How to Build a Responsible Wardrobe
And on that note, today I’m showing some items I’ve rented from nuuly.com, and jeans that I’ve had for five years.
What I’m Wearing
- Laila Ruffled Blouse by Maeve via Anthropologie, size 3x. No longer available. Comparable here and here.
- Anthropologie Chestnut Faux Reptile Moto Jacket, size 2x. No longer available. Comparable here and here.
- Midwash Charlotte Russe Refugee Skinny Jeans, size 24 short. No longer available.
- Chestnut Kelly&Katie Jordi loafers via DSW
This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission if you buy something as a result of clicking that link, at no extra cost to you. I appreciate you shopping through my links.
Melissa
Great information and a lot of food for thought! I’ve only just become more mindful of shopping with intent and sustainability. I was a good little mindless consumer that is now trying to change her ways, so I appreciate this series.
Love the jacket, btw.
bettyewp
Before, I never thought about any of this AT ALL. I KNEW there were bad production processes but I just….closed my eyes to that and bought what I wanted. And even now, I’m trying to think of it as baby steps. Since I have so much fast fashion in my closet, one of the best things I can do is WEAR THE HECK OUT OF THOSE PIECES.
Thanks for your nice comment 🙂
Judi DeSouter
When it comes to repurposing textiles, Cripina Ffrench is the master. May I share her sites with your readers? Yeah, thanks, I’ll assume you will say yes. (Be sure to check out her “potholder” rugs. I swear one day I’ll make one.)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Crispinaffrench
https://www.crispina.com/
https://www.instagram.com/crispinaffrench/
bettyewp
Yes! Make a rug! Those are amazing!
jodie filogomo
First, I was being a smart a__ and coming up with a ton of replies after just reading the title…
For examples, I was going to say that I’ve talked to my clothing over and over how they shouldn’t drink and drive.
Let’s just say there is more where that came from…LOL.
I have learned and am at least practicing the not washing my clothes as much .Granted when I was a dentist, that’s a totally different story. You don’t want people’s saliva on things after you get home…you get the picture. But now, I try to air them out and spot clean. Yay for me.
XOOX
Jodie
PS…You know I don’t get your replies. SO if you have something funny that I absolutely need to hear, make sure to email me!!
bettyewp
Ha, that’s funny. I feel like normally *I* would have made some smart-a** remark like that but I was overwrought just by getting that one written.
Sure, any sort of medical uniform is vastly different than someone sitting at a desk all day.
Funny how some people get my replies and others don’t!
Donna
What an adorable outfit!! Yes, I’ve been working towards making such changes and appreciate your reinforcement of the impact of thoughtless and fast fashion … and also yes to no judgement!! Thank you for sharing!!
Donna 🧚🏻♀️❤️🐝
https://donnadoesdresses.com
bettyewp
Good for you, Donna! They (“they”??) always say, all it takes is MANY people making SMALL changes to make a BIG DIFFERENCE. Do they say that? Or did I just make that up? Cuz it’s pretty good.
Iris
Love the outfit – great information. Certainly makes one think.
I usually donate clothing I can’t/won’t wear any longer – however, I never donate items in bad shape. I have been guilty of simply putting them in the trash. I’ll think about that more.
I have been being more careful about washing clothes. I used to ALWAYS just throw everything in the laundry. But, not everything always needs washing immediately. I am trying to be more careful with the clothes I have.
Do I “need” the new top? Well, no! I didn’t need the two that I bought yesterday
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
Yeah, it’s eye opening to Really Think about what happens to things once you’re done with them – where do they go, how long do they sit there, how much energy is expended on a thing that you feel like is just GONE.
At least we’re THINKING about it. Before, I never gave it a thought.
Andrea
Thanks for this timely post! I had never heard of GoodOnYou.eco. It looks like a great site!
bettyewp
Yeah, I love being able to check on brands, though sometimes I’m disappointed.
