Whether you realise it or not, remember how sustainable we were during the lockdowns?
And when we regained our freedom, we wondered if we could maintain sustainability at pandemic levels.
I was at home today, a normal day, and whilst in the kitchen, I glanced at the recycle and trash bins. They made me very sad, I know I could be doing more to avoid such an amount of rubbish. This feeling was reversed whilst going through the cleaning products under the sink, I felt quite at peace in the area.
I have found my way around greener alternatives for most of my cleaning products, and some of them you can easily make yourself.
Later on that day, when changing one baby's nappy, and throwing the dirty one away, I suddenly felt soo bad for buying so many baby wipes and nappies and at some point, at the time when Mia was a baby, I decided to revisit the idea of giving reusable nappies another go.
I started using them when the baby was born anyway, and bought the whole equipment, after much research in the minefield. I used them for a while (and was pleasantly surprised to discover they were not as disgusting as I originally thought they would be), however, I eventually gave up the idea thinking I was doing something wrong, as something was not quite working.
" Skills before consumption"
I then started calculating how many more of them I needed, and how much each cost. The math result was a bit discouraging.
I was then tidying up the groceries and jars, where all my bulk stuff goes, and I happened to notice the bill of my last purchase. As much as I love buying from zero-waste stores, it's not realistic for me at times spending a certain amount of money.
Let's go into fashion, shall we? I spend hours, most days, researching new brands, local independent retailers and high street shops. I am looking for products, both for posting ideas related to my work and to purchase for myself. Gone are the days when I used to go to the high street shops and spend X amount on whatever I liked without giving it much thought anyway.
As a consumer nowadays, if I buy something, it has to comply with a whole lot of ticks; the fit has to be great, it needs to be in a colour palette to suit me, it has to be my style and compatible with different items in my current wardrobe. I make sure I can build at least three outfits with the new purchase. Just liking the new piece is not enough! I have to loooove it, but not only love it right now, the future me has to love it too. It has also got to fit with my lifestyle right now, not the one I perceived in six months. In addition, it needs to be made of a fabric which is going to last for a long time.
My purchasing "strategy" sounds exhausting and time-consuming, right? Well, it is something I can do relatively quickly now, but I have studied this for years and do this every day with my work.
Back to my day, with a bit of spare time, I fancied making my own hummus and bread from scratch. This is when some clarity started to arise. From the confusion and frustration of the day it hit me. Is it normal for women to have time to make their own cleaning products, shop ethically for rice, make hummus and bread and find time to buy clothes in the best way, and fit all that in a budget?
No offence, guys, but I don't see my partner making yoghurt, making hummus or looking at where the T-shirt came from, let alone, making our own cleaning products so I wonder, is being sustainable mainly a woman's task?
We hear constantly how we, as consumers, have to do our part, eat organic, shop zero waste, support independent retailers and avoid buying fast fashion, because if we don't buy those products any more, they will not be produced for the lack of demand.
When something as big as the planet is at stake, where do we choose to start being sustainable? Making it sustainable for you?
Do you have to be well off and have loads of time on your hands to be green and sustainable?
I can tell you this much about fashion, myself and the woman I help.
We don't have to be under pressure to buy cashmere, that is going to last forever (because it won’t anyway).
We don’t have to feel guilty if we buy high street ( If you know how to buy it).
We don’t have to all be minimalists, with only greys, browns and black and whites in our wardrobe ( If that is not you).
I have helped many women find their way, and their style, and by doing so, buying more cleverly, equally, more sustainable, which is the way forward, skills before consumption.
All you have to do, is discover who you are, and get your power back, the power of knowing yourself and exactly what to buy.
It is a journey, but it is a worthwhile journey that we can all do, for your worth, for your wallet, for the planet, and for your own individuality and personality.
If you want to start yours and do it together, you know you are not alone, get in touch! raquel@raxanie.com
Raquel
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