3-item wardrobe example
There are so many ways to relate with clothes differently to what is the norm in our society. By "the norm" I mean what I generally observe around me, but of course I also recognise that many fellow humans practise alternative ways of being in the world. The norm is such that fellow humans buy clothes often and often discard them. Near my apartment block in a recycling facility there is a textile bin which gets filled so quickly, often with clothes that look wearable and could still serve someone else. Fast fashion and ultra fast fashion companies thrive. Many humans feel the pressure to wear different outfits every day. I'm not following any influencers and use social media mindfully, but I believe that much pressure to consume and reinvent oneself comes from that realm of social being. There seems to be an obsession with everything new.
Yet, some fellow humans make their own clothes. Some commit to buying only or mostly second-hand clothes. Some borrow and swap clothes with others. Some practise naturism whenever possible. Some commit to buying only from small, local businesses. All of these are beautiful ways to relate with clothes differently.
I do not think that there is one perfect way of relating with clothes more sustainably. Personally, I realised that living with a lot less than what is the norm in our society is my preferred way. I've never been good at making my own clothes and I never had enough time for that due to my academic work. I don't shop second-hand because I don't like shopping. I borrow clothes very rarely. I practise naturism in summer in the Nordics whenever possible and wherever I am unlikely to meet too many fellow humans. Buying clothes from small, local businesses is very expensive.
In this entry I wanted to capture an example of what I wear every single day. In the picture above is one of my 2 linen shirts, one of my 3 pairs of sweatpants (1 of which I don't wear), and one of several basic tops. Everything I live with is either off-white, some shade of beige or grey. I wear these colours because they are calming to me and probably also to my fellow humans. I find bright colours and patterns overstimulating, and perhaps some fellow humans do too. I don't want to contribute to overstimulation in the world where our senses are overloaded every day. My basic tops and sweatpants look slightly different because I welcomed them into my life at different times. Some of those basic tops have long sleeves, some have short sleeves and some are sleeveless.
