Why I'm not Purchasing Clothing in 2017

I have decided to not purchase any clothing this year. There are many reasons leading up to this decision. The documentary "The True Cost" I recently watched was a huge inspiration. I also heard about a few people who took on the challenge and was inspired. The documentary talks about "fast fashion." Basically, stores are constantly changing fashion trends so people buy more. The stores are making more and more clothing faster and faster to turn over more and more profit. 

If you go to Target one week look at their clothes, and go the next week, you will notice different clothing on the front racks. The stores are constantly rotating stock so we see a new item that we didn't have before. It's breading discontentment.

Because of the quick fashion, the workers in the factories are not getting payed enough because they can't possibly keep up with the impossible demands on large quantities of clothing. The workers go home to their falling apart families with not enough food on the table. Why? Because of fashion trends, because people think they NEED more clothes. They want more clothes but at a cheap price. We all want a "deal" a "sale. My grandpa always says, "you know how to save 100% on that shirt? Don't buy it."  We buy clothing simply because it is a good deal and trendy, not even thinking if it complements our eyes or body. Then we get home and don't wear it because we liked the idea of it.



I thought about only buying from thrift shops or fair trade companies, which is good too. But when I really thought about it, I knew I just did not need any more clothes period. 

Contentment
The more you have the more content you are right? Wrong. It's not about what you have but your heart. It's a cycle. It's never enough. You keep wanting more. Like my sister says, "once you buy a pair of booties you have to buy more, it's a thing." When I went through my closet getting rid of things after Christmas, I noticed how many clothes I have acquired over the years. In all reality I do not need anymore clothes. Sure, some of them are from middle school, a few don't fit, no they aren't the latest trends. But, do I have more than enough to wear? Yes. If you have one dress and one pairs of shoes, you have clothes. The amount of times I have opened a closet full of clothing and said "I have nothing to wear" is despicable. I have more than enough for any occasion I could possibly go to. And yet my heart still says you need more. 



Save Money
This will be a huge money saver in my life. I really have no idea how much I spent last year on clothing but I really do not want to know. The fashion industry is a $12 billion dollar industry. The average family spends $1700 on clothing a year. Food and clothing are the two main things I spend money on. Yes I do find some temporary joy in buying clothing, but I want my happiness to be in something less fleeting and earthly. I am hugely interested in missions and traveling, that takes money. If I could save even $400 a year that is more than nothing. 

Not being Focus on appearance
I want to dare myself to not being so concerned with what I look like. I want to take care of my clothing and use what I have. Being resourceful is a lost art in my generation. If something breaks we go out and buy a new one instead of fixing it. I'm tired of stores, magazines, and people telling me I have to follow fashion trends. I want to have a classic style that is fashionable but not trendy. Being trendy is just asking to cringe at your old photos and to be constantly updating your wardrobe.


But I've worn a Uniform all of High School and I'm Going to College

And.....I've worn clothes on the weekend and have plenty. The only time I would need to buy new clothes in college is if I gain weight. This is a great incentive to take care of my body and care in college. The lie that you have to get a whole new wardrobe before going to college is stupid. If people mock you for not having new clothes or not being up to trend, that is their problem. We think people care a lot more than they really do. I want to surround myself with people who see past the clothes I wear. 



What about T-Shirts you have to Purchase for an Event?
Let's say I join a sorority next year and I have to purchase a shirt for an event, that will be my exception. I will see if I can get out of it, but most likely I will not be able to. Normally when you think you HAVE to buy something in reality, you do not. I have so many items in my closet and t-shirts I thought I HAD to buy but I did not. Something I am doing with all my old high school t-shirts is having my aunt make me a t-shirt blanket. This way I am not throwing away shirts my parents payed for, but I am keeping them and making them useful!




I'm going into a Fashion major...Shouldn't I be Helping the Industry?
I want to reinvent the fashion industry. Woman used to go to a tailor and tell the tailor what she wanted. It was fit to fit her body perfectly, it was well made and she had a few well made outfits perfect for her. Now, the stores are telling woman what they need. Minimalist fashion is beautiful to me. Doing much with little. If I can't be content with the high amounts of clothing I have now, how will I ever be content? If I am a real creative fashion student I will use what I have and reinvent it. This year might push me to make my own clothes again. 

What about Homecoming?
Yes I know my senior homecoming and Prom are this year. But have you ever heard of borrowing a dress you will only wear once? After deciding to not buy clothes for a year I thought of my dance and my heart sank. Then I remembered a beautiful gown my mother had in her closet I had always loved. Why not wear that? It has been classy and beautiful for 40 years won't it still be now? I'm honored and excited to wear my great aunt than mothers dress to my senior homecoming. 

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So people, let's be content, creative, and wise with our money. Let's worry more about our health and how we treat people than our image. Let's reinvent the fashion industry. Let's stop hurting people we will never meet who make our clothing. Lets buy quality over quantity. Let's focus on something else for once. 

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How will I do this?

• My first step was to unsubscribe on my email to clothing stores. They were constantly telling me it was time to go shopping. Take that away from yourself. 

• I love Pinterest for ideas on styling and hair, but most of the time I look at clothing I want to buy. I have deleted the app and need to take further steps to distance myself from that. 

• If I go shopping with my friends or sister I will leave my wallet at home or avoid going. I am hoping through my friends family and blog knowing about this it will be good accountability. 

• If I have an event like a sorority party where I have to wear let's say a white dress, I will borrow one instead of feeling I have to buy one. 

What Do I hope to Gain?

•  I hope I am less controlled by stuff. That I control my clothing and enjoy the clothes I already have.

• I hope I enjoy a more content heart knowing I don't NEED anything more.

• I hope I become more creative with clothing with mending and creating new looks I never thought of. 

• With every challenge I create for myself, I pray to grow closer to the Lord by peeling away the materialism of the world. 

Cool story from someone who tried this here. 
Cool video on minimalism here.  
Video on 10 Item wardrobe here.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows.
-Audrey Hepburn