NY-CA: July 2010

Hello dear readers!!!

I am here to talk about getting out of our consumerist rut and how we really don't need to buy anything anymore. Yes, I said it. We don't need to buy anything anymore.

Take a look at this New York Times article:

These people are only wearing 6 items for an entire month:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/fashion/22SIXERS.html
http://sixitemsorless.com/the-project/

And here, people have taken pledges not to buy for a year:
http://www.thegreatamericanappareldiet.com/

However, there is another solution: CLOTHING SWAPS!
What to do with all the clothes that are still alright to wear but they've been sitting in your closet for years? Give them to your friends!!!

Rather than pledging not to buy or only wearing a few items, why not purge your closet of things you don't need, and swap with your friends? I had a few friends over last night and we all brought a bag of things we didn't want and left with a bag of things that we did want; no longer are useless items taking up precious space. There are two huge bags of clothes left over which I will now donate!

I've had a few swaps, all of which were successful - especially the first one I had at college where probably 50 people came, and I had a ton of things left over. I was able to give items to the African Student Organization, which was collecting clothes for less fortunate children in the Binghamton area. Every bit of the swap was perfect!!!

If you're thinking of having a swap at your school, make sure to advertise and talk talk talk about it. Maybe get a club to sponsor the event and advertise for you.