The True Cost of Fast Fashion: Living Ethically at Home

The True Cost opened my eyes to how I could be exploiting others without knowing it.  I had been meditating on what Jesus was saying in these passages: 

 "He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" 13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you.""

and

"...soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And [what about] us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse [anyone] falsely, and be content with your wages.""  (Luke 3 both passages)

I love how Jesus defends the defenseless in his command to do no injustice...Jesus sees those who are poor and needy and has compassion.  He condemns greed.  As an American, its hard to believe that a trip to HM for a cheap shirt could be participating in a culture of greed and exploitation, but as I watched this documentary it reminded me that I have a responsibility to opt out of fast fashion as a cultural trend.

I have pondered this in the past, but struggled to find USA made clothing that I felt confident wasn't made by exploiting workers.   As I began this search anew, my kids each responded differently, taking good advice found here.  Together we stepped up to the challenge to live more ethically and sustainably.  

We focused on applying these ideas:

1) Ethical Producers

• American Made. For American shoppers, clothes that are made in the USA have a head start on sustainability. They’re made by manufacturers who must comply with U.S. laws for workplace safety, pollution, and health. Also, their carbon footprint is lower because they don’t have to be shipped from overseas.
• Union Made. A step up from American made is union made. This label shows that clothes were made by unionized workers who are able to organize and negotiate with management for better wages and working conditions.
• Handmade. Yet another way to make sure your clothes come from fairly paid and humanely treated workers is to buy them directly from those workers. You can often find craftspeople selling their own garments at farmers markets, flea markets, and craft fairs. Another good place to look is Etsy, where many designers sell their own clothing at prices that can be surprisingly affordable.

2) Getting into secondhand style

• Thrift Stores. The most obvious place to look for secondhand clothing bargains is at thrift stores. These run the gamut from upscale consignment stores to charity shops such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army. Shop your local stores frequently to catch items in your size and style as soon as they become available.
• Garage Sales. Although clothes aren’t the most common items found at garage sales, the ones that do show up are priced to sell. I’ve paid as little as a dollar for tops in good condition and just a few dollars for shoes. Since there’s often no place to try on clothes at these outdoor sales, dress in layers that allow you to try some items on in public while preserving your modesty.
• Online Stores. There are lots of websites that deal in secondhand clothes and other merchandise. Everyone’s heard of eBay, but it’s also worth checking out clothing-centered sites like Zulily, ThredUp, Poshmark, and Swap.com. You can’t always return items from online sellers, so check all the measurements for a garment carefully before you buy.
• Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. You can often find secondhand clothes and accessories on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Buying from local sellers can be better than shopping online because you get a chance to try the items on before handing over your money. A recent search of my local Craigslist group turned up such gems as Coach bags priced between $12 and $25, leather jackets between $25 and $65, and a pair of Cole Haan sandals for $20.
• Freecycle. The only thing better than cheap is free, and that’s just what everything costs on Freecycle. This network of local sites helps people send their unwanted stuff, including clothing, to new homes. Sign up for your local Freecycle group and check postings regularly for clothing items in your size.
• Clothing Swaps. Another way to get new-to-you clothes for free is to have a clothing swap party. It’s a chance to get rid of everything in your closet you don’t love or don’t fit into, refresh your wardrobe with new clothes, and have fun with your friends, all at the same time. If you don’t have any friends in your size to trade clothes with, search for clothing swap groups in your area on Meetup.

3) Focusing on Investment Pieces

• But take a step back and think about all the money you spend on clothes in a month or a year. Now imagine splitting up that amount between a few quality pieces — maybe one garment every month instead of five or more. Suddenly, those $100 jeans start to look a lot more affordable.

• Shopping in this way allows you to step off the fast-fashion treadmill. Rather than buying lots of new clothes every year and discarding them after just a few uses when they start to fall apart, you can invest your shopping dollars in timeless, high-quality staple pieces that will last. A leather moto jacket from DSTLD, for instance, clearly checks both boxes, and matches perfectly with a pair of DSTLD’s polarized aviator sunglasses. Even though you’re paying more for each individual garment, your total fashion budget won’t increase because you’re buying fewer pieces. In fact, over time, you could find yourself spending less because your new, well-made garments don’t wear out as fast.

Bethan started crocheting and quickly produced several pieces.  

 

 

Thankfully, Goldenrod's friend Bekah taught her a crochet stitch that was really easy.  This got her off and running with the washcloth and dishcloth above.  She made the tea coaster from a youtube video.  Now she's in the middle of a hat and a throw.  I found some adorable patterns for bath poofs I hope she'll try :-).  We could use some larger circular trivets like her coaster above, as well.

