Clearing My Inbox, Clearing My Mind

Last night I unsubscribed from 101 product advertising mailing lists.

101. It sounds like a made up number, but I promise it isn’t. I actually get that much junk mail in my central email folder every single day. This morning when I woke up, there was just one email in my inbox – from my mother in law.

Occasionally as that thought passes through my mind: “I want to buy x”, I find myself wondering whether that impulse actually came from me or whether it was manufactured, constructed by advertising. But how do people advertise to me? I’ve been trying to figure that out. I don’t watch TV, read magazines or newspapers. It’s not like I live in a big city, surrounded by posters and billboards. I rarely go to the mall.

It must be the internet, right? And the internet is smart: it targets my taste better than TV or magazines ever did. Since I blogged about fashion last month, I swear my Facebook feed is 50% advertising for new clothing. When I blog about anything for Apartment Therapy, from tablecloths to wall hooks, you can bet the next week every side bar, every pop up ad is an ad for sales of household goods. And every time I buy something online I find myself unwillingly subscribed to their mailing lists. 101 mailing lists. 101.

And then here is the effect of all that: every morning, not too long after I get up, I check my email. Which means every morning I see about 20 new mailouts advertising new products or sales, from Urban Outfitters to the Scandinavian Design Center and everything in between. And the cumulative effect of all those emails is the following thought: “There is something to buy today.” Every morning one of my first thoughts is: “There is something to buy today.”

Imagine if every morning you had, not only your kids wanting breakfast at the dining table, but also 20 sales reps from companies sitting around telling you “Are you going to pop by our store this morning?”, “Have you seen this new sofa?”, “Are you interested in 15% off today?”. Argh! No! Get out! I want peace and quiet in the morning. And of all the things in the world, buying stuff is quite simply not what I want to be thinking about every single day! There’s so much more out there in the world besides buying stuff! Beautiful things, creative things, spiritual things. Things to do with my family, my friends, my home, my study, my writing, my faith. And I also despise other people telling me what I should want! Shouldn’t I be the one to come up with that all on my own?

So, 101 emails no longer come to my house. Sure, I’m going to miss some sales. So?? Up in my brain, it’s quiet this morning. There’s space to think about something else. Like…I’d better get back to my mother in law. And then, who knows? Perhaps I’ll have just a moment of peace.

Factory-Made Alternative #4: ThredUp (plus a $20 voucher for you!)

ThredUp: the place I finally found some decent-condition second hand clothes for my 5 year old son!

What is ThredUp?

An online consignment store. Anyone can clean out their closet by mailing in bags of their used/barely used/never used clothes. As they sell online: a small amount of money goes to you, and a bunch goes to them.

What’s available on ThredUp?

Women’s clothes, shoes and handbags. Kids clothes!! A lot of designer and more trendy brands. No Target, Carters, Walmart stuff. Mostly fairly recent designs. Mostly almost new through to “still has tags and hasn’t been worn”.

Have I used the site?

Yes! I purchased a box of clothes from the site earlier this month. I bought a few things for Ralph and a few things for Ivy (pictured below). Here’s what I found were the pros and cons of using this as a source for used clothing.

(Ivy’s clothes: aqua cardigan, spotty leggings, Boden tulle skirt, and Zara corduroy skirt)

Pros:

Loads of fantastic quality kids clothing.

All my favorite brands: Mini Boden, Boden, Modcloth, Zara, Anthropologie, Gap, H&M… Every single one.

Second-hand boys clothing in good condition.

Free shipping for purchases over $70.

Can pay using your Amazon account. So easy.

Amazing packaging. As though you’re buying from a boutique store.

Clearly labelled condition reports: some clothes are marked down due to pilling, fading etc. All are labelled as such.

Super large photographs. Just click on the picture of the item for an enlarged photo so you can inspect each item for yourself.

Returns are free within 14 days if you choose to have refund in the form of store credit.

No need to sift through mountains of junk in thrift stores, or to leave home.

(Ralph’s clothing: Mini Boden short sleeved shirt, stripy tee, fuzzy sweater, black Levi’s jeans)

Cons:

You do incur an $8.99 return shipping charge if you wish to have the amount refunded to your bank account.

No mens clothing. (Argh, this would be so amazing)

It can be a little overwhelming how much there is. Also, sizes are listed according to their size on the tag for that particular brand – so a 5 for one shirt may be larger, or smaller, than a 5 in a different brand. I group these together because I think the way to overcome both is search for brands you know and know what size your kid (or you!) will be in that brand.

The cost. This is the major one. Clothes on ThredUp are probably twice as expensive than if they were in a thrift store. Basically, you’re paying for the fact that these are higher quality, well kept, top brand clothes. If these are the kinds of clothes you would normally buy: ThredUp is for you. But if you’re happy with Target, Carters etc you might find these items too expensive. Still: I wonder if ThredUp could be a source for you for a special occasion outfit?

