5 EOY lessons to round out the 5-items fashion challenge
With just about a month left of my sustainable fashion challenge - where I’m only buying 5 new clothing items over the course of the year - I’ve accumulated enough lessons to take me to the EOY finish line.
While it’s been some time since I’ve opted out of the modern American consumption model (with, on average, each of us buying 53 new clothing items each year!), my commitment to this year-long challenge has felt like an opportunity to further delve into the work of promoting degrowth. It’s easy enough for someone to preach about change and what we all should be doing, but it’s another to intentionally practice what you preach.
In honor of the 5 new pieces of clothing I’ve limited myself to this year, here are 5 lessons I’ll be taking into 2025 and beyond:
I’m more in touch with my personal style than I’ve ever been. The modern fashion trend cycle tells us what colors, styles, and shapes to wear during any given season, but by opting out of it I’ve had a chance to connect with my deepest self to define my own personal style. The more in touch I am with myself, the more I affirm that fashion is an opportunity to practice daily creative expression. Since I no longer feel beholden to external sources (which, let’s be honest: are often defined by patriarchal standards of how women and femmes should look), I’ve started wearing more pieces that aren’t considered ‘flattering’; I’ve gotten out of my comfort zone and pushed my own boundaries; and I’ve had the space to define who I am, regardless of others’ opinions.
It’s easier to say no to buying stuff I don’t really need. Like with many things, saying no is a practice that becomes easier the more you do it. Historically I’ve been the type to see a clothing item on sale and think, ‘Well it’s only $10, I have to take advantage.’ And yet rarely if ever do those impulse purchases last long in my closet. I’ve gained a strong understanding of myself, and therefore what I do and don’t need in my closet. Rather than seeing a clothing item that’s ‘good enough’ thanks to the low price tag, I prefer to focus instead on what’s missing in my wardrobe and eschew anything that falls out of those lines.
In a world that promotes instant gratification, I’ve been able to practice patience. Cue the Veruca Salt song from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. So often, advertising presents a sense of urgency with sales, trends, and the like, to encourage us to take immediate advantage. How many of those marketing emails have you received with the subject line ‘Going fast!’ or ‘6 hours left of our sale!’? This sense of urgency leaks into other areas of capitalism and professionalism… it’s no wonder we’re all riddled with anxiety. By sticking to the internal list of clothing I’d like to add to my wardrobe, I’ve given myself permission to opt out of the urgency and instead practice patience. Through my year long fashion challenge, I’m reminded that there is emotional and mental safety in it. I’ve learned to believe that what’s meant for me is for me, and everything that isn’t simply isn’t.
My creativity has thrived under constraints. Regularly wearing shirts backwards? Check. Sweaters as mini dresses? Check. Layering pieces I never thought would look good together? Check. Creativity really does thrive under constraints, and this year I really feel like my outfits are the best they’ve ever been. But beyond just figuring out new ways to wear my clothing, I’ve also tapped into new creative practices! Earlier this year I took sewing lessons so I could start mending my pieces instead of bringing them to a tailor. And just last month, I finally put those skills to the test. After purchasing an absolutely adorable pair of green pants (as seen in the pic accompanied by this blog post), I realized they were a couple inches longer than I’d have liked. I asked my fashion designer friend Rosie if I could borrow her sewing machine and she was more than happy to let me use it. In about 15min, I ended up with perfectly tailored pants that I’ve been wearing everywhere nowadays.
I’ve expanded my fashion practice by engaging in my local sustainable fashion community. Whether it was taking sewing lessons at my local sewing lounge, volunteering at and hosting clothing swaps, or modeling in Remake Our World’s NYFW show, this year has made an incredible impact by encouraging me to dive into community work. While this challenge may have started from a place of individual action, I’m so grateful for the space I’ve had to grow and support this work beyond just myself. Connecting with fellow ethical and slow fashion enthusiasts has been fun and so motivating when it comes to making this work sustainable (pun very much intended). As we know, the antidote to anxiety is action, and I’m so grateful for orgs like Remake Our World, Bed Stuy Clothes Swap, and Intersectional Environmentalist who are providing community and resources for folks to dive into the world of sustainable fashion.
