Week 1: Intention Setting
My Ghost 'comfort' coat. Much worn since January 2014, and always makes me feel good. Something so nice about a quilted jacket...
So my year of buying nothing new has begun. Announcing it on Facebook, Linked In and Twitter was my way of publicly committing to the project. (I know like many I have more willpower when I am not working alone). It was surprisingly reassuring to get such a positive response. Some friends want to join me, which is brilliant. A few are already on this road and welcomed me along. Many said it was 'brave', and wished me a lot of luck, as if the temptation to run into Whistles might be too much for me. (It might well be - but let's see. I do hope not). Overall, it felt exciting to finally commit to something I have been thinking about for such a long time.
I want to make clear why I have decided to commit to this simple promise. In general I would say that I am not a bad shopper. I work in fashion and textiles, so what I wear holds huge meaning and pleasure for me. I have never been someone who buys cheap, fast fashion. I just can't take the poor quality fabrics, and the experience in somewhere like Primark leaves me cold. When I was an impoverished teenager, then in my student days, and in my twenties I was an ardent second-hand shopper. Now, at 44, I need a little luxury and quality too, and so my weakness is buying beautiful things that give me a ‘high’.
I tend to look for things that make me feel good about facing challenging social or work situations. For example, last year I bought a lovely navy satin quilted coat from Ghost to give a keynote talk in Hong Kong. I didn't need a new coat. I needed a confidence boost. So I think for me, my year of not buying new has got more to do with working on finding other ways to feel good - to be my best self - and to use the resources and materials I have at hand to express that, rather than purchasing in order to define it.
I am also interested in the idea of time. How little we think we have of it – working full time and a mum is most certainly a challenge – but it's what we do with the little we have that I want to spend this year considering. I find sewing and mending relaxing, but I do so little of it these days as my workload has seeped into my evening routine. However, on Sunday mornings once a month I go through my wardrobe and see what I have for the weeks ahead – anticipating the changes in weather or key diary events. This is time well spent, and as I do it listening to Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, it’s one of the nicest hours of my ‘me time’ each month. I want to extend these sessions and see how creative they can become. I am creating a styling wall in the bedroom to give me some proper space to demonstrate to myself the range of looks I have to hand at any given time.
In terms of shopping and purchasing habits, I will not be buying new goods, but I will continue with my interest in the second hand trade. I am lucky to have an Oxfam Boutique, a Mary’s Living and Giving and a brilliant Cancer Research shop in Chiswick, London W4. I am already a regular customer, but this year I am going to scrutinize more closely what I buy, and donate. This market has changed so much in recent years, but what else needs to change to get more people enthusiastic about reusing existing products?
I am sure more questions will emerge week by week, but for now I need to dive in the wardrobe to get dressed for work. (Oh what to wear… what to wear… what to wear…?)
