I'm no saint

Ok it’s offical. I’m struggling to do this whole fairtrade clothing pledge. I fancied myself above all the consumerism and soft lighting of shopping malls. But after several weeks on this journey I am itching to swipe my Visa for all the wrong reasons. I’ve made several confronting realizations.

 1. I love to shop for pure indulgent retail therapy (and no supermarket shopping does not fill this void)

2. Shopping at an Op Shop is not the same (sorry to all you die-hard op-ers)

3. On-line shopping is a complete gamble when buying clothes as the sizing seems strangely subjective

4. I want to wear normal, comfortable clothing and have not changed my mind about wearing crazy rainbow heshan sacks  (I pledged to go fairtrade not fashion free)

 5. Breaking the habit of shopping is a genuine struggle that we should not underestimate (it feels like giving up caffeine when you’re used to drinking 5 Turkish coffees a day, I know I’ve done that too).

In summary, I am not enjoying this process at the moment. Yes, it is hard. Well I said I’d be honest. I am stoic though and holding on to the slogan that people tree (www.peopletree.co.uk) use “fashion can be a tool for Change.” I just didn’t expect that change to include me!

Guilt trip

“I got some new boots…. they told me they were made ‘ethically.’”

“Great,” I say, wondering to myself how I became the confessional priest of all things fairtrade.

It’s a funny thing when you get into the whole fairtrade thing. It seems to conjure up guilt and the need to justify everything even by the most stoic of souls.

The other day I was wandering past the clearance racks and my first thought was ‘I hope that no one sees me.’ This is a new experience for me as I normally relish end of financial year sales. 

I’m finding it a fine line between wanting to tell people about the value and importance of fairtrade in a burst of enthusiasm; or alternatively worried to tell people the value and importance of fairtrade in fear that they will type-cast me as the moral compass of all things ethical and distance me out of guilt.

Going fairtrade is actually a real journey.

Grieving retail therapy

It’s not that I need new clothes. But I’ve decided that I just love to shop.

Dumb. Superficial. Consumeristic. I am actually struggling with the lack of retail therapy.

Have I become so absorbed in the system that I cannot imagine life with a chance to scrummage through the discount racks? I do so enjoy a bargin. It seems such a part of my pysche; must be the 'gatherer' gene of every woman.

My husband came home today after buying a number of new clothes for a big trip he is going on. And instead of congratulating him on his finds (as I normally do) I found myself jealous that he had the freedom to just go to the shops and buy something.

Breaking the cycle is not as straightforward as I thought. Without retail therapy I might actually have to face what is irritating me. Haven’t actually made it that far yet as I have fallen deeply into chocolate therapy. At least it’s fairtrade I tell myself.

Baby showering on-line

 

I’m finding the whole on-line fair-trading a new and challenging experience. I’ve got to buy a baby shower present and with on-line shopping you’ve got to be organized, especially with the delay with in receiving the parcel from overseas. I struggle with the tension between buying fairtrade from overseas knowing that all the additional postage and transportation leaves a heavy carbon imprint. However, in reality the vast majority of fairtrade products in their raw materials have largely travelled from the third world and therefore it is arguable that purchasing on-line from the USA or UK is just another leg of an already long trek. Just found the cutest little fairtrade baby outfits on-line. I’m sure these will be a hit at the next baby shower.  

http://muddkids.com.au

http://www.minieco.com.au/Information/Fair-Trade-Kids-Clothing 

http://zimmerjee.com.au/category_49/Eco-Baby-Toddler-Clothes.htm