I am so glad I completed my year-long clothes shopping ban. It taught me a few important things.
In 2019, the last thing I added to the wardrobe was a winter coat in November. I didn't shop for my birthday or new years eve. As I no longer have to commute to work, I knew I wouldn't need to invest in my wardrobe as such. The pandemic of this year changed the equation of even going out in general. By May, I asked my self do I need to even shop for clothes this year? I was contemplating going on a clothes shopping ban for quite some time, and the time was just right. So, I decided not to shop for clothes till November, to complete a year of the ban.
Looking at the scenario, it seemed easy. Anyway, I wasn't a regular shopper. I would shop once in four to six months with rare impromptu buys. Even with this background, it wasn't easy. At first, because of the pandemic, the priorities were completely different. Things got a bit difficult as the holiday season approached. With many sales around, I won't deny that there was a temptation to shop. I kept reminding myself that I had promised a year.
So, why did I take the clothes shopping ban in the first place? The demand-supply law of economics works in every industry. The industry of fast fashion has blossomed on the same notion. Now we're surrounded by only these brands, and to decrease their supply, there needs to be a drastic reduction in demand. A collective shopping ban is an ideal scenario, but I know it's a fantasy. For me, the shopping ban was a slow and steady start to my sustainable fashion journey.
Here are a few other things I learned from a year-long of not buying clothes:
I got creative with what I own and saw the full potential of my wardrobe. With my #MaximizeMyCloset series, I explored ways to style my wardrobe basics without buying anything new.
It helped me save money, and I could finally invest in my relevant wants like skincare.
Self-control is best when practiced, and a shopping ban can be a great start.
A ban like this one will give you a lesson on conscious consumption. You'll start questioning before any impulse buys on whether you really need it or not. It started happening with me even for other things than clothing.
If you're planning on a shopping ban, here are a few tips:
Know your why, which means to know why you are actually doing it in the first place. This tip really helps not to lose track.
Set your realistic timeline. I found a year, especially like the one we had, made sense to me genuinely.
Have something to fall back on, especially if you do window shopping (online/offline) as a therapy.
Keep track of your savings as a motivation.
Circling back to point one, always revisit your why when you're in doubt.
To conclude my shopping fast, I decided to indulge in clothes for this year's birthday and shop at a swap shop for the first time. I would recommend everyone to give it a try at least once, and I hope that these tips help you out when you do decide.
Love,
Rashmi B.
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