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Why You Should Get Involved In Slow Fashion Season
So if you're starting to take similar steps or just need a push in the right direction, then let me point you in the direction of Slow Fashion Season. Running from June 21st to September 21st, it's the perfect 3 month period to vow not to buy any new clothes.
Of course, you can still buy if you want/need certain pieces but there are 4 key rules:
- You can trade clothes! Swap pieces with your friends or participate in a wardrobe swap with like-minded people on the internet (I've seen a few people on Instagram doing this just lately since vintage/charity shops have been closed)
- Upcycle or DIY your own clothing. So get creative! The other week I bleached some old jeans (yes, I was influenced by TikTok) and it's given them a new lease of life. I also love a good DIY tie-dye and who doesn't love some unique embroidery on their tee?
- Buy second-hand or vintage. One thing I'm really missing right now is being able to rummage around charity shops and vintage stores. there are some real gems to be found and it's so much more rewarding than going into Topshop and buying the very same top you've seen all over Instagram.
- Support sustainable, local, small fashion labels. A new rule added for this year because independents are suffering hard right now!
What are the benefits, you ask?
Well, I've written previously about how my wardrobe and my style as a whole is much more adventurous and truly ~me since I stopped buying fast fashion. I've become more creative in styling what I've got in a variety of ways; and picking up vintage pieces in unique prints and styles has got me piecing things together that I would never have thought to previously. So you might find a revitalised love for your wardrobe and give a fresh lease of life to your personal style.
You'll save money! You don't always realise how much money you're spending on clothes when it's a couple of t-shirts here and a pair of jeans there, but it all adds up. Second-hand pieces are much more purse-friendly and even better still if you do a like-for-like swap with friends! So going 3 months without buying new will give you some nice little savings; unless, like me, you switch to spending all your money on books!
But most importantly, you will be helping the planet. The fashion industry is one of the worst polluters. As Slow Fashion Season sum it up "The fashion industry is responsible for enormous amounts of water consumption (32 million Olympic sized swimming pools per year) and CO2 emissions (8% of global greenhouse emissions - and growing fast." Not only that, there is the sheer amount of clothing thats end up in landfill every single day. Whether it be old stock from fast fashion companies that gets dumped, or the clothes that get donated to charity shops with good intentions and they're unable to sell (because sadly they can only sell a small portion of what they receive!).
So who's joining me?
Loves. Emma.
The Positives I've Found In Lockdown
So taking note of that venn diagram that keeps doing the rounds of 'things you can control' and 'things you can't control' thinking about what to give your energy to, I thought I'd share just a few of the little pockets of happiness I've found in this time at home:
- Having the time to dedicate to my bullet journal
I've seen so many people online joking about how they regret buying a journal/diary for this year now, but mine has been keeping me going. Whether it's spending time getting creative and doodling in it, making daily to-do-lists to give me a focus, or reflecting every evening as I fill in my gratitude lists, I don't know what I'd be doing without it. It's also a place to document this scary time and have something tangible to look back on.
- Baking!
I've always enjoyed baking but it wasn't really until last year that I started to push myself past a basic box mix. So with this extra time at home and the abundance of new recipes being shared online (thank the LORD for Pret releasing that cookie recipe, am I right?!) I've been getting a little more creative and just this morning made some Jammie Dodger Blondies to a roaring success. Also v grateful that my local shop finally had flour in again this week, hurrah!
- That feeling when you don't want to go to bed because the book you're reading is SO good and it's the first thing you think about when you wake up
I read very regularly but I've always thought of myself as a slow reader (I only got through 28 books in 2019 despite making a determined effort to read a lot) but I finally (I know I'm very late to the party) picked up Sally Rooneys 'Normal People' and oh my god, I devoured it in a day. I've not felt this way about a book in a long time; I laughed, I cried, I feel in love with both Connell and Marianne, with Rooneys writing and simply with everything about their story. Exquisite. I can't wait to binge the BBC series now and cry some more!