Interested in checking it out? Click here for a $20 off coupon when signing up to the site. Now, I’ve tried my best to suss this out and as far as I can see, there is no minimum purchase to use the coupon so…find something for $20 and (I’m pretty sure) it will only end up costing you the $5.99 shipping fee. Also: if you use the voucher I’ll get one in response so…thanks in advance from Ralph and Ivy ;-). I’ve done some treasure hunting of my own and found a few amazing things you could get for your kids:

(From top left to bottom right)

1. Zara Skirt Size 7-8: $11.99
2. Gymboree Dress Size 9: $10.99
3. Baby Gap Vest Size 2: $11.49
4. Zara Jeans Size 7-8: $15.49
5. H&M Fur Vest Size 5-6: $11.49
6. Mini Boden Special Occasion Dress Size 3-4: $28.99 (Yes, $9 over the $20 but it’s blue velvet.)

1. Crewcuts Shorts Size 6: $13.49
2. Zara Tuxedo Vest Size 9/10: $15.49
3. Hanna Anderson T-Shirt 18-24mo: $15.49
4. Gap Green Windbreaker Size XS: $16.99
5. Crewcuts Button Down Shirt Size 10: $16.49
6. Gap Jeans Size 6: $15.49

Of course, your sense of style may be nothing at all like mine. Anyway, for one or two cool items for $6, I do think it’s worth taking a look.

And if you’re interested in hearing someone’s experience consigning clothing to the site, check out this blog post on decluttering clothing at Wayward Daisy.

(Images: 1: Wayward Daisy, 2-5: Alison Gerber)

What A Blue Wool Cape Taught Me About Provision

I really, really wanted this blue wool cape. It’s from American Apparel. It was $170, I mean, an insane amount of money. I was saving up my pocket money, $20 a week.

And then: it went on sale! I had the money! Perfect. I put in my order, I couldn’t wait. Until…I received an email from the store. “We regret to inform you the cape is out of stock. Would you like to order something else?” I couldn’t believe it. I was so sad. I couldn’t believe they’d accidentally left it in stock on their website. I feel absolutely deflated.

But that weekend, like many Saturdays, I popped in to the Give and Take, that old raquet-ball court on campus filled with used goodies that students donate. Everything is free. We give freely and take freely. I love treasure hunting in there, and its presence nearby keeps my closet from getting too cluttered.

That Saturday, I could barely believe it, right there before my eyes was a blue wool cape. I mean, seriously, what were the chances? It was fabulous: heavy and warm, reversible, blue and brown with a little zip. A collar to pop. It was exactly what I’d dreamed of. It was better than the American Apparel cape. And for $0, it was mine.

In that glorious moment of swishing the cape around my shoulders, I know it sounds crazy, but I really felt that this cape was a gift from God. Sometimes I get so worried about how I’ll look or whether I’ll have the right clothes for some upcoming occasion, or – for the sake of this project – whether I really will find what I need if I can’t rely on regular means of acquiring clothes. But there, in the Give and Take, I was given a physical, practical example of Jesus’ words from the sermon on the mount:

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow: they do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”

(Image: American Apparel)

Factory Made Alternative #3: Loving The Clothing You Already Have

Sometimes the best remedy to not knowing what to buy is to buy nothing. And I really do think the best way to feel content in buying nothing is to celebrate what you already have.

So today’s post is about that: loving the clothes you already own. I went through my wardrobe and picked out some of my personal favorites to show you. Those pieces I love, that I look forward to wearing, that are “me.”

First: nautical sweater. Ohhh it’s hard to describe the joy I felt when I stumbled upon this, during my visit to this weird hospital thrift store I found in Philadelphia, while exploring the city on my own. The sweater was less than $5. It has boats, waves and seashell buttons. I mean, whoever designed this really went all out on the theme.

Next, skunk brooch. It is from Etsy, and is so wonderfully made: a nice heavy wood piece with teeny sewing details. Whenever I wear it it reminds me of my treasured friend Aimee, who has one just like it that’s a fox. I always wanted one, then treated myself to it upon finishing my first semester of Hebrew. I could wear this with everything.

Third: this grey wool coat I found at the Give and Take. It’s so warm, it’s like a blanket, and I feel so proud that I repaired it to it’s current state. It had buttons falling off, the pockets were half ripped off. Now look at it! And I love love love the contrast color inside the sleeves. (Sorry about the photos, I think my camera is dying? Or the lens is dirty?)

Fourth: my black and white Doc Martin brogues. I bought these basically unworn for less than $5 on eBay. I wish I wore them more often but I am paranoid about them getting dirty. I kind of just love that they exist. Note to self: remember to wear these in the Fall.

 

Last, this bunny ring. Jono bought me this for Christmas and I love it so much. I almost never wear rings, but this one I wear. It’s big and pink and brass and fantastic.

So, there’s a few of my favorite things tucked away in my wardrobe. In fishing them out I realized a few things about myself and my own favorites:

1. I love clothes that have a story behind their acquisition/creation. “Easy gets” at the mall or online don’t rate for me. Rescued treasures or special gifts are where it’s at.
2. I don’t wear my favorite things enough. Maybe I think I’ve got to “save them up”. But that’s crazy, right?
3. I wish there was more killer and less filler in my wardrobe. Wouldn’t it be nice to see only your favorite items rather than a whole lot of junk?

