The Great American Apparel Diet » recycled apparel

The Diet Must Go On, Closet Colonics and I Know there is a Skinny Closet Begging to Get Out

Sally Bjornsen — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:46:46 +0000

Tonight I was with my friend Portia who has been contemplating going on this diet for 11 months now. I told her that I have decided to extend the diet for one more year, in light of the fact that there have been so many people interested in joining the effort in the past few weeks (here we go again). When I told Portia it wasn’t too late to realize the benefits of clothing deprivation she hooped and hollered “That’s what I need, a closet colonic.” The visual made me gag. She went on to claim, “Deep within my big, fat, bloated walk-in closet there is a skinny one begging to be free.” Portia, warming to the idea, is going to “think about it,” before she commits. Let me be clear…I am not doing this for another year myself but I will moderate, facilitate, contemplate and write about life post diet.

Alright already Portia—stop the squawkin’ and start walkin’ give your closet the future it deserves with a purge, a cleanse a regular down home colonic. We’re here my dear and waiting to hear how it all “flushes out.”

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Diet has led to gaining new values

Michelle Mullin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:00:01 +0000

I’ve been pretty successful on this diet, though I have had a few “cheats”. I will catalogue them now for full disclosure: 1 pair boots this winter (I actually did not have a pair of boots that were waterproof, and now that I am commuting a few blocks in the snow, they were necessary), a new t-shirt from a state park and a new shirt from a local artisan. I think this is pretty darn good! It’s way better than I’ve ever done on a food diet anyway! Besides the practicality of the boots, the two shirts were supporting things that I want to support. I could have just given the park money, but I like advertising for it. And the artisan was at a local craft fair, so it was a one-time chance.
What’s been the most interesting to me throughout this diet though is how I’ve found a new value system.

When I first started, every day that I walked past Anne Taylor was torture. And I walk past this store every week day. I would stare in and LONG for the outfits in the window. A couple of months ago, I went into the store. I was nervous, and I found I wanted things. But then I looked at the price tags. Suddenly dropping $180 on a new dress “just because” seemed appauling! I used to do this weekly without batting an eye, now it just seems frivolous, despicable even. I saw these cute t-shirts with ribbons and pearls on them, and thought about how much I wanted one. It wasn’t very expensive either. But I realized that I could actually take a pink t-shirt I already own and turn it into this cute be-dazzled shirt. This was especially a good idea because the shirt has a small coffee stain on it, and I have therefore not worn it. But I could turn it into something I want to wear again by attaching decorative items to it!

I now find myself exploring store windows, not with lust and envy, but with a curious eye turned towards “how did they make that”? I am re-discovering my once artistic and creative self, and finding fulfillment. I am also discovering that I have managed to save a lot of money for things that matter more to me, and feeling less stressed out. It’s nice to be able to walk to work without feeling completely depressed that you “can’t have” that cute dress in the window. Now I realize that I can have whatever I want, but my “wants” are changing.

Who knew that deprivation would lead to so much gain!?

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A Summer Shout Out

Sally Bjornsen — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:28:36 +0000

O.K., I am not proud. I have told nearly every woman I know that I am simply starving on this @#$%^& diet. The good news, my incessant complaints and whines have been rewarded with hand-me-downs from friends and family (maybe they just want me to shut up). Now, these aren’t Oliver Twist castoffs. Remember, birds of a feather flock together. My friends and family have hand-me-downs with tags still on them or barely worn items that they “bought on a whim,” and shouldn’t have (you know the story). I am sorry for their mistakes, but not really. I’m glad to be the one who can take these items off their hands. Most importantly their gifts are going to good use. Just last week I received a beautiful wrap from my mother, a white knit item, just like Meryl Streep wore in the movie It’s Complicated. I am now wearing a pair of pewter Donald Pliner slides and a great pair of lulu lemon tights my yoga friend gave me (she has three of the same pair). So my point? Tell people you will gladly take their shopping mistakes off their hands. They will fell great about it, especially if you wear them again and again. Now go forth and tell the world, “I am hungry, feed me your scraps!”

