It’s no secret that I love to shop. New styles, colours, fabrics attract me like bees to honey. I’ve realized, though, that there is a point at which you have enough. Yes, I said it. (I believe my husband just fainted.)
This year is going to be the year when I maximize what I have and reduce (ok, I can’t stop) shopping to those essentials that I need or special purchases on my bucket list.
Every year landfills are overrun with cast off clothes. Charities, although appreciative of all donations, are also swamped with no-longer-wanted clothes. As a society, we are addicted to fast fashion – those cheaply made, of-the-moment clothes that only last a few wearings before they’re toast. The cost of those “cheap” clothes is enormous: human, environmental, resource-sucking… we have to stop.
For the last several years, I have stopped buying fast fashion in favour of quality clothing in classic styles that will last. I implore you to do the same. It comes down to a very simple cost-per-wear calculation: well-made clothes that fit are a better buy than fast fashion made of paper-thin fabric that lasts only a couple of wears.
In the next couple of weeks, I will do my semi-annual closet cull. As I edit down to those pieces that I love and wear regularly, and set aside those I no longer cherish, I am going to keep in mind the total cost of clothing purchases. Please consider doing the same. Your bank account, the landfill, and local charities will thank you.
love love this post
i agree 100% to buy quality not quantity–but it has taken me many years to learn this!
not only does it help enviro, but it always saves $$$ in the end!
thanks again
i am sharing this post with my edmonton master composter and recycler friends!
cheers
su 🙂
Thanks! There’s a great book out called Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion – you should check it out. Very enlightening. End to end, cheap fashion has huge human, environmental and economic impacts around the globe.
thanks sue!
will def put this book on my want list @EPL!
all the best in 2014!
less is more
cheers
su 🙂