Where it began...

I think I mentioned this before, but I LOVE clothes.  I'm not claiming to have the best style, but I love my clothes, and I love wearing them.  We've never been ones to splurge on a garment.  We usually go straight back to the sale prices, which makes feeding my addiction to stuff an easy task.
How did I get to this point where I'd be ok with making this commitment?  Where I'd have to think critically before buying my clothes (thoughts that don't include what could I wear this with and is this colour wearable)?

Well, it all started with Australia.  I studied abroad this last spring semester in Australia at the Australia Studies Centre with Best Semester.  Our information we received before departing said to pack light, bring only ONE medium sized suitcase, and TWO pairs of jeans (I definitely took three).  Not only did they restrict how much we could bring, they pounded it into our heads that Americans were notorious for bringing too much stuff, for being huge consumers.  Every time I'd read that, it'd make me mad. "I know! I know! Just let me bring at least THREE pairs of jeans!" 

Last semester, I realized how little clothes I could live on.  I had to get creative, making tops be both winter and summer pieces.  I came back, and was amazed at all the choices I had in my closet. 
 
The program informed me a little on what fair trade was.  I had seen a few things about it before, but what the program wanted us to do was give up CHOCOLATE.  Unless it was fair trade, of course.  Apparently chocolate is one of the worst markets, basically creating modern-day slavery.
I didn't quite follow through with my commitment--I mean, who could give up Tim Tams?!--but the program encouraged us to make a difference, however small it may seem.  So, I came home, heartbroken after leaving good friends, but instilled with confidence to DO something. 

I've always loved thrifting.  I got to do that some in Australia (that's where I am in the photo), where they called them "op-shops" or "salvos", and I got to do it a lot this past semester.  I started thinking, in Octoberish, realizing how many clothes I had (not that I hadn't realized this before)--what if I didn't buy any new clothes next year?  I didn't decide to do it for a while--I didn't want to make an impulse commitment that I couldn't follow through with and come out feeling guilty in the end.  So know that this was thought out and planned. 

It started as that little idea, but then I thought, "Ok, what if I get desperate?  And what about all those cool new shops in OKC that have hand-made clothes, or fair trade clothes? Now hey, that'd be cool if the only new clothes I did buy were fair trade…and underwear and socks."
You know the rest of the story: I called Mak up, she wanted to do it too, and then my Mom signed up as well!

…and here I am 17 days into the adventure, and going strong!  I've been to the mall and a shopping centre twice and made it out alive and without too much psychological damage.

Hannah