However, I have given this challenge a great deal of thought. I have come to realise that I do not write enough in my blog - my blog is for writing after all! In the media and around my life this week several threads have woven together in my consciousness and crystalised my thoughts on why I thrift and scrimp, why I literally troll or should that be trawl? the op shops in my fair city on an almost daily basis. Why I turned a glut of zucchinnis into a mouth watering cake rather than compost. Why I am considering unknitting a sweater so I can knit it into something new, or chopping off the too short too tight sleeves from a vintage top so its finally comfortable to wear. Why do I reject the 2 for $20 knitted cotton tops from Jay Jays, or the retro inspired dresses from Glassons, or the vintage inspired whatever from Shanton. Why do I?
I do not want to support the economy of my country by buying MICC, by patronising the chain stores for clothes, by adding to landfill, or depleting the atmosphere, increasing the CO2 or whatever. I want to make a difference, to my life, my families life, my garden, my neighbourhood, my city, goddamit, my planet. So, the two things which have made me stick to my keyboard this morning are:
#1. In-your-face-no-holds-barred-shoot-from-the-hip Dame Vivienne Westwood. One of my style icons, designer heroines, punk Queen and Eco warrior. Dame Viv, is literally plastered all over the fabulous web site Ecouterre.
ON DISPOSABLE FASHION
"People have never looked so ugly as they do today. We just consume far too much.. I’m talking about all this disposable crap. What I’m saying is buy less, choose well. Don’t just suck up stuff so everybody looks like clones. Don’t just eat McDonald’s, get something a bit better. Eat a salad. That’s what fashion is. It’s something that is a bit better.” —Vivienne Westwood, speaking to reporters after her Autumn/Winter 2012 show at London Fashion Week.
When I read this I thought "Sh*t, that's what I think, that's how I feel." And then I thought"I need to write more in my blog". So, Dear readers, look forward to more words from me.
#2. Vacuous and soul-less advice from so-called "life style" and "fashion" sections of the NZ media. For example: Fashion fix Friday on Stuff: here: The blandness of what is considered by main-stream media as fashion is so gob-smackingly vapid, that I will not harm my fair readers by even showing you the photos. You will have to explore yourself.
Anyway, I more than reject the mainstream media's idea of what is a fashion fix on a Friday. I am going to make my own. So who will join me in a session of "Eff Off Fashion Fix Friday"?
Today's clothing:
$1 T-O-A-T dark navy pinstriped trousers, Red Cross Shop, York Place
$1 plastic blue and white stretch bracelet, Hospice Butterflies, Hanover St
$4 genuine vintage 1970s brown waistcoat St V de P, George St
$4 Clarks brown leather shoes as above
Have a lovely Friday everyone!
I completely agree. On the rare occasion that I venture into a mall I'm horrified by all the cheap, badly made clothes. I also avoid reading any womens magazines because they usually inspire rage in me. Their 'fashion' advice seems mainly designed to make women feel bad about themselves and the way they look. Aah zuchinni cake. My childhood was filled with those when the zuchinni plants went crazy over the summer.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading more feisty comments!
ReplyDeleteYes, Yes FREAKING YES!
ReplyDeleteI really respect those who say no to the fast fashion industry, as an industry it is both completely unsustainable and unethical. It relies on cheap (read slave) labour in the 3rd world to produce products which are made to be thrown away after 6 months. There are generally two different views on how to avoid fast fashion. My girlfriend did her honours project on how to create your own clothing and accessories so they are both timeless from a fashion perspective and will not degrade, with the assumption being that you will get real value out of what you wear, as well as significantly reducing your carbon footprint. The other option is to simply only buy locally made, or things from opshops to reduce waste, an approach that I prefer. Either method, or a combination of both, can really make a positive difference to all of your carbon footprint, your bank balance and your conscience.
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