27/10/2020 - My first blog surprised some and shocked many. Here’s why:
“I probably won’t wear this dress again because it’s already on my social media.” Are you someone to have this thought?
There is a style wave in the country, of fast fashion where we are constantly being served looks and style with innumerable options staring at us through our phones and computers, and as a victim we started shopping mindlessly.
Known as a ”Fashionista” among all my friends and family, someone who’s a Shopaholic and Maximalist is here with a DHAMAKA on this special day of My Birthday & Diwali. Something Ashish and my mother surely gonna love and get delighted for.
I here by take this challenge to “Not-Shop” (Cloth) for one entire year i.e. from 27th Oct,2019 to 27th Oct 2020. Tough for a person like me but like a pro I,ll ace it.
In past couple of years, I have simplified my life and this is one of them. Dressing is not something I agonise over anymore. Ever since this curiosity, I have shifted myself from quantity to quality, fast fashion to classic, maximalist to minimalist, throwaway to sustainable.
Wondering why??
To highlight a serious problem
While scanning my wardrobe prior Diwali, I noticed there are many unsung heroes like everyone else. We all are victims of fast fashion, that encourages us to want more and more. More than half of our closet are pieces we keep to wear once or twice in a year. We also deal with the stress of always feeling like we have to wear something new every time we step out for gatherings.
Shopaholic almost tend to have materialistic values. These people shop compulsively. The problem has only worsened in our culture of disposability, where repeating clothes is often perceived as a sign of failure: of not being powerful enough or desirable enough to acquire things.
We all are victims of fast fashion, that encourages us to want more and more. More than half of our closet are pieces we keep to wear once or twice in a year. We also deal with the stress of always feeling like we have to wear something new every time we step out for gatherings.
According to fashion watchdogs, fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, next only to oil. The consumption and distribution of crops, fibers and garments used in the fashion industry all contribute to different kinds of environmental pollution.
What stats say
An average consumer today, bought 60% more clothing but kept garment half as long.
Apparel consumption is projected to rise by 63% in the next 10 years.
Less than 1% of all the clothing produced globally is recycled.
72% of women consider an attire outdated after just one wear.
An average women spends more than ₹1lakh on clothes every year, yet a majority feels they have nothing to wear.
How can I do it ?
Shop my own closet - I will dig deeper into my closet to uncover some of its hidden, under-utilised treasure.
Love affair - I will repeat and wear something I love again and again, on something I have spent the most.
Magical innovation - Being a saree enthusiast, I will be able to unleash its magic by styling it in a thousand different ways.
Swap - I will raid my mother’s and mother-in-law’s wardrobe for timeless beauties.
Mix and match - Key staples of my wardrobe that goes with multiples will be a boon.
Consider this
Here I encourage you to consider a period where you only shop your wardrobe – whether it’s a week, a month, or longer. You may be surprised and delighted at what you discover. It will not only save you money but force you to revamp your look.
If you are anything like me, you have a closet full of clothing that you do not wear. Items bought for an occasion and still hanging unworn or rarely worn. Let’s not be fast fashion victim.. Just Because you wore a dress once doesn’t means you can’t wear it again and again and again.
Slow down, Choose better quality clothes.
Keep them longer.
Mend them when needed, recycle and reuse them
Choose well, buy less and make it last.
When influencers take advantage of celebrity-aping and promote a culture of excess, the backlash is a natural, logical reaction. Let’s do our bit and go back to buy only as much as we need, recycling and respecting what we use.
I would love to see all of you to join and tag me in #minimalistic_prerana, #stylerepeat and #rewearer movement with me.
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