i. buy less
I definitely think my mentality towards shopping has changed drastically. I no longer shop with the intent of getting the most items for my money, instead I focus on quality. (Not to mention that the above tiny, shared closet is a big motivator!) I also don't find myself "going shopping" without specific goals in mind, which prevents buyer's remorse when unpacking bags at home.
In 2012...I will continue this mentality and now that I have an actual adult paycheck I can focus on quality pieces that will last a lifetime.
ii. avoid chains
I am very proud of myself for not shopping at Walmart, Target, Urban Outfitters, Forever21 etc this past year. The few times I've purchased new items I sought them out at small local boutiques, or sweatshop-free American Apparel. The only new purchases I made from chain stores were: underwear/bras/socks/workout pants which I purchased at Gap and Victoria's Secret. Besides a few gifts from family and friends, I never purchased any clothes with my own money from a chain store (besides those mentioned above!) It was actually not as difficult as I thought and a lot more rewarding to put money into local businesses, or recycling clothes by thrifting! I also was able to discover great companies like Marca Shoes that produces handcrafted gorgeous shoes!
In 2012...I'll continue my avoidance of chain stores and seek out sources for ethical underwear/workout gear. Just because it's harder to find, doesn't mean that it isn't out there!
iii. thrift
The reason avoiding chains has been easier is because I can seek out trendy new-to-me pieces from thrift stores. I can't believe that years ago I thought thrifting was gross and now it's my number one source for clothing, outerwear, shoes, and trendy pieces! You can see one of my thrifting "hauls" pictured above, so much variety in one place!
In 2012...I will definitely continue to frequent my favorite second-hand stores for items, because it feels great to know that I'm not supporting the making of new items that will end up in the garbage, but rather recycling and giving new love to pieces!
iv.
This is a very very grey issue for me lately. I purposefully sought out some basics at American Apparel, because they were sweatshop free and made in the US, and also was delighted to find there is a great section of US-made items at ModCloth and in local boutiques. But I can't really be sure of what the "Made in the US" label means. I've heard rumors that to get that label items just need to have the final stitch or button added on US soil to constitute having that label, and that makes me uncomfortable if people are getting exploited and I'm actually a part of that system.
In 2012...I'm going to try and focus on ethical clothing that is sweatshop free and handcrafted. It's better to buy handmade shoes by Colombian cobblers, and woven tops from Ethiopian weavers, then to get a top from ModCloth that says Made in the US but offers no other background. I am also FINALLY going to read the book pictured above (that I got last Christmas) to help educate myself on ethical shopping.
Last year I had very lofty dreams of turning Lizzypunch into your first stop when looking for ethical shopping. But as we can see by my recent track record of not blogging, that didn't really happen. Maybe 2012 is the year I can truly focus on highlighting ethical, indie, eco-friendly, sweatshop-free clothing and accessories. I said I would share books, articles, and websites of ethical resources, but I didn't follow through, so that is my biggest resolution for 2012!!
0 comments:
Post a Comment
I really appreciate your comments! I try to reply to each one either through e-mail or by leaving a comment on your blog! Sometimes I get a little behind but nevertheless all your words make me smile! Thanks!