize good looking, affordable clothing, who doesn’t love a great deal, amirght? And I can see the economic benefit of jobs for more people. But my goal is to let you know that I have found a way that works better for me, and not only creates more sustainable jobs, but a more sustainable wardrobe. As consumers we drive the market which has caused a rise in companies that produce clothing faster and more frequently. This demand for more frequent collections at a quicker turnaround has created the trend of disposable fashion. When we buy from these fast fashion companies we understand that the trend isn’t meant to last and therefore the clothes I buy there aren't suppose to either.
The first time I became aware of fast fashion was in 2010 when living in Hawaii as a college student. I would drive or take the bus to Honolulu to shop at this new store called Forever 21. I was always amazed that they would have a new collection every time I went. Then in 2011 I started shopping at Zara (the KING of fast fashion). It amazed me how in less than a week you could go into their store and find similar styles that top designers had just showcased at fashion week. I was reminded of that dreadful event in Bangladesh in 2013. I knew I wanted to change my spending habits but I didn’t think I could afford it.
Fast forward to 2016, well, really to last year when I made the conscious effort to actually act on what I had been ignoring for so long. I don’t have all the money in the world to just go and buy the high priced items that are ethically made, but I could do something. Here are the things that I am doing to be more ethical intentional in my spending habits with clothing.
Talk about it. Read about it. Educating myself and others about the cons of fast fashion is a step in and of itself.
Don’t purchase on an impulse. It’s okay to walk away from the sales rack. It’s not a sale or a good bargain if you aren’t going to wear it. I have SOOOO many clothes that I have bought with tags still on them because they were cheap, or on sale.
If it doesn’t fit right now — DO NOT BUY IT! “This is my motivation dress/pants/shirt". I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made a purchase telling myself that lie.
If you can afford it, make that purchase that is higher quality and ethically made. Especially if you know for sure that it’s something you REALLY want and would wear more than just once or twice. This is a hard one because it does require honesty with yourself. Just because you saw it on someone and they look good in it —is it your style?
Buy second hand. It’s that simple. I have found that second hand stores can be just as expensive as H&M and Forever 21— which can be a downer— BUT the quality is usually a lot higher. It’s worth it.
Donate or sell the clothes that no longer serve you rather than throwing them in the trash.
Figure out your own style and what you like. Just because your favorite influencer has a style that you like, does it mean that it’ll suit you? Refrain from swiping up! Lol I’ve been there.
Consider creating a capsule wardrobe. Look it up if you don’t know what it is. There are so many different ways of going about creating one. Choose which one fits best for you.
Learn basic sewing techniques. I wish I could just sew my own clothes —i’ve tried and ya…i’ll leave it to the professionals. lol But learning basic sewing techniques can help you fix that hem on your favorite piece that keeps falling down. And when you have clothing you love, you will want to fix it and keep it around as long as possible.
Hang dry your clothes and wash them only if they need it. My husband introduced me to this. It’s so basic but it has helped me prolong the life of a lot of my clothes. Drying your clothes in a dryer can create shrinkage and break down the clothes a lot quicker.
This list is just the beginning. And I’m sure a lot of you have things that you are doing and I would love to hear about them! Let me in on what you are doing in the comment section below. I really think it’s time to consider being more intentional of the purchases that we make. I know a lot of us can’t always afford to buy from those brands beyond the “fast fashion” market, but by being conscious of what we buy we can start to make a shift in our personal clothing purchasing habits.
Mandy Hayter @heybw
