Monday, August 1, 2011

The 2nd Time Challenge.

This skirt was thrifted, and it's one of my favorites.
Hi there friends! I'm terribly excited and nervous about this post.  I have been planning it for a while and just can't wait to let you know whats going on! There is a movement in the on-line sewing world to participate in challenges called "Made Me." so for instance "Made Me August" would be a month-long challenge to wear at least one handmade article of clothing every day. I think this would be so much fun but do not have enough home made clothing.

However, my friend Beki and I started really getting into researching and understanding where our store bought clothing was coming from. It's not pretty.  I did a huge three part series about it here, here and here if your interested. Here are is a great link to get you started if you want to do more research: free2work is a site dedicated to making if easier for the consumer to find out where a product is from and how ethical it is. They use a grading system I find very helpful. Suffice it to say that if a store can make a profit on a three dollar t-shirt or a $10 sundress someone somewhere is being exploited. The first thing I thought when I started feeling convicted about this was "I can't afford to buy clothing from nice places." but then I started wondering if that was a legitimate excuse. How would God respond if we were having tea and I told him why I had to keep shopping at Forever21? I mean do I really need 5 camisoles in various colors? Truth is I buy way too much and half of what I own I never wear.

So, Beki and I took a tentative plunge test into the thrift shop/consignment shop world.  Know what? it wasn't bad. I'm not stupid I know that people don't have time to dig through racks and racks of stuff at GoodWill but there are some really nice consignment shops. The kind where I can buy Ann Taylor clothes but actually afford them! Beki has had amazing luck buying designer labels from individuals on Ebay and such.

So we are starting a challenge. I'm calling it the "2nd time challenge" for six months we are not going to buy any new clothing for ourselves.  We will shop only at second hand stores or sew the things we want ourselves or buy them from individual designers who sell their own hand made stuff (check out etsy for all things handmade). There is so much waste in this country and so much excess; technically I've bought several tops that were brand new, still had the tags, but I got them from a charity shop so the profits went back into the community, back to local businesses and not to evil clothing companies who are exploiting women and children.

There are a few exceptions to the second hand rule: Undergarments such as panties, socks and bras and athletic shoes.  Though I'll still try and be as responsible with my purchases as possible (I hear Fruit of Loom and New Balance have good labor practices). The dollar is powerful so I want to make my dollar count for something.  We'll see how it goes I would love it if you joined us.  Even if you just try it out for a month and see how it changes the way you look at clothing and how much you consume.  At least educate yourself to know what stores and companies are doing the right thing and which aren't. H&M and Target both have fairly good records, Forever21 and Wal-mart do not.  Things made in small asian countries tend to be worse avoid clothing that says it was made in Cambodia and other places like that.

But wouldn't it be fun to do this together? I'll be posting occasional outfit posts telling you wear I've gotten different things and Beki and I will be highlighting cool second hand shops in our area.  The more of us that do it the more style ideas we're going to get and the more cool stores we're going to discover.

Check out Beki's blog here and Susie's Blog here. They should both have posts up in the same vein in the next few weeks.

And because I'm so excited about this new challenge I'm doing a give-away! Jill from my very Favorite store Jill's Addictions has donated a $25 gift certificate for her store. Even if you live further away it's worth a trip just to visit her shop (plus you could see me too). Check her face book page out here. Her shop is the perfect combination of vintage and it is probably the best styled shop I've been in.  If you want to stop and shop you'll find her at 339 South Grand St. Marshall MI. All you have to do to enter is answer this question by Friday August 5th by noon: What is the most stupid or craziest thing you have ever purchased? I'll randomly draw names from the people who commented and post the winner this coming weekend.

Happy thrifting!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hooray for thrifting!

Jennifer B said...

A red velvet prom dress from Goodwill.

Anonymous said...

I'm far away.. but this is awesome jess! I think overall the craziest purchase of mine would be everything for my son. He has oodles and oodles of clothes. But like me, he's thrifty :) he shops at thrift stores and garage sales mostly.

Anonymous said...

Oops.. anonymous is me, kelsy domire.

Jessie said...

Kelsy if you win you can come visit us! And it's good to thrift shop it's just such a treasure hunt.

Anonymous said...

the most rediculous thing i ever purchased as far as clothing/jewelry goes is giant oversized owl necklace it looks kinda crazy but its got a quirky sence to me and as far as any thing in general that ive ever bought was probably a really wierd cat bead for my kitty patches and it was supposed to be filled with cat nip but she was confused so she peed all over it sooo.... Yeah btw im danielle cavinder

Anonymous said...

That would be wonderful :) -kelsy

Jeannie said...

MY PURCHASE WASN'T CLOTHING, IT WAS A SILLY DOG STROLLER! YEP, IT WAS ENTERTAINED LOTS OF PEOPLE.

Jeannie said...

My purchase wasn't clothing, it was a dog stroller. We have entertained lots of people with it atleast.

Anonymous said...

My purchase is something I love, but most people think it's crazy. I don't have occasion to wear it much.
It's a necklace made by a friend who is an author and lives out west. She makes jewelry from things she finds in nature. I bought a necklace made of leather cord and a piece of elk antler. She finds the antlers while she's out horseback riding, or hiking with her dog and her coyote. She cuts and cleans them, and make cool jewelry! The name of her book is The Daily Coyote, and I think everyone should read it :)

dclay said...

I'm not extravagant when buying clothes for myself, but I do get a little crazy when buying for my grand daughter. I really don't care what it costs. I've spent around 100 bucks on an outfit I knew she'd only wear a couple of times. And 150 for 2 pairs of shoes. The crazy thing about that was that I've been a sewer since the 6th grade. I cans ew just about anything (not shoes of course!). I sewed for my girls because I couldn't afford those fancy kids shops, and now I just love going there. I'm getting back into sewing though...

Court said...

A Cat Genie.
(Very complicated cat box that flushes the waste right into the toilet)
Good in theory...
Not so amazing in practice...
Not cheap.
:)

Megan said...

A knitting machine. It could have been the best thing I ever bought if it actually worked!

Jessie said...

Am I the only one who wants to see the cat stroller?

Windi said...

2 director chairs.

Windi said...

2 director chairs

Heather Noel said...

A marching band jacket from the 60's, in cream and blue, with gold trimmings and button shoulders and everything! It fits me perfect and ive been flirting with it in a junk shop for months! Got it this week actually :) This fall, me and that ridiculous jacket, you'll see!

Holly Becker said...

I bought a sapphire ring when I was working for Medewar Jewelers. Pierre gave me a discount. This had to have been about 8 years ago. The ring has been worn, maybe, three times. Ridiculous item to buy and never wear, a waste of hard earned cash.

Hard to resist when you see all the jewelery before it goes to the stores. It is very pretty......
Holly Becker

Anonymous said...

A pony necklace with a book

Anonymous said...

-Mary