Creating Alternative Clothing Options
By Ruth Ann Smalley
There’s no denying it: there’s a lot of bad news out there about the apparel industry. You’re probably aware of the broad outlines:
the pollution caused by dyes and other harsh, even toxic, chemicals (anti-wrinkle, anti-stain, PFAS, etc.);
the water and agricultural inputs for cotton farming and the fossil fuels used in the production of synthetic fabrics;
the breakdown of synthetic fibers into microplastics in the waterways;
the overproduction and overconsumption of cheap clothing that rapidly ends up in massive landfills;
the abysmal conditions and pay for garment workers.
And you might have noticed that there are many parallels with aspects of the food industry. Fast food and fast fashion have everything to do with poorly regulated corporate interests bent on extracting as much profit as possible while externalizing the costs to the environment.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the scope of the problem, especially when you hear statistics such as the fact that Shein releases about 6,000 new styles of low-quality items in a single day. In case you are up for learning more of the gruesome details, here’s a good overview of the knowns and unknowns of fast fashion.
However, some very cool and creative things are happening around the issue of clothing, as well! For example, Rebecca Burgess has been instrumental in the “fibershed” movement that connects farmers, textile producers, artisans, and others in strengthening regional fiber systems and working towards “climate beneficial fibers.” She popularized the “One Year One Outfit” event, in which participants take a deep dive into “slow fashion.” They learn about the resources in their region by creating an outfit with materials sourced locally, made to be completely recyclable at the end of its lifespan. See Fibershed for some major inspiration!
If you don’t feel up to making your own clothes, you can find vast resources for learning to extend their life through proper care, and through mending and even upcycling. There’s a fun, wild world of visible mending to explore, that might just blow your mind. Here are a couple of places to start looking: If you want to fix your own clothes, try this easy style of mending.
Upcycling Clothes: 11 Beginner-Friendly Ways To DIY Your Closet
A few years ago, ethical fashion advocates Livia Firth and Lucy Seigle promoted #30wears as a way of thinking about one’s purchases: “Will I wear this 30 times?” The sheer volume and disposability of modern wardrobes has made this question more pertinent than it would have been in earlier generations. The notion of “repeating” outfits has even gained some traction with some celebrities. Check this out—I don’t care about high fashion and I don’t know who most of these people are, but even I found it fascinating. Plenty of everyday folks like art teacher Julia Mooney have worked to break expectations by wearing the same dress to school for 100 days, while over 7,000 people have participated in Wool& Company’s 100-Day Dress Challenge.
And here’s a library in New Hampshire that recently piloted a “clothing library” for people to check out special occasion items. They’re conceptualizing it as the “commoning of clothing”.
But one of the simplest ways to buck the fast fashion system is one of the oldest. Known as the hand-me-down, the passing along of still useful articles of clothing has become a little more formalized in recent years, in the form of the clothing swap.
Clothing swaps allow people to socialize while browsing a selection of unique pieces, try styles they might not normally buy, and clear their closets of perfectly serviceable items that may no longer suit their needs, sizes, or tastes. It's a material exchange that takes place completely outside the commercial context, and that’s powerful. As Nicole Macias says, “Our world runs on capitalism so giving away free clothes is a really radical idea.” (Swapping Clothes Isn't Just Fun — It's Community Care)
That’s right, these are free clothes, folks. Honest Weight has hosted several successful clothing swaps in the past few years, and we’re happy to announce there’s another one coming right up! All clothes are FREE.
On July 10 from 2-6 pm, you can drop off your donation and check out what’s on offer.
On July 11 from 8 am to 1 pm, no new items will be accepted, but you can come and “shop” the racks.
Here’s how it works—hope to see you there!
Bring clean, gently used clothing items in good condition.
Accessories and shoes are welcome too!
Drop- off 10 items total per person; No Exceptions!!
No limit to how much you can take!
Have fun, be respectful, and embrace the joy of giving and receiving.
$5 off $25 Coupon to all who donate clothes Wednesday! (1 coupon per person!)
You don't need to "Drop" to "Shop" All are welcome to treasure hunt through donations!!