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Seattleites: Recycled Fashion in Greenwood Parade July 28

Kris — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:45:27 +0000

My friend Dikka “No Scrap Too Small” is organizing a show of recycled fashions in Seattle’s Greenwood Parade. More info at Sew Up Seattle http://www.sewupseattle.blogspot.com/

Dikka is part of the great Re-Skilling of America, teaching free sewing classes (using all recycled materials) every month.

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J.S. Jumping on the Bandwagon for 81 Days

Sally Bjornsen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:04:47 +0000

My name is J.S., and this challenge really struck a chord with me when I first read about it. As a young adult who works in the fashion industry, I witness consumerism and the short lifespan of ever-evolving trends on a daily basis. One day it’s in, the next day it’s out. This is why I believe developing your own style is important. Not only do you become less immune to these trends, but you can stand out from the crowd. Why wear something just because it’s “in right now”? Your style is what makes you, you. This challenge is an opportunity to continue developing my style by looking into my closet and exercising some creativity! The other goal is to free up, time (and space) to invest in what is important to me. This will be an interesting challenge because all day I am surrounded by clothes, and I occasionally wholesale-buy for clothing. I guess the perk of saving aside a pair to stow away in my closet will be gone until September 1st, 2010. I want to see how strong I mentally am. Bring it on!

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Soles of…tire?

Kim — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:19:52 +0000

Made in a family-owned factory in Mexico
“At Green Bees, for every tire that is rescued from the landfill, four shoes are produced. Keeping in line with their planet-saving credo, Garcia and Clancy use only full-grain leathers that are byproducts of the meat industry and considered waste material. Tanned without formaldehyde or heavy metals, the leather is then crafted into bohemian-inspired footwear in a family-owned factory in Leon, Mexico.”

With soles made out of recycled tires, and the rest of the shoe made out of genuine leather, you cannot help but love this classic footwear. There are a limited number of styles, but most, such as the Molly Shoe, come in a wide range of colors. Old-fashioned loafers and boots that can be seen on the farm as well as the street are among what is offered. The Emma Boot, a short boot with small detailing on the leather was my favorite. And when makers Garcia and Clancy are donating a tree for every pair sold, there is no reason not to buy one of each!

The Erma Boot (left) and The Emma Boot (right).

Reasonable prices, since leather is never cheap, but some of the newer sandal styles come for less.
Can purchase online or at a few stores in California and limited other states. See website for details.

http://www.shopgreenbees.com/index.htm

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Shopping in the Aftermath-Conscious Shopping

Sally Bjornsen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:29:41 +0000

All right dieters, for many of you this diet ends in 85 days. I am trying to prepare as best I can for the day when we are “set free.” The last thing I want is a mass binge on crappy, (earth damning) clothes all made in inhumane factories in China.

As you know I have been pondering the question—what does responsible consumerism mean and is eco-fashion code for burlap dress? First let me reflect a bit. At the beginning of this diet I didn’t know I would become interested in “world friendly” fashion. But through TGAAD experiment I have read, met and interviewed several fashionistas who have made a concerted effort to be both fashionable and kind to the globe. I have come to admire that goal and would like to try that myself.

So, with that thought, I am hoping that when I am finally “let loose” at the mall I will be much more aware of where my products come from, who made them and what they are made of. We are talking sophisticated, hot, sexy, sharp, professional, fun clothes, not Burning Man attire. Apparel that looks beautiful, is made well and comes from a place that you can pronounce.

So beginning today I am going to, along with my intern Kim, share the knowledge of what eco brands exist out there. This will be a daily update. We will begin to educate you on who is shaping the designs and direction of eco friendly fashion. We will introduce you to people and companies who can legitimately boast fair treatment of their employees. And finally and I think most exciting we will open your eyes to some stellar American sourced and American made brands that you can get enthusiastic about. So here it goes.

