(And our Slow Fashion Swap)
Fast fashion is the most common type of consumerism, but produces 14 million tons of waste
in the US alone. Even if you donate your old clothing to a second hand store, less then 1% of those cloths are recycled. Many people see voting as a political stance one takes, however, we vote every day. Eveytime you go to grab some groceries, step foot in a botique, or stop by the second hand store for clothing, you are voting with your dollar. Every product we purchase sends a message to big producers that their product is in demand, and it puts money into the pockets of people who own those companies. As consumers, there is only so much we can do to create change. The big companies that are making billions, if not trillions, of dollars are the ones who need to change. Because all that money comes at a cost. One of those costs is Fast Fashion. Spring and Summer are approaching, and 2021 is a fresh start for many. Often, we keep emotional attachment to things that don't control our internal state. One of them being clothing. A Clothing Swap is sustainable, and gives your friends a chance to wear that cute dress they commented on last week that you don't like anymore. It is free, and helps close the circle of waste that we seem to emit every year.
The three video's below are great sources of information and also inspiring. Before we get into that I want to share a few things about why sustainable living is important. So many people don't have a choice; a choice to wear what makes them feel more at home in our human forms. If you pay attention, often your space is cluttered or in chaos when your mind is too. I feel like everyone struggles to some degree feeling like your mind is your own, your face is your own, and your body is your home. Sometimes it's hard to recognize that every breath your lungs breath is a sacred blessing. Not everyone has these privileges. We get to choose what externally reflects our internal world. Through clothing, art, relationships, and cleanliness one can see how we internally operate. Because of these blessings, it is within our power to always work to take a lighter path, one that reflects the gratitude we have deep down for Mama Gaia. And so, please join us in lovingly clearing out the old to make room for the new, to gift what no longer serves you to bless someone else's life and to connect in a time of distance to friends we haven't seen in months.
Drop off your clothing at Sheila's house March 12, 2021 from 3:30pm to 7:00pm. The 13th we will hold a socially distanced, masked, clothing swap in the Yurt. You can sign up for different hours at her house or under "Sign Up" on the home page of this website. We are allowing four people to come through an hour. Shopping time will last from 9:00am to 2:00pm both days.
As consumers, there is not much we can do to prevent all of this from happening, but the differences we make matter not just to what we can stop, but to our mental well being and lives. Choosing a sustainable lifestyle and approach can change our outlook on life and help us let go of what no longer is in resonance with us.
Integrating Zero Waste living into one's life is also wonderful for the soul and the environment. It seems next to impossible to go full Zero Waste, but I find integrating it into my lifestyle helps me feel better, reduce waste, and keep buying fresh foods. Here is another video on why living Zero Waste can be amazing:
Comments