- I've really gotten into running and that isn't something I ever thought I'd say
Yes I was a regular gym go-er until the middle of March, but I only went on the running machines as a chore. To get some cardio out of the way and boost my fitness. I never enjoyed it and it was my least favourite part of being at the gym. But I finally read Bella Mackies 'Jog On' which has been sat on my shelf for the past year and it just instantly made me want to get out down the lanes. I resonated with so much of what she shared, I instantly re-downloaded the CouchTo5K app which I've only ever used in the gym before, along with RunKeeper, and now my favourite way to start the day is getting a nice 30 minute run in.
- The house has never been so clean! Everything sparkles!
Because like a lot of us I've had a lot of free time on my hands, I've seemingly spent it wandering from room to room going 'what can I tackle next?'. I've cleaned the oven, aka the worst job in the house ever, I've scrubbed all of the doors (even the big garage door!), rearranged book shelves and my wardrobe, and I've taken every picture frame down to clean and re-hang. I feel like Mrs Hinch, but far less glam with a more colourful home!
- The joy of rediscovering old hobbies
When I tidied the bookshelves (because everything has been tidied and rearranged), I found my old cross-stitch patterns from years ago. There were many complete designs, one part done and one yet to be started so of course I had to finish the incomplete one and enjoyed it so much I moved straight onto the next. I've also dug out some of my 1000 piece jigsaws to fill the time and consequently ordered more and have even had the water-colour paints out getting creative. It's all ben wonderful in getting my brain to switch off and have some offline time.
- I've been able to reassess my spending habits
I'd been getting a lot better with my spending over the past 2 years anyway, since I cut down on (and then out completely) fast fashion, but that doesn't mean to say I'm the most money savvy. I'd still get carried out with bargains in the charity shops, popping to Costa on my lunch hour or splurging on yet more books to add to my (slightly out of control) TBR pile. So whilst we're not going anywhere except the supermarket I've noticed a big difference in my spending. Yes I've placed a few online orders, don't get me wrong (books from my favourite independent book store to help support them; a new print for the bedroom from an Etsy store I fell in love with and some skincare necessities) it's still made me realise how much gets frittered away day-to-day.
- And finally, of course, the closeness it's brought in my family
Outside of my immediate family, we're not very close with anyone else. But everyone calling and video-calling to check in on each other is just wonderful. Dropping shopping off on my Grandmas doorstep is like the highlight of her week and it makes me so happy to do. I might be at capacity and failing to keep in touch with friends, but I'm still keeping some social aspects so small steps.
What have you found to be good in this strange, strange time?
Loves. Emma.
A Midi Dress Love Affair
I've always been a mini dress/skirt girl, always thinking that midi and maxi dresses simply weren't my style and at 5ft3 just wouldn't suit me. But after months and months of seeing them incessantly on Instagram, I finally decided in January to take the plunge and push myself out of my style comfort zone. I scoured eBay and Depop but just couldn't find one in the style/pattern/colour that I wanted. So I relented and treat myself to 3 brand new dresses from Nobodys Child. They're a brand that (for me) are doing enough in an effort to be sustainable that I don't feel bad for buying new. In addition to supporting ethical practices and not releasing hundreds of micro-collections each year, they only produce small amounts of each collection to minimise waste and donate any spare fabric to fashion colleges. So they're no Boohoo or Pretty Little Thing!! I didn't intend to splurge on 3 dresses, I ordered 3 different styles to see how they suited me and ended up falling in love and keeping them all. Typical! I have, however, only got photos of 2 of them to share with you because when I went to take photos of the third it started raining and I simply never got around to doing so again!
And yes these photos are from January because that's when I intended to write this post and share it with you, but better late than never, right?
Dress, Nobodys Child - Jacket, Zara (old) - Hat, gift from mum - Shoes, Converse via Kilo Sale - Bag, Topshop (old)
Dress, Nobodys Child - Jumper, Nobodys Child - Bag, Kurt Geiger - Boots, ASOS via Depop
Loves. Emma.