Can I really move into the knitting direction?  I don't know but my brother has taken seriously his responsibility to avoid exploitation.  He made me this gorgeous knit last year:

 

Tom also made some handmade items for me, too.  He did an awesome job with the hardware from the blue bucket (our junk basket) and leftover wood in the garage.  Both of these things were made with material we had on hand:

Rosebud decided she would go the thrift route.  As her brother's personal shopper, she has to try to find a very slim 14 year old's clothes that are "cool enough" for his strict adolescent taste.  I told her I didn't want her to buy any clothes from H&M.  Unfortunately, that was her main source of her last haul for his skinny frame.  So she looked to find used H&M instead through Poshmark.  Saving money, exploitation and the landfill...she found these...SWEET!

Recycling is better than Landfill and decreases the pressure to lower prices and overwork underpaid fashion workers in Bangladesh...

As for me, I was super happy to begin to find USA made and sourced items around town.  I found these socks for Tbone at Chelsea's downtown boutique called Vogel's...

Pretty awesome for the snowy Michigan winter we've been having and also great to protect from Welding slag.

Then, I was jazzed to discover at Meijers in the hunting section these beauties for hubby and little girl with size 10 feet (yes she shares the same size as dad in socks...)

The local Farm & Home store also carried USA made skull caps/stocking hats.  Another source for USA made is an Army/Navy surplus store.  I found some 100% wool socks there last year.  They make it feel like August in January.  Pendleton is a brand that I thought was all USA made but only their 100% wool throws are made in the USA.  In nearby Dexter, I found a shop with several clothing pieces that were either source or manufactured in the USA but NOT BOTH.  So sad.  94% of our clothing manufacture has gone off shore since the 60's which is why its so hard to find.  The Pendleton throw is gorgeous and would make such a beautiful wedding gift:

I discovered that although finding affordable USA made items is hard, combined with other methods of sourcing more ethically, we can make a difference as homemakers.  We can decrease the landfills, live with less, and buy used, USA made and handmade to minimize our contributions to the exploitation of workers in Bangladesh, China, and other far corners of the globe.  Though we can't stop the fast fashion industry, we can send a message that its not what we want with every purchase.  When we source from home and country, we can better ensure items we buy treat workers fairly.  If you have found USA made brands you love, please share below :-).

The Mystery of the Word--Housekeeping.

So is housekeeping fixing the roof?  Does that mean women shouldn't keep chickens, but stay in the house?  Does it mean a woman shouldn't telecommute or be active in business at home?  What about hiring servants?  What does it mean to keep house today in our culture?

I am pondering this question. I am not a theologian or scholar, but a mom seeking truth.

Women of old took their place in the house, but from Proverbs 31, we see that this "household management" is a broad stroke.  I want to break down a few phrases--using our Timothy & Titus verses as a lense--so that we can see its scope:

1) She's loving her husband:

 ¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.

    her husband also, and he praises her:

Her husband is not doing without.  Her role meets his needs, maybe not every want, but the things of value he does not have to be in want of because of her.  She does him right.

2) She's loving her children:

¹³ She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”  
 
So, the godly woman watches over to teach and to provide. 

And, her work at home nurtures the relationships closest to her.  At the end of the day the relationships are the only thing going to heaven, "make friends for heaven" like the wise servant in the parable.

3) Her housekeeping is entrepreneurial in nature:

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
 ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.

Here I see her enter the public sphere of business.  She is making money through trade, sales, and investments.


4) Her housekeeping extends beyond her immediate family:

15 and portions for her female servants.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.

The sphere of her household includes outreach to the poor.  She shows hospitality-an open heart to the needy. 
She also has hired help in the house that she manages.   
 
**************************************************************

Proverbs 31 is an important passage because it broadens the idea of "keeping house".  The household described here is not one mom and her kids at home.   We know from other passages of Scripture that Christian are encouraged to care for their own widows, if they can.  So this household is larger than the typical middle class suburban set-up.  It includes the immediate family, servants and widows at least.  

This passage is key to showing women that business and women are not mutually exclusive from a Biblical perspective.   Women may pursue adding to the family's income with a clear conscience.  However, I think as 21st Century women, we need to be extremely mindful and careful about HOW we do this.  And in the end the heart of a woman, whether it is bent towards her home, or not, will show itself.  A clear guideline I find for myself is 

Nurturing family relationships must not be compromised in an attempt to "help out" financially in a two parent home. 

 If a husband or child is neglected in order to "help out" financially, this would be a red flag for me.

However this passage opens up alot of questions for me.  How can I measure if a child's or husband's (sometimes more clear :-)) needs are met?  What standard do I use?  What part do servants play in the home?  What are the essential functions for mom to personally fulfill?  How much of her role is managing others in the daily tasks?  

A little piece of history

View Larger Map I grew up here... I used to not like ranch style homes....but now I dream of one! Sure the look of an old brick or wood two story is quaint, but when it comes to laundry and dirt tracked in from outside...give me 611 Oxbow. We had a mudroom connecting the garage to the kitchen which housed a neat little washer and dryer. Ahh!!!