The simple style credo calls for a new appreciation of the apparel we put on our bodies each day. For many of us, the sad truth is that we don’t respect our clothing. We toss it in heaps, have way too much of it to truly appreciate, throw it away when the whim of fashion dictates something new, leave it behind on trips, forget it at a friends, keep it trapped in our closet to never see the light of day, and on and on.
True, our garments are not gems or treasures. They are not things we would run back into a burning house to save. Most of our apparel wears out, fades and otherwise loses luster over time.
But-- someone labored long and hard to sew and finish the clothes you are wearing right now. Someone else worked hard on the design. If you are wearing natural fibers others labored to grow and harvest the cotton, hemp, flax, or bamboo that composes your tee shirt or trousers. If your dress was made oversees someone loaded it onto a cargo ship and then someone else transported it across the ocean and then someone else trucked it overland to the store where you bought it. You get the idea. Throw away fashion and fast fashion does not respect people’s labor.
By adopting a simple style, slow fashion credo, we embrace a full appreciation for the garments we choose to buy and wear. Because there are less of them, we can easily be more intentional and purposeful in our selections. This leads to a natural appreciation for each component of our attire. By wearing a streamlined wardrobe each piece of which we truly love, we are honoring the work that went into creating our garments.
So today’s advice is to slow down, simplify and show some respect, already!
--Your friends at Birch
