Look what I just purchased on Etsy:
Isn’t she a beauty?
As some of you know, I am a fan of vintage clothing, not just because the clothing tends to be well made with textiles that used to be manufactured in this country, but because as part of my GiRRL Earth mantra, purchasing vintage clothing is a great way to Re-use and Re-purpose existing items rather than supporting the “throw away” clothing that is made today.
This past weekend, I had a rather lengthy conversation with my dry cleaner/tailor about the textiles that used to be made in Fall River, MA. What prompted the conversation were the Youthcraft coats I purchased on Etsy. We also swapped stories about the way our grandmothers and mothers use to dress. Back then, women (or families) didn’t have the means to shop the way we do today. There was no such thing as *retail therapy*. My grandmother made all of her and her children’s clothing. Growing up, my mother used to make her and our clothes. Making your own clothing is a dying skill (or perhaps it is already dead?). Most people can barely sew a button. I can sew a button, but I wouldn’t slap a frame around it, that’s for sure.
Nowadays, women rack up credit card debt in an attempt to “keep up with the Jones’s” so-to-speak. They are driven by media to keep up with the latest fashion or trends. Meanwhile, they toss their no longer desired items into a bag for Goodwill or the like. It’s a shame most of us barely know how to sew. It is something I have considered taking up. I found someone who teaches private classes not far from where I live, but the cost associated with said classes is more than I want to spend right now, especially given the fact my house is a priority. In the meantime, I will continue to shop Etsy in search of well-made vintage items.
I hope the next time you are in the market for a new outfit, you’ll consider a new *used* item from http://www.etsy.com
Have a good day everyone!
Yours truly,
GE
Girl for Animal Liberation 