Amos challenged himself to not buy any brand new clothing in 2017 (and he succeeded!). He allowed himself only second-hand, consignment, or free clothing.
See what he had to say about the experience and peep a few of his treasures below!
I would buy stuff just because it was cheap and I realized it was a waste of my resources. My eyes were also opened to the amount of child slavery in the textile industry. I knew I was part of the problem because I was into “fast fashion” (cheap clothing). I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could abstain for a whole year.
What did this experience teach you?
I’ve always embraced fashion as a way of expressing myself. Through this “new clothing fast” I became very intentional about what I was buying second-hand. I focused on classic, quality pieces that will stay in my closet for years.
Where were your favorite places to find treasures?
Yard sales, consignment stores (Plato’s, Buffalo Exchange when we were traveling), and random thrift stores. Friends even gave me some sweet pieces!
What was your best find?
I spotted some Red Wing boots at a yard sale with no price sticker on them. I asked the owner what she wanted for them and she said, “50 cents.” I said, “I’ll give you a dollar!” They are $100 boots.
Was it painful shopping with Carly (since she is a garbage person and didn’t do this same fast – words from Carly)?
Actually the opposite – it was nice to not feel the pressure to find something. When I would buy second-hand I felt so good because I knew I wasn’t contributing to a global problem and I was getting a great deal on a quality product (finding deals is a sport to me). I found a lot of staple pieces.
Will you ever buy new again?
I’m sure I will but I’m going to be super picky about what I buy. Last night at Target I could’ve bought 2 pairs of shoes for $20 (clearance) but I was thinking, “Why would I buy these crappy shoes?!”
(In the spirit of full disclosure, you should know I, Carly, did buy Amos one pack of white shirts in 2017 because his were pitted out to the yellow-y max and I didn’t want our clients thinking we are disgusting pig people.)
A SMALL SAMPLING OF AMOS’ FINDS:
There are an estimated 170 million children trapped in child labor in the world, with many of them working in the textile industry. They’re working to satiate a huge demand for clothing, especially in Europe and the US. Fast fashion (i.e. cheap clothing) demands that companies find cheaper and cheaper labor. Kids will be promised a fair wage, food, lodging, etc. and instead are met with unfair wages and terrible working conditions. The problem, at its heart, is the vicious cycle of poverty. Money Crashers has some great tips on being part of the solution.
Thanks for reading!