STYLE: I Bought No New Clothes For A Year, This Is What Happened
By Rebecca A.
At the end of 2017 I set myself a year-long goal of not buying any new clothes. As I started on my very long (and slow) journey to living more sustainably, my wardrobe was one area that I wanted to target.
The more I started consciously thinking about consumption, the more I became aware of the effect of the fashion industry on the environment, on the people who make our clothes, on our self-image and on our wallets. Almost 5 years ago, I founded a sustainable fashion movement built on three values - community, charity and sustainable fashion – and I found myself giving a lot more thought to the impact of fashion that I ever had before.
Through hosting these regular events (2-3 times a month), I saw over and over the amount of unwanted, unworn, ill-fitting clothing that was constantly coming out of our wardrobes. Brand new items with tags, items worn once or twice, clothing that was the wrong colour for a skin tone, or slightly too short, or perhaps with a tiny hole in the fabric and no longer wanted – all piled up for us to pick through, to find items that didn’t work for the original owner, but that could find a new lease of life on someone with a different body shape, or a different style personality.
The more I spoke the words: ‘there is already enough clothing in the world for us to share’ during the event introductions, the more I began to realise that I could live these words – and so I committed to buying only second hand clothing for a whole year.
I set myself a few exceptions, such as buying shoes if I needed them, or new underwear, and if there was an item I found I desperately needed, then I could buy new, as long as it was from an ethical, sustainable, clothing brand.
At the end of this challenge, I can safely say that the way I look at fashion has completely changed.
I’ve learned to distinguish between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’.
I no longer feel I ‘need’ items to complete my wardrobe when my closet is already bursting. I don’t ‘need’ another pair of jeans because mine aren’t distressed enough, but I do ‘need’ a new pair of leggings because it’s winter and it’s bloody cold and mine are made for 10C and not -13C.
I stopped shopping online and instore and buying items I never intended to buy.
I no longer go shopping to find the new ‘winter sweater’ that I ‘need’, and then leave the store with a couple of extra items I also ‘needed’. I stopped scrolling through Taobao and getting sucked into cheap deals on (what looked like) good quality clothing on super stylish models which ended up looking like a ill-fitting, cheap dress made in a sweatshop (it was).
I learned to wear what I have, and be content.
And, thanks to the regularity of our clothing events, if I get bored of my clothes, I can easily find new ones to wear and play around with.
Being a part of a village of women is amazing – but you have to be willing to ask for help.
There have been a couple of times when I have had to call on the community to help, and every time, without fail, I have been helped. Not only that, I have been blown away by the willingness to share resources, and the overwhelming generosity of both friends and strangers.
Last winter I realised that all my thick winter leggings were worn out, or had holes. I sent out a message and at the next auction, women bought several pairs of unwanted leggings that I was able to use. And a couple of months ago as we planned our Christmas holiday in a tropical location, I realised that my current swimsuit was now too big for me after losing weight. Another message and this time my wonderful community came forward with no less than 5 swimsuits I could choose from. It has happened again and again, as I’ve seen women ask for help with formal gowns for events, maternity clothes, and sportswear.
I feel more connected to others.
There is something about wearing clothes from other people we know. Somehow, it connects us, it brings us closer together. When I wear clothing from another woman and they exclaim ‘that was mine!’ or when I see another woman wearing something that I have owned in the past, there’s a deep sense of sisterhood. It sounds strange how something as trivial as sharing clothing can have such an impact on my heart, but it does.
Just as how now, after watching the fast fashion documentary ‘The True Cost of Fashion’ earlier this year, when I stand in H&M, I feel a deep sisterhood with the women who are making these clothes in Bangladesh, in India, in China.
It’s easy to slip into subconscious behaviour.
Did I make it the whole year without buying a new piece of clothing? Nope. When I returned to my home country in July, I was walking through town with my mom and without even thinking, I followed her into a shop, told myself I ‘needed’ new pyjama’s, bought them and walked out of the shop. It wasn’t even until days later that I realised that I had bought new clothes without even thinking about it. How easily I slipped into old habits when back in my home town.
I can make lifelong changes that will impact the Earth and the people who live here, .
Now that 2019 is here, I am reflecting on how I want to move forward. What will this year hold? For sure more than ever, I am committed to ethical sustainable fashion. I deeply want to support those in the fashion industry who are committed to a new way of doing things that is good for the people making the clothes and good for the environment. I realise that my mindless consumption of fashion doesn’t benefit anyone except for the corporates who profit at the expense of others and our planet.
My extremely wise husband introduced me to the concept of ‘redefining normal’ – where we radically change our behaviour and shift our thinking in order to redefine what we consider as normal.
So in order to make a lasting change, this year in 2019 and onwards, I am redefining my normal when it comes to clothing. I will continue to buy second hand clothes to make up the bulk of my wardrobe, and if I need to buy something new, I'll do my best to buy from ethical brands who are committed to social and environmental responsibility.
I hope some of you will consider taking part in your own sustainable fashion challenge for 2019: whether it be for a month or a year; to change the type of clothing you buy or the shops you frequent; to buy more second hand clothing, or to buy more from local designers and tailors.
If you want to become a part of the Clothing Auction Movement, joining over 500 women across Beijing for regular second hand clothing events, please send Well a message with the words "CLOTHINGAUCTIONS" and we will connect you.
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