Consumerism is insidious. Sometimes I have to really fight to resist its lure.
Because I do like novel things. They don’t necessarily have to be new, just new to me. It’s exciting to have a new dress! But then within a couple of weeks, I’ll be back looking through my (overstuffed) wardrobe thinking that I don’t have anything interesting to wear, and the desire to buy something new returns.
But I fight this, because
1. buying new clothes is against my beliefs. I feel that strongly about it. Most new clothes are sweatshop made, and all contribute to carbon and other pollution outputs. There’s always an environmental cost of goods, no matter how cheap in dollars they are. My wardrobe is stuffed with second hand, handmade from vintage, and hand-me-downs (plus some old stuff I bought before I made this decision).
2. I hate feeling that I’m not in control. That pull to shop? That’s been ingrained in us through years of living with advertising and popular media. It’s a cultural thing, and it’s wrong! We hardly ever ‘need’ new things, we’re just told that, because retailers want more profits.
so FIGHT THE SYSTEM! (I get a bit riled up about these things).
3. plus most clothes in shops are boring and I don’t like looking like everyone else.
This is where craft therapy comes in!
Much more satisfying that shopping is creating. Oh so much more. Plus you get more compliments (reinforcing the satisfaction) because things are unique.
See www.craftzine.com for ideas, and links to many more pages full of ideas. And of course http://flightpathsforpaperbirds.com
And that is how embroidery can be a peaceful protest against consumerism. Long term, it really adds up.
(I’m making this more overt- designing embroidery with slogans, but they aren’t ready yet. soon! ‘I mend my clothes and I vote’, ‘Nannatech over nanotech!’ …?)
Here is some of my freeform embroidery… I’m learning!