Clothes are my main consumer weakness. It doesn’t matter how many pieces I have that serve the same purpose – I’m often tempted. I think I look at too many fashion blogs or something. I’ve gotten good at avoiding the popular chain stores (everything but the simplest pieces tend to bore me anyway), but I still want to take home things from indie or Australian shops. Sometimes, I do fork over the cash – even when I vaguely think they’re sweatshop-free, but I’m not 100% sure. Even when they don’t have a strong ethical policy.
When I buy new clothing, it tends to be because the materials are quality (made to last) or it’s something I’m not skilled enough to make (like a lined jacket) or I admire the unique idea behind the piece.
But I’m ready to take the next step. I’m making a commitment and I’m writing it here to set it in stone, so to speak. Here’s the Ethical Clothing Pledge by isismade. I’m taking it.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
T H E E T H I C A L C L O T H I N G P L E D G E
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -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.
I completely agree with that last point there. More is not more! (I need to leave an angry note with those words on it in my wallet or something. Maybe screenprint the phrase onto some fabric and make a wallet from it?)
I can count on my hand the number of bigger businesses I trust in terms of ethics and environmentalism, so I’ll make or reconstruct most of my clothes from materials already in my stash.
I know at some point, when this is less new and shiny, it’s going to require huge efforts on my part, but I’ll get thinking of ways I can avoid it. From what I hear, though, blogging a challenge is a great way to keep inspired and dedicated. So I’m on the right track there.
I’m looking forward to learning how to make undies. Bras are another thing, because I’m incredibly picky and I don’t have A cups, so I can’t get by with a self-made elasticy one. Fortunately the ones I have look like they’ll last a good while. Maybe handwashing to make them last longer is the go? And maybe by the time my existing ones die, there’ll be plenty of options on the increasingly eco-friendly market!
Right?
Hi Hayley! Thanks for taking the pledge, I’ve added you to the list. Looking forward to hearing how you go
x isis
Thanks Isis! I’m excited.
Hi Hayley, I retook the pledge yesterday after reading a post on Dottie Angels blog that served as a gentle reminder. Clothes are my biggest weakness too, but the more of us there are on the wagon, the easier I think it will be not to indulge
Good luck!
Wonderful, hopefully we can keep each other inspired by blogging about it!
And thanks for pointing out Dottie Angels, I hadn’t heard of it before but it looks great.
It’s great taking an online pledge. You’ve got a great advantage in actually having good sewing/design skills in garment construction, so you’ll breeze it in. My skills are very rudimentary. Mostly I’ve gone thus far buying second-hand clothing, but I’ve bought a few new bras and some running gear, totally sweat-shopped, which will be ‘fessed up at some point. Like you I’m planning to make these items LAST, and hoping that collective badgering of companies will eventually produce some ethical specialty gear for these areas.
I think most of my clothes at the moment are second-hand, too. But I have this boxful of clothing to reconstruct, plus a bookshelf full of fabric, so I think I should use that up before buying preloved clothes that would potentially go to someone else who didn’t have another option.
But I think this blog will get me motivated to get making again, and I’ll be sure to document the process and make some tutorials.
Hi Hayley
Thought your readers and fellow pledgers may be interested to check out the Ethical Clothing Australia website for information about which fashion brands are taking practical steps to ensure sweatshop labour is not used in their Australian-based supply chain: http://www.ethicalclothingaustralia.org.au
All the best.
Tom
Hello Hayley,
I really enjoy reading your blog. I admire your thinking, and the way your values translate into action. Last year I went the whole year only buying second-hand clothing (underwear excluded). It was not as difficult as I thought. I mainly wanted to change my consuming patterns. To break my habits so that I could then try to only buy ethically made clothing. I was wondering if you would ever think of doing a post about brands that you have found which make their clothing in Australia?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and journey with us.
Cheerio
Amy
I have found a few (Skin and Threads, Rodeo Show, Metalicus, Mesop, Juicy Bear, Secret Squirrel and Morrison) but I am sure there must be more… Can you share any that you know of with us?
That’s great that you went second-hand for a year! But why stop?
Some made in Australia brands I know are First Born, Obus, Ammo, Collette Dinnigan and Etiko.
Just keep in mind that workers in Australia are exploited too – more than you’d think. It happens via homeworkers rather than factories. I wrote an article about it here: http://www.heidiandseek.com/ethics.php.
That’s why I try to only buy from brands with a strong ethical policy, Australian-made or not. But I still think second-hand or made from reclaimed materials is best.
This is an incredible pledge. I’ve seen it floating around a few blogs lately but this is the first time I’ve read it in full. Would that I could hold myself to such standards! Ever since I started studying apparel design, I’ve really cut down on buying new clothes (mostly because I’ve developed the skills to make a lot more), but I feel like buying new fabric is rather similar..are there secondhand fabric stores?! I’m also wondering if you know where to buy sweatshop-free tights, since I can’t exactly make my own or usually thrift for nice ones!
I’ll be honest, ethical fashion standards have been on my radar for a while, but hovering near the peripheries. Between delving intensely into creativity, design, and radical thinking, I haven’t made eco-friendly fashion a priority. But you know what? It definitely fits right in with all the other stuff I’m working through. Thanks for the extra nudge of inspiration. I’m feeling a definite shift in thinking right now! And good luck! From the looks of it you’re doing well
Last blog by Tessa Zeng: Make Your Own Style Collages
Good luck with the pledge. My weakeness is lingerie and I just read an article about how it’s made- sweat shops and poor prices paid to growers in the developing world. I’m making my own pledge to buy ethical smalls! I’ve just found a great site http://www.saumarez.co.uk selling ethical lingerie. I’ve been a bit naughty and bought a gorgeous bamboo set from the designer Enamore and this fab robe from the designer g=9.8 who make material from recycled tree clippings (I kid you not). So I feel a bit guilty having spent the dosh, but better knowing I’ve not harmed people or the environment! Go fo it girl! Just found your blog- it’s fab!
It’s great to see another Australian Blog that includes the Sweatshop issue. I’ve decided that my mission for 2011 (and beyond) is to vow not to buy anything I suspect is made in a sweatshop and I’ve started a new blog to document the journey – http://veganprime.wordpress.com
I’ve subscribed to your blog and am looking forward to reading my way through it!
Lyndal
Last blog by Lyndal: How will I know it’s sweatshop free
You can also take the Slow Fashioned Pledge!
The Slow Fashioned Pledge is very similar to the Ethical Clothing Pledge, but with an emphasis on slowing down the rate of consumption by choosing quality over quantity.
Check it out here: http://www.SlowFashioned.org