At some point in the last couple years (I honestly cannot pin down a date), I made the decision to only buy clothes that were second hand or ethically produced. I knew this would drastically cut down on the number of brand new clothes I bought, simply because I don't have room in my budget to spend a ton of money on clothes. It has been a really positive experience for me and I'm glad to have made the change.
I read in an instagram caption this summer that when it comes to sustainable/ethical fashion we should be striving for perfection. After mulling that over for a few months and thinking about the exceptions I make to my ethical fashion rules, I wanted to share my thoughts here.
Undergarments: My first exception is a pretty straightforward one. I can't afford to buy expensive underwear, so when I do need some new undies, I turn to stores with 5 for $25 deals. I do my best to buy pairs that will last a long time and that I really like. I've had some pairs of underwear for 5+ years, but weight gain over the last few years has resulted in some new underwear. I plan on wearing these bad boys for a long time too.
Warmth layers: The other area of my wardrobe I make exceptions for is warmth layers. I live in Vermont, which is cold for a good chunk of the year (example: it's currently 29° outside and I had to work from home because of a big snow storm). I also happen to be a naturally cold person, who keeps an afghan on her chair at work and has an extensive sweater collection. This all is to say that in the winter (and fall and spring) I need to wear warmth layers (leggings/footless tights/thermal underwear). They are my other exception for similar reasons to underwear: I don't replace them often and don't have the budget to buy ethical ones. I'm not going out and buying leggings every week, but some of my five year old leggings are thread bare at the thighs and, due to the same weight gain mentioned above, I need some tights that actually fit.
So those are my exceptions to my personal ethical shopping rule. I'm at peace with them and realize that fashion is inextricably linked to mental health, finances, class, and lots of other things that complicate being the best person I can be.
Do you shop mostly second hand? What are the exceptions you make to your own rules?
I read in an instagram caption this summer that when it comes to sustainable/ethical fashion we should be striving for perfection. After mulling that over for a few months and thinking about the exceptions I make to my ethical fashion rules, I wanted to share my thoughts here.
- Perfection can be harmful: I've spent most of my life as a perfectionist. Some of this stems from my type A personality and some from my religious upbringing. I spent a lot of my life trying to be the perfect daughter, the perfect Christian, the perfect older sister, the perfect girlfriend, etc. and all it got me was a lot of stress, self loathing, and low self esteem. I believe that most of the time striving for perfection causes more harm than it does good, ethical clothing purchases included.
- Perfection is the enemy of progress: Focusing on perfection is an easy way to make a task feel insurmountable, which I believe can turn people off from a good cause entirely. It's overwhelming and a good way to stop well intentioned people in their tracks. The best way, in my opinion, to make changes is to take it one step at a time and focus on progress.
- Perfection is inaccessible to all but a very few: When it comes to making ethical clothing purchases, being perfect is only a possibility for a small group of financially privileged people. The reality is that most people (myself included) cannot afford expensive ethically made pieces and rely on thrift stores, second hand platforms, and hand me downs. While those things are all great, they can't supply everything a person needs *cough* underwear *cough*. For someone who can't afford ethical undergarments, this means making some unethical purchases. A focus on perfection can alienate the people who can't afford it and make ethical fashion an elite and inaccessible movement/lifestyle. It's also worth mentioning that because ethical fashion companies cater to a very specific body type, even people who can afford more expensive pieces aren't always able to find what they need.
My Exceptions
With all of that in mind, I wanted to talk about the exceptions I make to my ethical shopping rule. For me there are two main exceptions:Undergarments: My first exception is a pretty straightforward one. I can't afford to buy expensive underwear, so when I do need some new undies, I turn to stores with 5 for $25 deals. I do my best to buy pairs that will last a long time and that I really like. I've had some pairs of underwear for 5+ years, but weight gain over the last few years has resulted in some new underwear. I plan on wearing these bad boys for a long time too.
Warmth layers: The other area of my wardrobe I make exceptions for is warmth layers. I live in Vermont, which is cold for a good chunk of the year (example: it's currently 29° outside and I had to work from home because of a big snow storm). I also happen to be a naturally cold person, who keeps an afghan on her chair at work and has an extensive sweater collection. This all is to say that in the winter (and fall and spring) I need to wear warmth layers (leggings/footless tights/thermal underwear). They are my other exception for similar reasons to underwear: I don't replace them often and don't have the budget to buy ethical ones. I'm not going out and buying leggings every week, but some of my five year old leggings are thread bare at the thighs and, due to the same weight gain mentioned above, I need some tights that actually fit.
So those are my exceptions to my personal ethical shopping rule. I'm at peace with them and realize that fashion is inextricably linked to mental health, finances, class, and lots of other things that complicate being the best person I can be.
Do you shop mostly second hand? What are the exceptions you make to your own rules?
