#couldn't stand wearing tarnished jewelry :( | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

lesless · 7 months ago

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Thinking about sustainability:

When folks (including myself) first start to focus their lens on sustainability I think it is incredibly tempting to go out & buy a bunch of stuff that's "more sustainable." Ultimately, the most sustainable thing you can do is use & re-use what you already have, certainly, but there are cases wherein it is necessary to replace things, & of course it's nice to try new things, too! There's nothing wrong with that, the main thing is to be thoughtful & tbh that takes practice as much as anything.

I don't pretend to be the poster child for sustainability, however I do think I have learned plenty of things through research, trial, & error. I have always been driven to purge things as I grew up with hoarders & too much stuff honestly just makes me anxious, as does dust, dirt, or clutter in my space. I don't like having too much to choose from when I get ready as I feel it slows things down; whether that's products, clothes, or accessories. But! I was still guilty of impulse purchasing stuff, using it a few times, & then discarding it--especially when I was in my very early 20's working in retail. I honestly just didn't realize then that costume jewelry in particular would tarnish & fall apart, & I was pretty sad when some of my favorite necklaces would start to go black, turn my skin green, or simply fall apart.

To add to that, I had an unidentified problem with clothes that I only really worked out in the last 3-ish years. I would buy something I liked, wear it a few times, & find I couldn't stand wearing it. I eventually worked out that I have sensory issues with non-natural fabrics, & started donating pieces that had any synthetic content. This of course necessitated purchasing things to replace my donated items, but I think I have broken down my process to help anyone that might want to be more intentional about sustainability:

Inventory - It's important to know what you already have, so the first thing to do is clean out your closets, drawers, etc., & pay attention to what you use often, sometimes, rarely. Do any materials disagree with you? Check the content tags on everything you rarely wear, you might find that they're composed of materials that just don't agree with you. Though I adore wool, I know people who can't stand it as much as I can't stand synthetics. What products do you use often? What things are good to keep in the event of breakouts, colds, stubborn stains? Is anything expired that needs to be disposed of? I like to make "keep," "give," & "toss" piles if going through things in a sweep, if doing so gradually I have bags for the last two categories that can live there for a week or so as I go through things. That way you can quickly toss an item that's worn out or annoys you as you live your life. This will be a continual process, It took me 2 years to feel in a good place but I still have a bag for stuff to donate. When you feel like you have a decent pile, you can move on to

Clean out - Now that you have identified things or even categories of stuff that aren't benefiting you, be intentional about how you dispose of them. Clothing in decent shape & lightly used hygiene products (mostly full shampoos, conditioners, or liquid soaps) can go to shelters or nonprofits. Expired medication or beauty products can often be cleaned out & recycled or unfortunately thrown away. Shoes of any brand that are too damaged for re-wear can go to the Nike or DSW take-back programs. You can also sell some nicer things on FB Marketplace, ThredUp, or Craigslist for extra $.

Buying - OK now the fun part! You have gotten rid of all the stuff you don't use or like & have plenty of room, isn't that great? Buying responsibly requires some parameters. Good things to consider include: need - be honest with yourself, do you need it? Do you have other lotions, foundation, etc. you can use up first? Is it similar to something you already own, & if so, is that good because you know you will use it or is it bad because you are buying for the sake of buying? source i.e., second hand, local, or sustainable retailers are a great place to give your $! Is it made by someone locally? Does the creator get the $ directly? quality, will this last you a long time? If you decide it isn't your style, could you re-sell it or donate it & would it be in good shape/useable by someone else at that point? What material is it made out of? Personally, I try to buy only real metals, stones, & non-synthetic (no blends!) textiles, I buy hippyass cleaning products in bulk that I can use to refill spray bottles, lotion or hand soap containers, & typically use cloth rags to clean. My worst habit are those clorox wipes I use 1/month to sanitize things in the house & 1/week to clean the toilet, but I'm trying rags soaked in bleach once I run out of the last ones I purchased. I also use dusters but I am looking into alternatives that can be re-used. Like I said, I'm not perfect but I am stepping in a better direction as I run out of things I already bought! I also typically shop second-hand & from local creators. The last pieces of jewelry I bought, a bracelet, & a ring, were from a sweet local jeweler in sterling silver. I'd also ordered a ring from a creator on Etsy since I couldn't find what I was looking for in stores. They weren't even that expensive! Lastly, we are very fortunate to live in an area with local butchers & growers. When possible financially & seasonally we buy from them. The less food has to travel before it hits the plate, the better!

Some tips:

Don't try to do it all at once, this is the best way to get overwhelmed & discouraged.

Understand quality costs. As someone cheap & broke most of my life, this was the hardest thing for me to accept. But ultimately, the $22 lotion feels better & lasts leaps longer than the $7 lotion, the $120 leather boots last 8+ winters (or a lifetime with proper care) whereas the $20-$40 plastic boots last 1-2 at most, pollute, & bum me out when my favorite shoes wear out. Cheap, thin shirts will show wear quickly. See tip 1, you don't have to buy it all at once, either. I typically plan out my spending on a monthly basis in priority of need, season, cost & desire.

Ebay! I know certain brands like H&M consistently fit me a certain way & are often made of 100% cotton, or 50/50 cotton-linen blends. I check the site every week to month when I'm looking for something specific, like midi skirts, drapey tops for work, etc.

Learn proper care - cast iron pans don't wash with soap, linen is best hung dry, cold water is good for cotton washes, leather lotion once a year will keep your shoes healthy for decades. When you learn how to care for the things you have you not only extend their life but you come to intimately understand both them & yourself.

Don't feel guilty if you buy something new, or get rid of something that you hardly used. It happens. Trying new styles can be fun, too. I couldn't find baggy pants that fit me used, & after 2 months of searching I folded & bought some on sale, new. I'm thrilled with them though, & after spending months trying things on I knew what I wanted & I bought a pair that will be mine for YEARS to come. They're also a thick denim so I know they won't wear out any time soon, & if I grow out of them I know they will still be in good enough shape for someone else.

Ignore trends. I am in full support of trying new styles, but trend cycles are shorter & shorter. Being your authentic self is always in style, so unlearn the need to be trendy. This can take some time, & I certainly like trying new things! But when I shop with quality, source, & need in mind I found I purchase much less. Fabric content is especially limiting--next time you go shopping, check the tags on all the things you try on & you will quickly see how few of those items are fully non-synthetic. Even if you don't have tactile sensitivities like me, acrylic, polyester, nylon, etc. do not stand the test of time well.

I hope this helps if you are interested in trying to be more sustainable! It is not an easy, overnight process, but I do think it gets easier with practice & is worth it financially, socially, & for the wellness of the rock we live on.

#sustainability #fashion #me

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