Ruth Josey
I love the idea of responsible and sustainable products and I’m certainly willing to pay a bit more to buy those products. Unfortunately, just because something is high-end doesn’t mean that a worker in Indonesia didn’t get paid only $0.75 to make that $500. piece. I wish there were a way to end human suffering but I also wonder if the low-income sweatshops weren’t there, where would they work. That may sound callous and I don’t mean it in that way, but I wonder what else they’d be able to do to make ends meet. Would their lives be insupportable without that work? I also think we tend to look at things based on our cost of living in a thriving country. It likely costs them a lot less to live, so that $8 or $9/hr. minimum wage we have here would have them living like kings. I don’t know what the answer is (do not ever vote for me for President if you see my name on the ballot). I think that sites that allow us to check on the responsibleness of a manufacturer are great – it lets us do that one little thing that helps make a difference. I’m trying to do better about shopping my own closet. I do have some pieces in there that I’ve had for 20+ years that I’ve pulled out lately with the idea of re-evaluating how they’ll be worn in the future. I like the idea of renting clothing (like Nuuly) but I’m afraid I’d want to keep everything I rented 🙁 Most of what I weed out goes to the local charity for their thrift shop. Some I turn into household rags. Unfortunately, some goes into the trash. Do you know how hard they make it for us to recycle things? I’m in a rural location and our waste disposal offers no recycling. I have to take my plastics and glass and aluminum to Target (and now WalMart has bins in the fronts of the stores for plastic and aluminum). “They’ve” recently removed all of the paper and cardboard recycling bins in my area – no idea why. I used them regularly. I’d love to see a clothing recycler. Why do they make it so difficult to do what’s good for the environment? I dunno what the answer is, Bettye, but I agree that awareness is the first step and good for you for educating us!
Ruth
https://voguefauxreal.com/2020/01/16
bettyewp
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Ruth.
High-end certainly doesn’t mean ethically produced. But looking beyond the dollars there are companies now whose garment makers are paid a reasonable wage, work in good conditions, have insurance, vacation time, etc. Relatively speaking they are few and far between, but they’re out there. And prices ARE higher, in part because they ARE paying their workers a living wage. It’s a long, slow road to get to the point where MORE workers are being compensated fairly, and certainly a lot of things have to change before they’ll improve. Manufacturers have to either be willing to make less per item, and pay their employees better…or raise prices so they can pay their employees better. The consumer has to be willing to pay more so that both the manufacturer and the garment worker can make a reasonable profit/salary, and to do some research and know how to NOT buy items that were produced by people working for little pay in dangerous or unhealthy conditions. It’s like a domino circle…SOMEONE has to give the first one a little push, then they can all start falling into place. I realize that’s a little simplistic but…the change has to start somewhere.
I understand what you’re saying about taking away jobs, but ideally we wouldn’t BE taking away jobs…we would be increasing salaries and working conditions. Same job, better pay, etc. It remains to be seen if people actually buy LESS if they’re paying MORE…RE less clothing requiring fewer people to make it.
Wikipedia says that the average hourly minimum wage across India is $3.99. The documentary followed one young Indian woman and she shared her story…she was a single mother trying to support herself and her daughter by working in a garment factory. I can’t recall if she said she worked 5 or 6 days a week, but she said she makes $3 a MONTH. Either $3 or $8, ha. It was one of them 🙂 But even at $8/month, you can see that a worker making the average minimum wage makes in TWO HOURS what it takes her a MONTH to make. So even by Indian standards, her pay is RIDICULOUSLY LOW. Plus, no insurance, working in poor conditions, in an unhealthy environment, etc.
Keeping and using clothing (and EVERYTHING!) as long as we can is a GREAT positive step to take.
I agree, personal recycling can be very challenging.
It’s just a shame. I think our generation is probably the last that can look back and see a time that was NOT LIKE THIS. There was not mass production (to the extent of today) of clothing (etc.). People had fewer clothes and kept them longer. Repaired them when needed. And passed them onto someone else when they really had no more use for them. For the life of me I can’t recall what my mother did when she didn’t want a piece of clothing anymore. Sister, are you there?
Anyway…we’ll keep mulling it over…and I’m sure everyone can come up with a way they can do something, no matter how small, to make a difference.