I have various styles of dress, depending on the occasion, but I always try to source my clothes in an environmentally responsible manner. I buy most of my clothes from second hand shops - Edinburgh has a great selection of stores selling used clothes to raise money for charity. This is a great way to recycle! Also charity shops in the UK are seeing an increase in custom during the current financial downturn as more people see second hand as a way of saving money (though admittedly some charity shops in Edinburgh are quite expensive when compared to discount retailers!). I always give my clothes back to second hand shops as well, unless they actually fall apart in which case I reuse the fabric to make a purse or something. I buy underwear from the Natural Catalogue, which sells nice organic cotton items. I buy shoes from the high street, good shoes that will last a while (though sometimes fashions mean that good shoes are hard to find!). My favourite pair of boots has lasted so far over five years (probably longer) and has been repaired three times. So whatever I'm wearing, whatever colour it is, it's sure to be green...
My Style for Sunday Scribblings
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20 comments:
CGP: About four times a year, my wife participates in clothing swaps with a loosely organized group of women: kind of a fishes and loaves experience, always way more clothes available than people. Everyone walks away with tons of "new" clothes, absolutely free. What's left over goes straight to the thrift shops.
ah yes murat, clothing swaps are a great idea, I've not done one since i was a student though...
very true, we have purchased clothes still with tags and many others for a great price in thrift shops
Thou art more virtuous than myself, but I do try and certainly wear my clothes to shreds.......
My family does a fair amount of 2nd hand shopping. My mother has pretty much outfitted my daughter since birth through her addiction to 2nd hand shops. It's fantastic. She has excellent taste and the patience to weed through the junk to find the gems. :)
I also tend to make things last, but that's got more to do with never thinking of changing my look than anything. On the plus side, it's a great way to acquire vintage clothing.
I tend to have a clothes shopping spree about once a decade, and then wear them 'til they fall apart.
Good girl!
Unfortunately there aren't many second hand shops over here and most of those sell hideous stuff that smell like old drawers. But I don't buy many clothes anyway and they last me years and years. I'm terribly out of fashion most of time because of that lol
I always give my clothes to our Big Brother/Sister organizations and swap clothes frequently with my daughter. I'm not terribly fashion conscious tending to wear simple classic styles and wearing the clothes till they fall apart.
Wonderful style you have there. So much extra clothing here in the USA! Sometimes thrift shops can't even take any more. Heaps and heaps of clothing and surely there are folks that could use more. I have to say a clothing swap sounds like good fun to me. Your style reminds me:
Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Or do with out
I too buy lots of clothes from UK charity shops. I would like to say I was being environmentally resposible in doing so, but I have to admit that I am interested in one thing only - getting a bargain!
My style definitely derives from what's available in thrift shops. I admire your commitment to green solutions, a goal that Otto and I work toward constantly.
BTW that photo that heads your blog is stunning.
My favourite pair of walking boots lasted me 20 years!
I felt obliged to lend them to someone (given the situation it was the only kind thing to do). Unfortunately my boots didn't forgive my treachery and gave me blisters the next time I wore them! And then the stitching started to come undone... But 20 years was a good run.
I've had my current boots a couple of years but have to keep waterproofing them...
I'll check out the underwear link - sounds interesting. Thanks.
Never the dedicated follower of fashion, I still wear a tee shirt i bought in Newquay, at the '99 Eclipse. Next Eclipse, I'll buy another - perhaps.
I love Edinburgh and have made several happy visits
That's definitely a great style to have. I am definitely trying to find more clothes in second hand shops, but I always donate my old ones.
In our economy I think going to your style will become a fashion trend. A very good thing. GO CRAFTY!
i was broke way before buying at the goodwill got cool,, so i am a seasoned thrifter... i love it,, and cannot imagine why anyone would want to buy new... for petes sake i have no desire to have a piece of clothing that there are 30 of hanging side by side!!!!!
excellent post,, and glad to know you have discovered the joy of recycled clothing!!!!!!
scott, keith - yes, you can find some great bargains in second hand shops
d,moll, anthonynorth, janice, stan - wearing clothes to shreds is also environmentally friendly!
egretsnest - yes sometimes there's a lot of not so good stuff you need to wade through (that's why i don't do jumble sales, they're too much for me!)
devil mood - I have noticed that in some European countries there aren't so many or such good second hand shops as we have in the UK
tammie lee - here too the second hand shops have more stuff than they can sell, its sad to see...
mistlethrush - 20 years is good! I hope my current walking boots will last that long, they should do...
paisley - I've bought second hand clothes since i was a student, i'm lost in department stores...
mspennylane, tammy, grannysmith - thanks
oh would love some such thing here in India, where I can pass on used clothes..probably even buy them
My mum taught us not to throw away clothing, so just like you guys if I don't want an item anymore or does not fit any longer, off it goes to a charity shop or passed on through Freecycle (this goes also for a set of Doc Martens that I thought to be too colourful for me now!). I always look in the charity shops (those that do not support tests on animals only, though) for clothing... most of the times it is a futile exercise, as the stuff they sell does not suit me or is not what I am looking for. However, I have found twice good sweaters that I unravelled to knit new items (in a size that fits me!), which is good :) I used to sew lots of my clothing, but nowadays time is a bit tight and it is easier to take out of the bag knitting needles and a ball of yarn than clearing the kitchen table and taking out the sewing machine to sew something. However, I have arranged a perfect swap with my sister: she (professional seamstresser) will sew me clothing and I knit for her whatever she wants :)
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