In 2013, I set myself the challenge of not buying any new clothes for a year. In August that year I wrote an update about what it felt like, what I'd bought and what I thought I'd saved. I finished the article declaring that 'eight months in and swishing has become a lifestyle choice I love'. By the end of the year I had acquired quite a few new clothes - probably more than ever before - but I'd spent less than £100.
Nearly a year later, I've taken a look back at how my Swishing challenge has affected my buying habits longer term.
Firstly, I'd say, I have hardly spent any time in clothes shops. The 'clothing outlet' I've spent most time in this year is probably The Blue Cross charity shop in my nearest town as they have a habit of putting really nice outfits in their window that lure me in. I have asked a few times to try on the fab outfit but have been, so far, unsuccessful in finding one that fits. On one visit, though the dress that got me in there was too big, I did find a nice green t-shirt at the grand sum of £3.50.
Other than that, I've made just three more purchases and I think I made those purchases very much with the thought about how the clothes and the sellers are impacting on the planet.
My first purchase, early in the year, was a 'buy my own' birthday present from my grandmother. I chose this lovely tunic from Pre:Loved run by Jackie. Jackie sells a combination of secondhand (pre-loved) and new clothing clothes from her shop in Towcester, but she will also post out items to customers who contact her via her Facebook page.
My second purchase of the year was a pair of bamboo leggings. The more I learn about sustainable living, the more picky I get about everything I buy. I have previously bought bamboo clothing because it is a fast growing crop that has a much lower water footprint than cotton, and it produces a lovely soft fabric. In researching the ethics of bamboo clothing I found that there's a 'standard' for organic bamboo just like there is for organic cotton, the Global Organic Textile Standard. So that's what I was looking for - GOT organic bamboo leggings. In my search, I found these thermal bamboo leggings. I'm not quite sure what happened about the organic bit, but the leggings are proving to be fab. Since taking to my bicycle this year as my main mode of transport I am finding that leggings are the most convenient winter clothing for getting about by bike and it is certainly helping that they really are very warm.
My third and final purchase this year is this wonderful jumper hand made by the Woolly Pedlar, Sue Reed, from reclaimed materials.
Sue turns unwanted knitwear into funky clothes, soft furnishings and accessories. Much of the knitwear Sue uses has been rescued before going to landfill. It may have been ‘ragged’ by charity shops or wholesale textile merchants, because of felting or holes. These can be cut around and used in patchwork designs. Sue also buys top quality second hand jumpers and uses these for the bodices of jumpers and sweatercoats. She makes sure there's no waste from her designs as she passes on any scraps that she doesn't use herself for crafts such a proggy matting, which is a 'time honoured north-east tradition'. Sue chooses to work with wool as it is a totally natural product, totally renewable, biodegradable and has excellent insulation properties. She says: "Each new creation is very much a ‘serendipity’ moment, with each design depending on what jumpers I have been able to find. No two items are ever the same."
I find, as we near the end of the year, I've spent around £120 pounds on clothing and I'm confident I'll have lots of wear from these items. I'm also pleased that two out of my four purchases have have been supporting two wonderful women, who are creating sustainable businesses in the textile industry. This has also opened my eyes to the fact that I can and will raise my standards in terms of what I buy. From now on I want to support the hand-made, the ethical, the reclaimed. That's my way forward in clothing.
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