Now it’s your turn! Get into your closet and find a couple of wardrobe favorites. Share them with me! I love it when people show me their favorite bag or scarf or skirt that’s totally “them.” Either reply here or post your photos on my Facebook page. Let’s delight together in buying nothing, celebrating what we’re already blessed to call our own.

(Photo credits: Alison Gerber)

Factory-Made Alternative #2: Etsy

 

Isn’t Etsy awesome? Apart from this: there are increasingly more sellers on there who are actually selling new, sweat-shop-factory made clothes on the site. ARGH. Like many others, I wish very much that Etsy would enforce stricter policies with regards to the origins of their products. But they haven’t. After many petitions, they still haven’t. Because Etsy makes a whole lot of money through commissions off sales from the site, and who would want, then, to restrict sales?

(For more on the problems Etsy is facing, you can read a pretty thorough article here, and this blog here.)

So then, Etsy is a mixed bag. It is both paradise and the worst kind of shopping mall. Through which you will have to navigate until the world of craftspeople think of something better. So then, how best to determine when you’re buying from an actual person making the clothing in their home/studio or from a factory? Here a few guidelines:

1. When you search the item, check if there are exact replicas of that item also on Etsy. If so, this is a pretty dead giveaway that someone is either ripping off someone else’s design, or all sellers are buying from one cheap, common, factory source. For example, a search for “aztec leggings” results in this. They are all the same leggings.
2. Think very carefully: is it even possible that this item could be handmade in the way they describe? You should know that things handmade are going to look kind of handmade. A home knitted scarf does not look like a scarf you would buy from Gap. A hand-crafted silver ring will not look like a ring from the jeweler downtown. Look at those leggings – there is no way they are hand-knitted. At the least: machine knitted. Use your brain.
3. Is it incredibly cheap? Look at the price. Handmade clothing should be more expensive than clothes from Forever 21. Because this is the real cost of making something and paying the maker a real wage for doing so. This isn’t always the best indicator, because the seller could be marking up prices. Take price into consideration with all of the other factors.
4. Ask: where is it coming from? Like price, this might be a give-away, it might not. Items listed as coming from China or India may indeed be from individual craftspeople. But if their inventory is full of things that don’t appear handmade…proceed with caution.
5. Look at reviews online. Look at the reviews for the item you’re considering purchasing, but also search the store name online to see if anyone has complained in the wider web that all is not what it seems when it comes to this particular store.
6. Ask: can this be made to custom specifications? If an item can be custom made, or if the maker is offering services custom-making items for you, chances are pretty good it’s handmade. If not, this could be an indication that the seller and the maker are not the same person.

Now, onto the good stuff. I would love to make a list of Etsy sellers we know are legit, who make great quality fashion-goods you can trust and feel proud to support. Have you ever bought anything off Etsy that you’ve totally loved? Share a link to the store below and I’ll add it in my round-up of great Etsy sellers, coming soon!

An Overview Of The Problem: John Oliver on Fast Fashion

A few week’s back, John Oliver highlighted the perils of fast fashion on his comedy/current affairs program “Last Week Tonight.” Did you know the average American buys 64 new items of clothing a year? How can we afford to do that? And what are the consequences of that? Take a look at what he had to say below.

(Warning: this clip contains some pretty extreme language. Please don’t feel pressured to watch if you’re sensitive to that. From 6 minutes in til 14 mins is a good overview of how this plays out at Gap and it is fairly coarse-language free.)

This Month: Less Factory-Made Clothes

I can’t help it: I love fashion. I know it seems cliche, but I love to express myself through clothing. I want all of my inside-self on display on my outside-self. “Hello, me!” I greet myself with in the mirror in the morning, “you look awesome.”

Born of this: for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to acquire more and more new clothes. Such are the required tools of the passionate lover of fashion. Case in point: my 7th birthday. What did I ask for? A denim jacket. With embroidered flowers. It was 1989.

And so this continued well into 2012. My blissfully ignorant acquisition of new clothes for the purpose of self expression. But everything changed when this happened:

 

In November of that year: 117 people died and over 200 injured working in a factory that produces the very same cheap clothing I was proud to own.

This wasn’t just another news story to me. It felt personal. Call me crazy, but I felt personally responsible for this tragedy. By buying the clothes that I bought, I was supporting an industry that so disregarded the safety and wellbeing of their workers that over 100 of them died preventible deaths. What can I possibly do now? How can I keep going to the mall, buying clothes, injecting cash into a system that hurts, that kills people?

I know this is a complex question, which is why I want to give myself some time to figure it out. And a space: this blog, where I might share my thoughts and also hear what you have to say. And all the while, I am making a commitment to not buy any factory made clothing. I’ve thought about giving up fashion (and I suppose I’ll get to this question)…but I can’t do it. It’s like chopping off an arm of my ability to self-express. Instead I’ll spend some time looking at other alternative ways, perhaps even more creative ways, to live out that passion.

All of this will be here, on the Less Blog, for the next couple of weeks. I hope you’ll subscribe, comment, share, tag along!

(Images: Not my wardrobe! From Apartment Therapy’s Monica Wang)