A Better Way to Thrift

It has been a minute since I last talked about fashion. I am surprised that I do not write about it often, while it's one of my biggest passions. 

So here's a pop quiz to start the week:

Thrifting, yay or nay?

If you remember my post about Conscious Fashion and our wedding theme;

A Conscious Love Story, you'll know I will forever vouch for thrifting and trying to minimize shopping from fast fashion brands. 

I am not 100% there yet, hence this topic. 

I recently learned a few things:

1. Here in Indonesia, we have somehow exported second-hand clothes from countries like Korea and China to then be sold on the thrift market. Not sustainable after all isn't it?
2. Knowing the source is the key to sustainable fashion. Now that I question my first method, I try to buy second items from familiar communities friends, and families
3. Cost per wear is easily overlooked, but prioritizing quality can get you there. The more often (and longer) you wear the piece, the lower the cost is
4. Here's a trick to make your fashion items worth more: When you're eyeing a particular item (jeans, blouse, jacket, anything), try to think of at least three styles that you can rock in it. Picture your wardrobe and scan through it with your mind if you already have something similar (chances are, you do). After that, think of at least three items you can pair with the new item. Not two, but three. Got it? If yes, then you can go to the cashier
5. Organise a garage sale with your group of friends, book club, or church friends? Making "clothes swap" a birthday theme is also a way to make birthdays feel more priceless. 

Illustration by Grace Farris

A Sustainable Dream Coming True

While typing away, I am realising that sustainability has become the latest buzzword in the fashion industry. Awareness of the environmental impact of the fashion industry has skyrocketed, but how has this translated into action and results? 

Sustainability related keywords have increased 75% year on year, and your IG explore button now directs you to endless shopping options, with the promise of an environmentally-friendly dream; ethically made clothing that sits perfectly on your shoulder and flows beautifully right to your knees. Classy design, sustainability, and ethics! 

I first encountered SukkhaCitta in 2018, the same year I decided to leave my comfortable corporate desk and trail-blaze my way into a self-employed creative discipline (calling it an industry makes me feel uncomfortable). 

“I just want to share and tell stories about people - I just want to write,” I remember telling my former employer. They thought I was mental. I don’t think they were wrong. 

Slow yet steady progress was made, as I watched this seed grew into my own WordPixAsia.  

Questioned by many, I was full of self-doubt, and many sleepless nights ensued. Who will trust you? How long are we going to last? What if they don’t like my ideas? 

SukkhaCitta  quietly celebrates a mighty fifth anniversary this week, sharing one story that has touched my heart.  A mother (who made the clothing you purchased) witnessing her daughter graduating from high school.

I say “quietly” because there’s no blatant marketing gimmick like a special prize, and I say “mighty” because of the mother and daughter’s successes. These tangible results speak louder than words for this sustainable and classy fashion house. 

My wobbly first steps taken both professionally with WordPixAsia, and personally as a pretend extrovert, have been challenging. Today I am celebrating my third year since I first signed on my first client. I also realise that two years ago I turned down a project representing what I believe is wrong when it comes to nature and women’s welfare. I needed the fast-easy money, but I long for sustainable welfare more. 

If I were to mother a child someday, and he or she asked “Ibu, did you know anything about child labour or deforestation?” I do not want to say “I know. But I did not do anything about it.” 

I am still here, telling stories that will help other women, and animals as they have no sounding board, and I can humbly say there is no looking back. 

 You may walk timidly  for what you believe in. But keep walking. 

 You may bite your tongue every now and then. But keep speaking.