Six Items Challenge: Lessons Learned

 

It's been a week now since the July round of the Six Items Challenge for Labour behind the Label's effort to raise awareness about working conditions in the global textile and fashion industry. And, it's been curious to watch my behavior...to see if anything has really changed. And after a week, I would say it has.

Early in the challenge Franca at Oranges and Apples wrote a post that worked on my thinking throughout the challenge. She speculated that a challenge would only be possible with frequent laundering, thus contributing to the environmental impact of a reduced wardrobe. Two of the items I selected for my challenge were Dry Clean only (the black slacks and woven skirt). Two were cold water wash items (the reversible shell and white skirt) and two could be tossed in with other items of laundry I might be doing (the white and black tees). I learned to change into my nightgown earlier in the evening than I ordinarily would. I learned that simply airing clothing might suffice; I wore items longer between washings. And, I learned to wash items in my bathroom sink. I dry cleaned once during the month, using a kit and my own washer/dryer. Today, 6 days after the challenge ended, I had my first official laundry day in a month, having run out of underwear.

I also worried that such intensive wearing might permanently ruin the six items I chose. I am happy to report that the white tee was the only item that showed this wear, with the hem beginning to ravel in the last week. The black slacks, however, will likely never be worn as a pair of dress slacks again--as I've discovered how comfy and "dressed up" they are for every day wear. In fact, as I type, I'm wearing the black slacks with a Harley top that Sandra from Owl Molt sent toward the end of the challenge. Picture it: a 58 year old woman, braless, in a tight motorcycle ridin' top. DH loves it.

I rediscovered the WEALTH of accessories I own and have done a second closet cleaning since the challenge ended, trying to think of a better way to organize these accessories. I need something like a shoe box for each color in the palette where items could be sorted according to color. Do any of my readers have an arrangement like this?

I also discovered what summer shoes I do not wear and have tossed them into a new box intended for a thrift store donation. Even more of the wardrobe that remained after the first closet clearing has now been added to the pile of things I'll attempt to sell on eBay. The reversible top may show up there. (I've made my first sale!)

Before the challenge began, I had wanted to include a dressier skirt and a grey linen blazer which has seen no wear this summer.  Given the additional challenge that the hot-hot-hot weather added to the challenge, I consider myself very LUCKY to have stumbled across the reversible top in a thrift store just before the challenge began.  It reminded me of this dress I had been very tempted to purchase last winter.  Early on, some of my readers had questioned the long-sleeved tees, but given the intensity of the sun in my area during July, I was glad to be covered up.  Luckily, my work does not involve going to campus in the summer time so I was able to make do with a fairly casual wardrobe.

I have never been a fan of fast fashion.  The $20 wardrobe I worked with entirely originated in a thrift store.  Rags has long ago proven that it is possible to dress professionally for very little expense, but the challenge has shown that I could likely do with a fraction of wardrobe I currently own.  Another round of the challenge is upcoming in September for those of you who think you'd like to try it.  And my fund-raising widget will remain in my sidebar until that challenge begins.  I encourage you to try it!

And now for a glimpse of what I've been up to on my vacation: