Mindful Threads

Transforming into a mindful consumer doesn't happen overnight. We are all working to make more ethical and sustainable choices when we shop that ensure that the land and all beings living on it are cared for. With that in mind, here are some tips we hope will help you navigate through our consumerist world.

Our tips:

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• Always check your labels! See where your clothing is being made.

• Do your research on your favourite companies; if they are not forthcoming with where their clothing is being made, it may mean they have something to hide.

• Recycle unwanted clothes! Billions of pounds of clothing wind up in landfills each year, where they either do not decompose (synthetics) or emit gases like ammonia and methane during decomposition which go into the atmosphere (natural fibres)

• Avoid synthetic fabrics (rayon, polyester). These fabrics do not decompose, and when washed they shed microfibres in the washing machine, which add to plastic pollution in the ocean and are harmful to marine life.

• Look for ORGANIC natural fibres such as cotton, linen, or hemp when purchasing new clothes

• “read against the grain” when shopping; ask yourself: why do I want this item? What is influencing my decision to purchase?

• Shop vintage and second- hand.

• Donate your clothing, but be mindful!!  In North America as a whole, an estimated 85 percent of donated clothing is not making it into thrift shops to be sold for a second life and instead ends up in a landfill. If you don't think the item you wish to donate has enough life left in it to serve its future new owner well, consider recycling it yourself instead of donation. 

• If you have unwanted clothing in good condition, consider consigning it! Consignment shops are a great alternative to big donation centres - they are often locally owned, and some will buy your clothes from you or give you a percent of the profits when the item is sold!

• Give your worn clothing a new purpose by cutting it up for dishclothes, or making them into placemats or dish holders! Here is one idea for how to repurpose your old t-shirts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUP-C1utN8c

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Local versus Sustainable: 

We love supporting local small businesses - buying local means you are investing in your community and you know who you are supporting with your dollar. It is important to remember though that buying local does not always mean you are buying sustainable or ethical products. For example, a small store who is selling silk-screen t-shirts could be owned locally, but they are purchasing their shirts from a wholesaler who has them produced for dirt cheap in Bangladesh. No matter where you shop, it is important to ask questions about who makes every part of the clothing you are buying, and where it comes from.