Guilt-free shopping
Home » Blog » Sophie Bond » Guilt-free shoppingClothes are a fun way of expressing ourselves but the fashion industry is not always sustainable. Sophie Huber looks at one way to shop responsibly for a new outfit.
Clothing rack photographed by mikefats via Flickr
I like clothes and I like to keep them for a long time. Packing up for a recent move, I realised my growing collection makes up at least two-thirds of all my posessions.
The problem with so many clothes today is that they are simply not made to last. Fashion is fickle; trends change like the wind and a $19.99 t-shirt may only last 15 washes. There are many nasty chemicals and dyes that go into clothing production and a lot of carbon emissions associated with the global industry.
I find the best way to ease my conscience and feed my moderate addiction is to trawl through op-shops, peruse Trade Me and invite myself over when friends are doing a wardrobe clear-out.
So I was quite excited to hear about a new clothes-swapping site called iSwish. It's a free New Zealand-based service which started about three months ago. The idea is to find other members with a similar body type—called a 'mirror match'—and swap unwanted items of clothing from your wardrobe.
No money is exchanged; instead, members trade items with the same credit rating. If I think my never-worn crimson beaded bolero is worth $50, I give it a rating of 50 credits. I then see that bagoholic09 has a pair of 50 credit-rated sandals in my size and request a trade.
My problem was, it didn't quite work like that.
Having seen the potential of swapping or 'swishing', I sign up for a free account. First I need to find my mirror match, achieved by filling out ones measurements so the site can produce members who are a close match. I think I'm a fairly average size but I have to decrease my bust and lengthen my legs to get a match. An 86% match, who happens to have the same name as me. Oh, it is me. Turns out the system has matched me to my original profile.
Sigh and try again. After adding several inches to my waist I come up with a match. But she doesn't have any listings. I decide to shop regardless.
I soon come across a firey red Zambesi wrap rated at 50 credits. I'm excited. It could be mine and I wouldn't have to spend a cent. But I would have to find an item to swap with the owner.
And herein lies the reason the site will just not work for me. I've never worn the crimson bolero but I know that one day I will need it for a circus-inspired outfit. The beautiful navy crepe dress from Paris hasn't left its hanger for two years but I'm positive I'd regret it if we parted ways.
If you have better control over your hoarding impulses then by all means check this site out: it's at www.iswish.co.nz. They have mens, womens and childrens wear and the more people who sign up, the better the range will get.
If you're interested in learning more about the fashion industry I recommend Eco Chic: The Savvy Shoppers Guide to Ethical Fashion, by Matilda Lee. You can also check out Good mag's 'Genuine articles' for a quick guide to some eco-style solutions.
