22.1.10

Two Birds….

designityourself 

….with one stone.

So I have this book. It looks good. It kinda sorta even looks doable. I think it’s going to help me with a couple of things.

ehtical-clothing-pledge

Now I don’t know how much notice you take of these things, but a bright orange, retro styled, rather lovely button has appeared in my sidebar, as if by magic. The magic, and the button, is from Isis, and it signals the pledge that I have made to myself, and the ethics I seem to have fallen into, since signing up for Wardrobe Refashion some months ago. I know I didn’t actually refashion very much, or make anything much wearable, but I didn’t BUY anything new either. And since getting out of the habit, I haven’t yet felt the urge to get back into it. In my opinion, if one can make it through the Boxing Day/January sales without buying so much as a singlet, then the clothes buying retail monkey is completely off their back.

Isis created the Ethical Clothing Pledge for herself, but it’s such a grand idea that several other people have joined her, including me. A pledge, to me, is a much more personal decision, which requires much more personal action, than a ‘challenge’. Taking a pledge means that you honestly believe to continue that which you have begun, while taking a challenge means, at least to me “let’s see what happens”.

Here is a copy of the pledge for your consideration:

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T H E _ E T H I C A L _ C L O T H I N G _ P L E D G E

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I pledge to only wear clothing that is one or more of the following:
1. Pre-loved
2. Handmade (preferably by me)
3. Reconstructed
4. Made with ethical / environmentally friendly materials
5. Made by a company with strong ethical policy & workers' rights
* Companies with environmentally friendly practices (such as cutting down on waste/energy/water) get brownie points
* If I get one little inkling of sweatshop labour, I'm outta there!
* Above all though, I think the most important thing is reducing the amount of things we use in the first place. Not purchasing ANOTHER piece of clothing just for the sake of it is the biggest statement we can make.

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My lovely new book is going to assist me in making my very first piece of clothing since taking the pledge, and that first piece of clothing is also going to fulfil the requirement of this challenge. It all seems to fit so nicely & neatly in place, that I may very well mess up the entire thing.

I’m going to try to work slowly through the book, doing each project as it comes & trying hard not to get scared of making new things, which sometimes happens. I have actually realised that the world is not going to end if I mess up some sewing, but some personal fulfilment could very well result out of completing something I didn’t think I could do.

Who knew?!

11 comments:

  1. I've been seeing many fellow bloggers taking up this pledge. I wish I could, but right now I'm too afraid of my sewing machine to even sew a straight line much less churn out a piece of clothing from it.

    It's one of my goals for this year, so hopefully next year, I'll be able to join the pledge!

    Good luck with yours!

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  2. I have this book too! It was a Christmas present and seems so lovely (and straight forward). I haven't done anything out of it yet, but I can't wait to try :) Also can't wait to see what you come up with!

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  3. I really admire you for your commitment. I was really torn about committing to the pledge this year - I ended up opting out :( So I am right here on the sidelines cheering for you bigtime. You go girlfriend!!

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  4. Well done Vic. On thinking about it, I haven't bought any clothing for quite some time...and I certainly made it through the sales (it helps that I was on the remote Tasmanian east coast at the time that they started and that if I went later, I would have to take 3 kiddlywinks!) Must think about this one. It seems like a great goal to aim for.

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  5. 4 words:
    YOU
    CAN
    DO
    IT
    ...and an exclamation point
    !

    ReplyDelete
  6. Little Waltz - I am not the best at sewing (that is probably putting a rather positive light on it actually), but I figure now is as good a time as any to give it a red hot go. That and there are always my beloved opshops to fall back on....

    Liz - Oh it will be a breeze for you! Can't wait to see what YOU come up with!

    Kat - Thanks! I will try not to dissappoint... :s

    Tas - You are much more proficient and prolific seamstress than me my love... DO IT!

    Thank you Lola - I would love to join in with Tiff's challenge too, but with the new house I doubt I could get by without buying ANYTHING new at all... I mean, we need some rather important things... like a kitchen lol.

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  7. Hello fellow pledger :-)

    I havn't actually done any clothes sewing/refashioning since signing up for the pledge....but have been getting by with buying ethical/env friendly materials (recently found some great made in aust organic cotton T's) and doing without. I broke the pledge once when I really really needed to buy a new bra so am looking forward to Isis future post on ethical bras.

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  8. It's odd how after a lifetime (to this age) of being a female fashion consumer in a capitalist society, we can "switch off" the urge to buy clothes. Not having any money sure helped me! :-D

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  9. So glad to have you along Vic! Can't wait to see what you make from that book. And my words of advice...

    you know that zipper you didn't get perfect? - nobody can see that but you!

    have fun :D

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  10. HMmmmm, i've always wanted to make my own clothes but never been brave enough. can hear my inner critic even now saying i look silly... perhaps I shall have to keep watching and living vicariously through you and that'll give me a little courage :)

    thea.
    xx

    www.spoonfulzine.com
    www.forthevisionaries.tumblr.com
    (oh dear, sorry to have 2 links!)

    x

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  11. This book has been sitting in my 'cart' for a while. Love to see what you come up with, sure it will be fab!
    (Have not forgotten my promise, I promise! plod,plod,plod...)

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Let's have a chat. And a biscuit. And some tea. And another biscuit.

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