More thoughts on fast fashion

It's been over six months now since I started my self-imposed six-month ban on my "fast fashion" vices, Charlotte Russe and Forever 21. I can honestly say that in that time, I have not been tempted to buy anything from those stores. I walked into a Forever 21 after six months on a whim, and truth be told, it felt completely overwhelming. So I think it's safe to say that I probably won't be going back much, if at all.

However, one thing that I didn't accomplish during my ban was actually looking up information on fast fashion. I intended to, but I never did. What good is a ban if you can't actually articulate why you're doing it, if anyone should ask? 

A few weeks ago, however, I was contacted by someone (thanks, Amy!) who had helped make a short 2-minute video on the business of fast fashion. She had seen my blog post and thought I might be interested. Well, she was right! There's only so much they can cover in two minutes, but for being so short, the video packs in a lot of information - and it helped me to understand the reasons why it's best to cut back on mass-produced clothing.

Whether you're a Forever 21 junkie or a Goodwill devotee, I encourage you to give this video a watch - not to condemn your choices, by any means, but rather to inform them. Let me know what you think!

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Spotlight on: Clothing Matters

A couple Saturdays ago I had the privilege of interviewing Marta Swain, owner of a local boutique that specializes in eco-friendly and fair-trade clothing, for my monthly magazine column. Sadly, my column couldn't afford me nearly enough space to share all of the fascinating stories and awesome pictures I left with. But here on my blog, I've got unlimited space! Sustainability isn't a topic I bring up too often on this blog, but I think it's far too important not to bring it up every once in a while.

Marta's shop is called Clothing Matters, and as anyone who has visited will tell you, it really does matter. How many of us get dressed without even really thinking about it? I've got to raise my hand as one of the guilty ones here. I think about colors, patterns, proportions, textures...but I rarely stop to consider where my clothing comes from. The answer often isn't pretty. As Marta shared with me, conventionally-grown cotton is one of the worst environmental offenders: it's the crop most heavily treated with carcinogenic chemicals and pesticides, and it's incredibly water intensive. Not exactly sustainable! But even beyond the myriad environmental issues, fast fashion is responsible for a great deal of economic and social injustice. Workers around the globe are paid next to nothing and have to work in unsafe conditions. (I'm generalizing, but it all too often holds true.)

So what's an eco-conscious girl to wear? Luckily, there are plenty of options - and before you dismiss it as "not your thing," take note that this isn't just for hippies. Yes, there's clothing made out of hemp and bamboo and soy (all wonderful fabrics), but there are also divinely soft shirts made of organic cotton - and, though you'd never know it by looking, some are also made of recycled bottles. And then there's downright luxurious "peace silk," which is made through a process that, unlike regular silk, doesn't kill the silkworms and is made without harmful dyes. I seriously don't think I've ever felt anything more wonderful on my skin...you can count on that teal dress making its way to my closet soon! (top photo)

As a consumer that's increasingly aware of the impact of my purchases, to me, Clothing Matters is a breath of fresh air. We may never be able to make the footprint of our clothing completely disappear, but buying eco-friendly clothing is at least taking that footprint in the right direction.

So, if you ever visit Grand Rapids, I encourage you to pop in to Clothing Matters to see, as Marta says, "just how good clothing can be." I look forward to returning and sharing some new finds with you! But first: What are your thoughts on the issue of eco-conscious clothing? Do you own any yourself, and do you have any favorite environmentally-friendly shops?

Note: This was not a sponsored post - I just loved the shop so much that I wanted to share it with you! :)

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The forest for the trees (+ thoughts on "fast fashion")

dress: Charlotte Russe | belt: vintage | shoes: Ruche

Last week, I had to get a gift for a bachelorette party I was going to, so I stopped by the mall and went to Charlotte Russe. I got the gift, and while I was at it, I picked up a few things for myself: tights, pants (!), and this dress from the clearance rack. I love the little tree print and the slightly 1940's-esque shape, and it's just nice to get some more black dresses in my closet. For all the praise that always gets showered on the classic LBD, I sure don't own many!

I can't truly say I regret any of those purchases. But after I left the store, I felt a little bit...icky. That's probably not the most eloquent way to phrase it, but there you have it. It's how I felt. All of a sudden, it dawned on me that literally thousands of other girls own this exact same dress. That's not a bad thing, necessarily - I really enjoy seeing all the different ways pieces can be styled. It fuels my creativity.

But I also realized that this dress probably came into my hands thanks to the labor of sweatshop workers. And that made me really uncomfortable.

So as soon as I left the store, I decided something: no more of my "fast fashion" vices - Charlotte Russe, Forever 21 - for at least 6 months. Sure, it's great that you can pick up something stylish for cheap...but how long do those pieces really last? And what's the true cost?

I realize this may not be the most popular decision, but I'm eager to see where this takes me over the next six months. I'll do my research in the meantime; I mean, I don't actually know anything about the practices of those companies. Either way, I don't think it's bad to swear off something like this for a little bit. I've unsubscribed from their newsletters to avoid temptation. I want to do more thrifting. I want clothing that means something. I want to support small businesses and independent designers. If that means I have to spend a little bit more, then so be it!

I don't want to be overdramatic, and I'm not trying to start some sort of style blogger revolution. But to me, the best part about blogging is the community, and getting to hear all sorts of opinions...so lay it on me! I haven't done the research - I'm going mostly on gut feelings. What are your thoughts on "fast fashion"?

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Mine will be a bit of a whirlwind: I'm driving to Atlanta with my family tomorrow (almost a 14-hour drive), going to my uncle's memorial Saturday morning, then driving to Nashville briefly, then driving partway back to Grand Rapids Saturday night, then driving the rest of the way on Sunday, and then going to Newaygo to see my friend Matt marry his lovely bride! Phew! Do any of you have anything awesome planned?

p.s.: I've decided that my pictures are going to be be a little bit bigger from now on. I know it's kind of a blogging faux pas to have differently sized photos, but going forward, they will all be the same size! This is in preparation for my new layout, which I'm still working on.

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