Conscious Consumption with The Closet Guru · Veggie Magnifique

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Conscious Consumption with The Closet Guru

Society and industry has taught us to hate our closets and crave "new" and "more" much like it has us craving donuts and ice cream.

Conscious Consumption with The Closet Guru

Last night I dreamt I met Tim Ferriss.

I was sitting down on a park bench reading a book about Vagabonding that he recommends, and there he came… strolling along with his little beanie. I waved at him, and showed him proudly what I was reading, and then almost immediately following his approving nod, I convinced him to give me a hug.

Ha!

(FYI, my dreams are random.)

If you haven’t heard of Tim Ferriss, chances are your life could be better. His book The 4-Hour Workweek is one of the most important books of our time. (Sans exaggeration.)

The gist: “Stop working yourself into a stupor building other people’s dreams so that one day when you’re old and decrepit, you can finally attempt to enjoy your life. Instead, enjoy your life now. Here’s how…”

Tim Ferriss has inspired so many of us to live differently. To work differently, to learn differently, to travel differently, and most importantly, to think differently.

Today we bring you another example of how you can choose to live differently, and save your soul at the same time.

And it involves your shopping habits.

Insane Consumerism

Society and industry has taught us to hate our closets and crave “new” and “more” much like it has us craving donuts and ice cream. And, in case you’re not aware, our current state of insane consumerism in the western world is massively screwing up the planet.

Allow me to convince you… (read on.)

The True Cost of Fast Fashion

I recently watched the brilliant documentary The True Cost, a behind-the-scenes foray into the fast fashion industry, revealing the heinous truth of inhumanity and deplorable conditions of its workers.

A Few Quick Facts

  • Fast fashion uses an exorbitant amount of chemicals, not to mention that over 90% of the cotton used is GMO. (Fashion accounts for 25% of global insecticide use.)
  • 80 billion (!) pieces of clothing are “consumed” every year, which is, wait for it… a 400% increase from only 20 years ago.
  • The fashion industry is an almost 3 trillion dollar a year industry… but the workers (one in six people globally, mainly in Cambodia, Bangladesh, and India,) earn between $1 and $3 a day. 

Wait… what?!

Meaning, in a nutshell, that factory workers are living and working in inhumane conditions to make next-to-nothing so that we can buy nine buck tops and tees from H&M or Zara every month.

It’s pure lunacy, and yet, most of us mindlessly take part in it. I know I have.

So, What Do We Do?

Now, I’m not an expert on the fashion industry, but our special guest today is. Michelle Pozon, aka The Closet Guru – Paris, is a spiritual stylist, and in today’s video, she shares insight on the current state of the fashion industry, and some different choices that we can all make.

Conscious Consumption with The Closet Guru

Where to Shop?

Love clothes? Don’t want to support the abhorrent fast fashion industry?

You’re in luck. In addition to the places featured in our video, there’s a profusion of other ways to conscious consciously. One of our favorite resources for sustainable shopping and conscious consumption is the site My Green Closet, where you’ll find an amazing directory of where to shop ecologically online.

Final Thoughts

I gotta admit… after watching The True Cost, speaking with Michelle, and doing additional research on my own, I’m almost ready to join a nudist colony…

No, but seriously, for me, minimalism is the new black. I’m actually flirting with the idea of devising a capsule wardrobe. (Like… full on Project 333.)

What do you guys think? Have you heard of a “capsule wardrobe”? Have you ever been tempted? As always, leave us a comment below with your thoughts and musings on this important topic.

Eco-Conscious Boutiques Featured in the Video

Palmaccio
18 Rue Commines,
75003 Paris
01 42 76 00 50

Violette & Léonie
114 Rue de Turenne,
75003 Paris
01 44 59 87 35

Altermundi
39 Rue de Charonne
75003 Paris
01 48 05 11 81

7 responses to “Conscious Consumption with The Closet Guru”

  1. Mel stephens says:

    What is the name of the Italian designers store? Does she have anything online?

  2. Reneta Denis says:

    That is why Italian women are so stylish. They have a capsule wardrobe with 3-4 pants, 3 dresses and about 5tops, 2 jackets and 3 pairs of shoes…all top quality and well made. Italian families do not replace their furniture…they buy “for keeps”. Strong, well made solid wooden pieces that lasts a lifetime. Carpentry is a craft…not some factory. Quality lasts…

    • Ann says:

      Well, we can all learn a thing or two from the Italians, that’s for sure! Let’s bring back “buying for keeps”! (Thanks for stopping by, Reneta!)

  3. Barbara says:

    I have found a lovely way to revamp slightly frayed cuffs- you can either use vintage lace (in any color that grabs you) or some of that iron-on fabric and then just sew an inside and outside cuff, covering the part that’s frayed. I have renewed several dresses that I love that way, plus a few for my daughter as well. Another tip- always buy heel savers when you buy boots- your boot heels won’t wear down as quickly on these Parisian pavements, and are easy to get replaced by your local “cordonnier”. Again, thanks for the wonderful tips!

    • Ann says:

      Hi Barbara! Great ideas! I totally agree for the boot heels… (my mom checks in with me periodically to see if I’ve been taking my boots to the cordonnier!) And that’s a great idea for the cuffs. You are certainly a “revamp/reuse/repurpose” inspiration to me. ? Thanks so much for your comment (and ideas)!

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