About

On February 1st 2010, I gave up buying new clothing and jewelry for one year, with the exception of underwear, socks and tights (which I bought on the basis of need – rather than want). Aside from that, I only purchased second-hand clothing and materials with which to make my own clothing. At the end of that year I decided to continue with the project for another year but with the added caveat that I could buy exclusively from charity shops.

The reason behind my abstention was simple: I absolutely love clothing and fashion but I hate everything about the industry. I was sick of buying badly made, poor quality items. I was sick of seeing things I’d just bought on other people. I was sick of worrying about the ethical implications and environmental impact of my high-street consumerism. Finally, I was sick of resenting all the items I’d bought and never worn. I hated myself for contributing to the endless cycle of disposable clothing. Particularly because I actually prefer vintage clothing and am a fairly competent sewer. I just bought stuff new because I’m lazy and it’s almost always easier to pick something up in topshop than trawl the charity shops or get my sewing machine out.

And now I’m done!

So before I started this is how I felt/what I wrote…

On the whole I’m feeling very positive – both about the experience and my personal resolve to stick to it. However, there are a few things that I know will challenge that positivity: the sales (especially sample sales), shoes (my Achilles heel), trips abroad (especially Paris) and tights (god how I love tights). Aside from that, I’m quite excited about being forced to use my sewing skills, re-learning to knit (I know I used to know) and foraging in charity shops for the perfect dress (rather than casually picking up an identikit one in h&m).

And mostly I’m just hoping I don’t pick up a more expensive habit to fill the hole.

PPS. I don’t think I’m some kind of saint for doing this. I know that loads of people only buy from charity and vintage. I’ve just documented it. In fact my reply from most men that I tell about this project is , “yep, been doing that all my life”.

So firstly I don’t think I’ve pick up a more expensive habit but I do spend more on food than ever before – an occurrence I’ve attributed to an advance in age. Over the two years nothing particular shook my resolve, but I am terribly stubborn and hate to loose – buying something new would have meant failing and I don’t deal well with failure. But I did slip up a bit: I bought a few pairs of tights, I also bought some gloves. Whilst both of these things were functional, I didn’t actually need them – I think they were purchased under the guise of need but on the basis of want.

I didn’t (re)learn to knit. Turns out I’m not that keen on knitting. I did sew a fair amount but not as much as I thought I would. I did however, forage (a lot). Now I suppose the ideal would be to actually not buy any clothes – new or unworn – but for me that was not what this project was about. I truly love fashion and clothing and I did not harbour a sadistic desire to deny myself that love but rather to challenge that passion. And I feel I’ve really achieved my goal (even though at the time I didn’t realise what my goal was…) I look at style and fashion in a whole new light. As well as my well established and unwavering love of vintage, I have a renewed respect for designers and a new found interest in ethical and sustainable fashion. I feel more individual and stylish now than ever before and I would truly recommend it to anyone, it’s far easier than you think.