On friday i watched a documentary film called The True Cost. The documentary is about the fashion industry and how it affects the enviroment and everybody around us. It's the very sad truth behind all the glamorous things we see in our everyday lives from commercials, advertisement and how it's affecting the way we live.

 

It's available to watch on Netflix and i really cannot stress enough how inspiring and awakening and just all around a good message this documentary was. You have to watch it with an open mind and try to really understand what a problem it really is. We as customers should think more and not fall for everything we see just because it looks delightful.. because what is behind it and what that beautiful dress has been through is quite the opposite. With an open mind, just because you think you are not powerful, spreading the message and letting everybody else know how passionate you are about it and how important it is to you that nobody is hurt during the process of making the beautiful dress, we can and we will change the world.

 

 

The first thing that stuck out to me was how expensive the clothes are when you go shopping nowadays. Jeans are around 800kr or 90 bucks and tops around 300kr or 35 bucks where i live. Ofcourse depending on which shops you shop at. But sometimes the prices just seem to go higher and higher and when you have a minimum amount to spend on things like clothing per month it starts to get difficult when the clothing piece you need and want costs as much as it does.

 

The thing is that the clothes you buy aren't actually that expensive to begin with. They are probably made somewhere where people who make them are paid 30 cents (us dollar) per day and gets sold for us customers for whatever insane price to make us poorer and these companies richer. But how can you resist those beautiful boyfriend jeans, right? The good news is there are a few tricks to make sure you never buy from clothes made from sweatshops in Bangladesh. Starting from where it is made from, Bangladesh.

 

Be picky about where the clothes are made in. Here is a list of countries that are most likely to have been from

a horrible sweatshop.

 

source: http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-shocking/7-countries-with-horrific-sweatshop-situations/

 

You can do some research and read about it online and get more educated about sweatshops and the horrible conditions of the workers. The smaller the brand of the shop is, the less likely it is made in these sweatshops and the bigger the brand is (H&M, Zara etc) the more likely it is made there. Being locally handmade in your country is another plus.

 

Being picky about size, quality, color and state of the clothing is another thing to consider when shopping. I know im guilty of buying that neon skirt that i didn't really wear anywhere. It will just collect dust in your closet and a waste of money you could have been saving for a quality piece or basic piece you will wear everyday. Do not buy anything that is not your size just because it looks good. In time you are bound to see another one that fits you perfectly and you will appreciate and love.

 

Does it fit me?

Do i really like it?

Does it go with something i already have?

Is it in good condition?

Do i lean towards these types of colors and does the color suit me?

Will i wear it more than once?

Is it made of good quality material that will last a really long time?

Is it my style?

Is it a necessity?

 

A lot of the clothes we buy are treated with chemicals to make them a certain color. But before that, the cottons that are used to make the textiles are also treated with pesticides in cotton farms and in some farms the farmers are getting diseases such as cancer and leukemia. On top of that, the environment is obviously affected by these chemicals as well and the soil in farms where cotton is grown are absorbing these chemicals. Not only does the farmers ingest these chemicals into their bodies but since our largest organ is skin and the skin absorbs about 60% of what we put on it, people who wear these clothes are also affected by it. In some villages in Bangladesh, there are people who are born with diseases and abnormalities because of it. 

 

The good thing is that there is organic cotton available. Although it is not as popular and easy to find as the chemically treated cotton, it's there.. and the more you buy it the more popular and cheaper it becomes. Again we as customers decide that. If the companies notices a difference in the sale of a certain item, they will make sure the growth of that product's sales keeps increasing and we'll make them aware of what we want.

 

Besides being picky about quality, color and size of the clothing, you should also be more careful when going shopping and resist the urge of buying from sales and promotions with the eyecatching 75% off and buy 2 get 1 for free. The reason they are dirt cheap is because they didn't really cost that much where they were made at the first place. You see, the companies are still making a lot of money despite the sales!

 

People tend to buy more things they dont really need or like in sales. I mean it's not really bad to go take a look at sales in shops but just remind yourself and be the one who decides, not the shop. Dont let the advertisement fool you because after all.. you are the one who is handing the bills. Your sweat and your work.

 

To help the environment we need to buy less, use more and declutter. Buy clothing pieces you really need for every season of the year and donate the things you dont wear and has no purpose in your closet. Donate it to family and friends. It's better to donate it where you can see it has a purpose because often times the donations end up in landfills and pollute. Make sure you avoid buying even more clothes (except the ones you need) to reduce the clothes you are donating as well!

 

Minimum Clothing 

Downsize the amount of clothes you have and by going shopping with rules, you only keep what you really need on an everyday basis and pieces you absolutely love. For example, having a minimum amount to spend of 1000kr or 120 bucks a month and minimum pieces of clothes to buy every season will help you not overspend and save more money and keep a quality piece instead of 4 similar shades of crap quality t shirt that doesn't even fit you and therefore you never wear. Splurging on items are also fine as long as it's a good quality piece that you know you will wear to death and will last you forever. The ONE IN ONE OUT rule is also very helpful when decluttering.

 

I hope this post inspires and helps people and be more aware of the world we dont see behind the beautiful heels and dresses when we go shopping. It's a sad thing to see people suffering because we need to look nice for a day, not knowing we are part of the problem that is causing the death of so many people all over the world. I do believe that together as customers we can change it. And if i inspire just one person's view of fashion, my life would be complete.

 

Stay inspired!

w. much love

//kristina