A random update: Remember my excitement about my new yoga set I found in the swap seed suitcase just before January swap? Shorts-appropriated temperatures have come to at least my yoga studio and the functionality has spoken… those shorts are not for any gymnastics, unless you get a thrill of showing your privates to other people, those are pajama shorts! Although the length is similar when standing up, the construction of the crotch going into legs is different, rendering the new ones equal to a ‘cheeky’ cut when moving or doing splits. Here, one more proof that not all garments are created equal, and one more reason for getting free garments that one can trial out and send back to where they came from. I’m not sure I’ll bring them back to May swap, but that such option exists is already enough for me. And the old worn-out shorts will get at least #30-more-wears.
Old ones (bought second-hand in 2015) vs. the new ones.
And now for something completely different to keep the little grey cells fat and happy:
A sad reminder that ‘made in EU’ or even a more specific (you know my issues with the ‘made in EU’ blanket: 1, 2) ‘made in x country with long artisan traditions’ does not necessarily mean much: What Really Goes into “Made in Italy” Fashion?
Can’t get enough of plastic pollution and want more to be sad and frustrated about? Here you go: nurdles or plastic resin pellet pollution. Or, in Spanish, lágrimas de sirena.
Seeing how other topics – mainly nutrition and food-ethics – were coming into my link section and how time by time even my veganism needs a reminder on why I’m doing this, now there’s a whole masterpost of my vegan / whole-foods plant-based educational materials right on the top menu. You are welcome!
One of the big issues in consumption-based activism is its atomic and (often) online-only character – ethical consumption can be done pretty much in secret and stay between you and your bulk vendors without creating or affecting your community. To get inspiration for IRL activism and events, here you have Monbiot offering reviving communities as a cure for all the neo-liberal ills, and, for more brainy pushes towards people-activities as activism, Robert Ulanowicz on ecosystems and Elinor Ostrom on commons.
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Have you ever had to go back to the old garment after getting a new one and realizing that the old one is better? What did you do then, looked for another new one or went back to the old one?
Old garment better, I actually had to donate the new one, because it looked like I wrote with a marker on it (winter jacket)after washing it for spring storage.I’m gonna use the old one, not gonna waste more time searching for another replacement.(It has issues, but at list I know which they are and at list I’m not looking like I have dirt all over my jacket).
But for others, I donated the old ones, and after a couple of months realized that the new ones weren’t ok.Bought another second one, using all the info gathered (cotton, not to stretchy so no armpit stain visible in 1 hour of usage, color for season acceptable).
What is you strategy when you replace something? (At the moment I put comments in my excel when I donate, give away something-material issue, length, breathability, flattering cut or not, needed underlayer, pockets is a plus).
I try to learn from my mistakes and simply look only after my checklist.But if I can learn how to improve this process…I’m all ears …and eyes
Hi, Dori! I do basically the same – try to learn (and make mental notes for future) whenever something works very well or doesn’t work very well. And, as there are so many variables involved – materials, quality of confection, styles and cuts, your body and preferences…. – I try to be compassionate with myself and admit that time by time mistakes will happen. My current big issue is learning to not force myself to ‘make work’ garments that are suboptimal, just admitting it and letting them go instead of wearing shoes that are the wrong size, blouses that feel off, etc. despite thoughts about being the guardian of those garments.