Funky & Fair Trade

Maybe I just don't like physically shopping. I find it time consuming and it takes a lot of effort. This is all in addition to the fact that the majority of clothing out there carry questionable practices for the workers who make them.

I don't mind online shopping one bit though, I can do it any time of the day and it's virtually no different from window shopping. One top of that, fair trade options are more available depending on your boolean search skills.

Here are some nice funky goods:

American Apparel Tent Dress cut from vintage fabrics - $54

Here's a nice deviation from their normal offerings.

Saddle Back Stripes Skirt - $65 by Mata Traders

This one in particular is sold by Bittersweet by design

Ikat mini skirt with large pockets - $48 by Mata Traders

This one in particular is sold by Bittersweet by design

Tote bags made from rice bags and feed bags - $35

These ones are sold on the Global Girlfriend website.

Buttons and Bows top by Mata Traders - $54.99

on their website: www.matatraders.com



Found some nice duds. Now all I need is money. The prices are actually not too bad in the grand scheme of things, especially for ethically made clothing.

Curbing impulse for a cause

Being in a position that's more advantageous than others is sometimes hard to cope with. I'm an American. Walking through malls is kind of hard because it kind of brings to mind how America still functions on the institution of slavery and it's easier to cope with because we just don't see it. Things that are priced cheaply mean that the item itself was produced even more cheaply whether that means a machine did it or someone was paid dirt cheap to make a product.

Over the past few months, I've found it harder and harder to buy clothes. There are so many things made in China, Honduras, the Philippines and I can only wonder about the conditions in which these clothing were made. I can't make a wardrobe entirely of American Apparel - as much as I like them, the clothes seem very body type specific.

As of late, I just haven't been buying too many clothes. I'll make my small exceptions for jeans I know that fit, but generally, my new MO is to buy as few clothes as possible, utilize as much of what I currently have and if it is an option, I'll buy American made or sweatshop free clothing.

Given that this way of living severely limits my options, I've had the chance to reassess a few things in my life

1) Of the many clothes I own, I only wear a few of them anyway
2) Shopping for clothes is not one of my favorite hobbies.
3) Shopping for clothes to wear while shopping for clothing just doesn't make sense to me.

It's almost like a clothing diet, like that new years resolution I had a few years ago. I view a lot of sweatshop clothing the same as fast food - it's tempting, easy to acquire, and cheap, but ultimately in the long run, it's bad for you.

Oh Mercy

I watched The Warriors over the weekend. At first I found the opening odd because all the gang members were dressed the same.

I say to Frederick: "How come they're all wearing the same thing? What gangs do that these days?"

He says: "I don't think you're ready for this movie."

eBay-ables? etsy-ables? Round One

I was going to list a number of things on eBay before I remembered that I have good reason to not trust eBay. I shouldn't dwell constantly on the golden days of eBay as much as I should cleaning out my closet and  eating seasonal produce.

Given that I love themes, this first set of goods up for grabs all hail from Anthropologie. I like looking at it as going back to funkier times because sometimes Anthropologie can delve into grandma-ish territory and then it has a cycle of funky goods.