A number of bloggers have recently drawn attention to either ethichal clothes purchases, see post by Stylist Stuff or like Observationmode to a no spend rule for six months or more.
I'm in the midst of working on a new edition of my book as the so called credit crunch gets a grip on everyday living.
What do you do to stop yourself blowing the budget or resisting temptation for that must have item?
How important is ethical clothing to your lifestyle?
I stay home. I do laundry and I watch DVDs with the boyfriend. The temptation is too much for me Im not strong enough. If I just cant help it I will go off the beaten track and only buy from thrift shops, the high street will always empty your wallet or wipe out your credit card. Thrift shop means so much more for less and they are one in a million x
ReplyDeleteI think the answer used to be a lot easier - stay away from the shops...but now with online shopping....ahh!!
ReplyDelete"One" could give their credit card to a family member/friend to keep, so you can't shop online without getting your credit card from them, which might stop some impulsive shopping online!
(Don't leave the "remember this credit card" settings on online sites!)
God luck with the book!
Hope your back is better BTW
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sold on ethical clothing completely yet. I buy fairtrade items like the cami's in M&S.I've looked at items in Topshop and also bought some fairtrade sweat pants.
ReplyDeleteThe issue about spending is more the problems as consumer madness is upon us. I'm dreadful and I agree with everyonesaysdon't, staying away from shops is easier than not buying magazines or browsing the web
I'm still struggling but at least my credit card is firmly cut up.
Obviously, you know how I deal with the spending issue.
ReplyDeleteEthical clothing, however, will present a new challenge. I receive catalogs for this stuff (Fair Indigo, for instance), and the prices are good, but the styles are a bit conservative. I suppose I'll be on the lookout for eco-/ethical fashion, and move toward that end. As long as I think it's truly eco. And ethical.
It's early days, and we have a long way to go before the manufacturing machine gets with this new direction.
How's that for verbose?
Whoops, I forgot to say, thank you for the nice mention! :D
ReplyDeleteThe two matters are the problem. We are consumers and also have the responsibility that goes with it. I say stuff the retailers - buy less and haggle over prices in designer shops. As for ethical, well given that Burberry made 300 people redundant in the UK last year to move their operation to the far east, fair trade starts at home too. Personally I'd give a percentage of what you spend on clothes to charity and have a clear conscience that way.
ReplyDeletehm,i almost never shop online and if i see a line in a shop which is too long i just don't buy anything there because i don't want to wait so long. and the coincidence is that the lines are longest in shops like h&m where the workers have to make the clothes under bad conditions.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your comments and concerns about my back! I appreciate the effort everyone does make when it comes to buying things.
ReplyDeleteI'm very interested in what Cate said about conditions for workers making H&M clothes - makes me shudder. Someone did tell me though that often working even in appalling conditions is better than having no job or begging. The choices are awful. Journalist and writer Linda Grant touched on this before as have others and I'm going to give it all a lot of thought before amending my book into a new edition - or even a new book!
There is something about ethical fashion in Today's sunday Times Style as part of their feature on Jane shepherdson's new Oxfam initiative. They point out that people still aren't that sold on ethical clothing unless it's nice and I agree. I know this is controversial but I have always hated charity T-shirts (like Fashion targets Breast Cancer etc) because I never think the design is that nice. Just cos it's for charity I don't see why I should buy it, I'd rather buy something I love that i'll wear lots and just give the cash to charity. American Apparel, Noir and Edun are the only really nice eco/ethical labels I can think of. Oh and Wildlife Works. But I'd buy them for the style first and the ethical aspect is a bonus.
ReplyDeleteHow do I rein in my spending? When I'm short of cash I buy magazines and £25 books and T-shirts instead of £70 tops.
The Style mag piece was really good and I agree - having suddenly done the most unethical thing in some respects and gone to Primark(although their factory conditions in India were good).
ReplyDeleteI once bought a Giorgio Armani charity tee and it was dreadful quality. So yes cash to charity is the option in that scenario. Shepardson is good and lets hope she works wonders with Whistles.