The new year is right around the corner! 2012 has been a long year, so much has happened. Still, this is not a post about what was, but some thoughts for what is coming.
Earlier this fall I read about some girls who made a "Shop-stop" resolution. Around the same time, there was a lot of publicity around a documentary about H&M and underpaid factory workers. Clothes, and all kinds of stuff for that matter, can be found at giveaway prices in some stores, and who pays the price for all our shopping? This has been in the back of my mind for a long while: How can I be an ethical consumer? I don´t think I am a raging shopaholic, but there is still room for some improvements. A friend of mine had a similar project a couple of years ago, and I have wondered if I could do the same one day.
Some reasons for this project:
- Contentment.
It is so easy to admire everyone else´s home, wardrobe and all their pretty things. Especially with so many blogs and pinterest, there are hundreds of opportunities for me to be discontent - every day! I want to learn to be more content.
- Use what I have.
I have so much, and with everything from clothes, music and cups to hobby supplies, it is easy to forget what I actually have when I see something new and shiny. So I would like to focus on what I have, instead of all the things I could have.
- Be more conscious of my spending.
- Saving money.
I think I will be surprised by how much I actually spend on all those little things.
- Avoid impulse purchases.
These usually don´t stand the test of time anyways, either because I really didn´t love that sweater I found on super-sale, or because cheap stuff just doesn´t last very long.
- Deep cleaning.
My friend said she realized more of what she really liked, so I think I will be able to sort out a few things that mainly takes up space and gathers dust.
- Free time.
Less things means less tidying up, which equals more time for other things :)
Simpler living, but not so simple rules:
- I will by no new clothes, shoes, accessories, etc from 1st of January 2013 till 1st of January 2014.
- I can knit and sew/redesign clothes and buy used clothes.
- For every new thing I acquire, an old one will have to go. This rule is not just for clothes, but all new things that come through the door.
- Items that are worn out/broken can be replaced if truly necessary (socks, umbrella and other needed things).
- Gifts are exempt from the rules.
It was easy to talk about this some weeks ago, but with only a few days left of the year, I found myself buying t-shirts on impulse without even trying them on yesterday. Wish me luck!
PS. "Live Simply" poster and many more prints by Shelli Dorfe.
I like it that you set yourself a year-long goal like this. I have to say that I really admire you for choose to do it in a way that is so up-close to your just your daily life, it´s so "unavoidable".
ReplyDeleteI think you will surprise yourself in a way you would not have thought.
It´s just super-brave to make brave resolutions that take a whole year. I am almost done with my yearlong drawing-diary. I am glad it´s going to be over, and I am going to miss it too.
Thanks Jan Willem. Ive really enjoyed following your diary, and I think you are right - i dont know what i have gotten myself into... it will be exciting to see what comes out of it, hopefully some creative results too :)
DeleteI will also be trying this during the year, and hope to succeed, at least most of the time :) The way the clothing industry works really bothers me. I am not good at sewing or anything like it, so to make my own clothes are at least for now out of the question. Therefore I think it's awful that I can't buy something in the store that is not made by workers who are underpaid etc. I mean H&M are not alone in selling cheap clothing - Cubus, Kappahl etc do it as well and I have also heard that even the popular brand names that are anything but cheap also use underpaid workers. So where to buy the clothes then? I try to buy used but it's not easy finding clothes that fit. Where do you shop?
ReplyDeleteGood luck in your stop shop year, it will be interesting following your blog :)
Thanks Amanda! I buy quite a lot used, but also basics from H&M and Cubus. I also shop more when I travel abroad. I hope this year will boost my creativity with sewing and restyling clothes, maybe you will learn some too! Try with something you dont love too much, like a simple t-shirt :)
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