Vow for on year to retread my threads - NO SHOPPING!

For the next year, starting today June 21, 2009, I vow to not purchase any new clothes. I'm nervous to even say this out loud, let alone blog it for the entire universe to see.
It's out there so there's no taking it back now!!

For the next year I will mend, repair, recycle, upcycling, recraft, remake and retread, my current clothing to make it last. I have a very laid back job where my attire is rarely a concern. I will put aside some nice slacks and a couple nicer tops to save for special occasions that I may need to dress up for. Otherwise I will work with what I have.

I have exceptions to my vow:
1) Shoes: I need a new pair of winter boots and golashes. I live in Fairbanks Alaska it gets to more than -40 degrees at times and I will not compromise my toes. I have a newer parka and snow pants are a necessity that I cannot live with out. I will however look for used boots and if that doesn't work out of season discounts (at least i will save some money even if not conserving carbon foot print).

2) Underwear: I can NOT go without a bra! Those days are a distant memory. If I become desperate for new underwear I will mail order from a organic clothing line. If you have a recommendation please let me know. I love to sew but sewing my own undies is a little extreme for me and I refuse to by used intimate apparel. But I do vow to order from an organic cotton, free trade, green clothing line such as Gaiam.

3) Dumpster Diving: Where I live there are transfer stations. At these stations there are lots of dumpsters for your disposable trash and lawn debris. Then there is a covered platform where people leave items that others might find useful. Furniture, tools, clothes, electronics, you name it you might find it at the transfer station. If I happen to find something useful on the platform I don't feel that this is cheating.

My reasoning behind this vow is as follows.

• I have a ridiculous amount of clothes!
• I hate doing laundry and have been known to do horrible things such as buy new clothes to put off doing laundry....on multiple occasions.
• When clothes start showing wear I generally quit wearing them. I have a pile of perfectly good clothes that need minor repairs.
• A friend of mine vocalized this vow a few weeks ago and I thought it was an awesome idea. BUT when I volunteered to support her in this by uniting in the same vow. She got real nervous and started naming off all her exceptions where she would buy clothes and I realized this wasn't something she is serious about. I am serious about this and I can do it!!
• As I stated earlier I love to sew and a few of my favorite articles of clothing are skirts from old jeans. I think I will enjoy having a creative unique wardrobe that is completely one of a kind!
• Now that I'm back living in the grid I need to take measures to adjust my lifestyle and not succumb to the greedy consumer driven society we are all so immersed in.
  

Maybe you're not feeling at all inspired by my plan? Read this post, Recycling Worn out clothing, and hopefully you will at the very least feel compelled to always turn your old clothes to second hand store. Because even if you don't want your old clothes they don't belong in the garbage. Take them to your local goodwill store, value village, or if you live near me take them to the transfer station and leave them on the platform. Maybe I will come by on a Saturday morning and your trash will be my new treasure!

I would love to hear/see/read about how other people are conserving their consumption of retail items, as well as see how people are retreading their threads!