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Confession

Stephanie Greco — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:53:01 +0000

I cheated. Nine months in and I cheated. I bought two new yoga tops. I could give you some good excuses like – my droopy boobs that seem to have dropped two additional inches this year – needed a bit more support, but that would just be an excuse. A real one none the less, but still I could have held out. The real reason is that I started ‘not to care’…just got tired of all the other pressures of my life and this seemed the easier route to take. Just got back from a very rough trip to NY while my brother received chemo for 4 days in a row, with me by his side. Many, many family dynamics and a long flight delay home, to MORE RAIN and MORE family pressures and I just got plain tired. I’m sorry. But I’m not returning the tops. I will do my best to stay on track for the remaining months. As much as I say I don’t care…it does matter.

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Adventures in Clothingland

Tabatha — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 17:55:05 +0000

As I descend into my sixth month on the clothes diet, I’ve caught myself reminiscing about my last trip to a mall. My friend Tina and I were quite bored after lunch one afternoon and had some time to spare, so we ventured to a relatively new mall that was close-by, but rarely possessed anything either of us could afford. Being that I was on the clothes diet and she has been trying to cut back a little, we made a pact. We could look at all the pretty things we want, but if either of us tried to make a purchase, they would be allotted one smack and a stern “NO”. There would be no rationalizing a purchase here, nor any mindless spending.

Soon, of course, we found that this formerly extravagant mall had fallen on (slightly) tough times, allowing more affordable stores into their hallowed halls. (I might add that you can now cue Joe Jackson’s “Captain of Industry (Overture)” to play in the background of this paragraph.) Upon our realization of the mall’s new persona that was filled with the likes of Forever 21 and Anthropologie, we ran around like kids in a store that sold not just candy, but also some forbidden fireworks and other explosives. At this point, the clothing racks were flooded with echoes of oohs and aahs. Fingers were pointed at sparkly trinkets, and puppy dog eyes gleamed in the face of plumed fascinators. But all was forgotten as an apple-red tweed jacket lined with navy tartan and a portion of Paddington Bear’s soul quickly caught my canine sight, overshadowing any reflections from the other doodads. Light shone from its threads as swirling, twinkling colors straight from the opening credits of Family Affair settled upon its countenance. It was the apple of my eye, and as said eyes glazed over and my drool washed ashore, Tina sensed my weakness very quickly, pulling me aside to look at floral frocks to which she knows I would never feel betrothed. This brought up another point of conversation, a story from our teenage years.

Soon pointing a rigid finger at a bowl full of jewel encrusted, tiger bedecked rings, and glitter nail polish, Tina squealed, “Tabatha, I neeeeed these things,” mocking a former incarnation of herself who was also blinded by the light of fashion. We chortled at Tina’s quotation of that hidden and buried inner girl that had once picked up a bundle of tchotchkes in a Claire’s Accessories, making the exact same proclamation, one of need rather than desire. However, we knew deeply that neither of us had really grown out of the inane love spell that we first noted while perusing those novelties during that hazy memory of a spring evening. The little girls within ourselves would never let us forget those sparkled yearnings.

Luckily, through our wit and self-deprecating humor, we made it out of the mall with nothing but a discount Erlenmeyer flask that I had, as I explained to Tina with her lips already poised for a “NO”, been searching for over a six month period. Right now I still think about the jacket, and if I hadn’t been on the diet I know that I probably would have returned to romantically whisk it off its hanger. But I can rest easy knowing that I now have money to spend on making memories at summer concerts for the Psychedelic Furs and the Go-Gos that would otherwise have been spent on my addiction to tweed. This is at least a great solace.

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Handy Sewing Tip

Elizabeth Sarobhasa — Sat, 01 May 2010 19:23:37 +0000

Flashback to the 80s, enjoy!

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