minimalism – the {r}evolution apparel blog

Mindfulness, Consumption and Why You Don't Have to Be Perfect

It’s tough putting all of your thoughts about consumerism on a blog for the world to see. Mostly because then your friends can call you out when you dip into a Wal-Mart or talk about wanting to buy this or that.

You can’t just talk the talk.

But it’s not easy. I’m straddling the line between living a life of unconsumerism, while still having and doing the things that make me happy.

And you know what? Sometimes, stuff makes me happy. I’m not a beacon of unconsumerism perfection. I never will be. I will probably always deal with want. And that’s OK.

Because I know what I believe, and I know that slowly, little by little, that “want” will ebb away, and I will find balance between what I believe and what I buy. For now, all I can do is try my best to be mindful, and be proud of the fact that I am aware of my purchasing power.

Sometimes I get to thinking that it’s one or the other. That I’m sacrificing my immediate happiness in order to do what I know is right (like not shopping, or not eating meat).

But there’s always a balance. With everything. Take eating meat, for example. While I’m really proud of my newfound vegetarianism, I feel like I could be doing more if I went completely vegan. Instead of focusing on the great things I’m doing for the environment by cutting out the meat, I look at what more I could be doing “if only.”

Well, “if only” is a fairly pointless attitude. I won’t be vegan this month or the next. And I will buy the occasional pair of socks and underwear, thrift store clothes, and a new phone this year. But I won’t go to the mall, or buy conventional clothes.

It’s all about the balance — be proud of the change you’re making, and do everything mindfully. None of us are perfect, but all of us can make a change with the little things we do every day. {r}

Mindfulness, Consumption and Why You Don’t Have to Be Perfect

You can’t just talk the talk.

But it’s not easy. I’m straddling the line between living a life of unconsumerism, while still having and doing the things that make me happy.

And you know what? Sometimes, stuff makes me happy. I’m not a beacon of unconsumerism perfection. I never will be. I will probably always deal with want. And that’s OK.

Sometimes I get to thinking that it’s one or the other. That I’m sacrificing my immediate happiness in order to do what I know is right (like not shopping, or not eating meat).

Getting Warmer: Introducing Our Newest Lead

In last week’s post, we hinted at potentially having a production method for {r}evolution apparel. Knock on wood — we’re finally feeling like there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

A couple months ago, a group of cotton farmers in Texas gave us a list of people to contact for help. After dozens of e-mails to manufacturers all over the country, we finally got a response from one of the few custom knitters left in America.

The company is based out of Asheville, North Carolina, and prides itself on its environmental accountability and fair trade certifications.

Our inquiry e-mail started in their spam folder, but things have only gone up from there. For the past few weeks, we have been sending designs and fabric swatches back and forth, and the company has been incredibly encouraging about the task we’re trying to accomplish.

A big difference from the manufacturers who told us they wouldn’t “commit to the complexity of the project.”

The Asheville company knits several fabrics that we may be able to use: U.S. grown organic cotton, fairly-traded organic cotton from Turkey, a blend of recycled cotton and recycled polyester, and finally, a special type of fabric made completely from recycled PET plastic. We love the idea of mixing organic and recycled fabrics from a number of environmentally-kind sources.

With the laundry list of requirements we need to do this right, our lead is ticking off the boxes one by one:

Organically-grown and organically-manufactured cotton.
Fair trade options.
Capabilities to construct reversible and convertible garments.
Low-impact dyes, with enough color options to create the look we’re going for.
Minimum orders that we can afford.
Knitted and sewn in the USA.
Company ethics that we can stand behind.

I received the sample swatches of the 100 percent organic cotton in several different weights to compare the durability and texture of the fabric. It feels great to the touch and feels even better knowing the farmers and workers were paid fairly and treated well in the process.

We still have issues to hash out and more research to do, but things are looking good.

Really good. {r}

Creating a Clothing Line: Responsibility, Power and Change

Each of us has a responsibility as living, breathing people.

I used to think that since we’d all be dead someday, it didn’t really matter what we did as long as we were kind to each other.

I still believe that, but I suppose the phrase “as long as we are kind to each other” has taken on a whole new meaning.

It’s not so immediate anymore. It’s not just about my family and friends. Or fellow humans. It’s about being kind with the understanding that we are all connected.

And what great power we have, as people who get to read blogs, express thoughts in words, connect on the internet, and live in relative comfort!

With great power, comes great responsibility. I think we are really just beginning to realize our power and responsibility in full. It’s sometimes overwhelming to think that we truly do have the capacity to change things.

Responsibility is scary. Especially as we start a new business, producing clothing. Because no matter what, this system will not be perfect. We’ll have to burn fuel to ship materials. Use lots of water in the manufacturing process. As with any product, it involves some level of un-kindness to man and environment.

Of course, responsibility is a blessing too. We have the choice to use recycled PET plastic fiber, domestically-grown organic cotton, or no-waste Tencel. Every choice is up to us: better packaging, efficient shipping, the best manufacturing system possible. We have the responsibility to make the process kinder.

Along with this responsibility and power must come the understanding that while we will do our best, we are not perfect. All we can do is make the best choices, try to change the system, little by little, and make it easier for everyone else to make the right decisions too.

“We can’t all do everything, but we can all do something.” {r}

I am American, and I am Not a Shopaholic

A recent article in Bloomberg Businessweek compared Black Friday to a spectator sport. We turn on the news, sit back, and watch the madness with disgust. Sort of.

“Who are these people? We think, shaking our heads. And how much are those Nespresso machines? And wouldn’t I be enjoying this spectacle more if I were watching it on a bigger television, like the ones Best Buy is selling at such ridiculously low prices?”

I am American, and I am a shopaholic.

In a nation of shoppers, what the hell are we doing introducing minimalist clothing?

We get questions like this a lot. Our idea is akin to Stride gum that lasts forever. The factory shuts down because people never have to buy new gum.

As a business model, it’s a risk. We are forgoing repeat buyers. We aren’t encouraging our customers to buy more. Our clothing will be built to last. The styles are timeless staples.

Basically, we are the opposite of fast fashion.

And we don’t care.

Because there is a part of America that hates the fact that our economy is based around creating shopaholics, generation after generation. That wants to break the cycle. That realizes less is more.

And there is something inside all of us that wants to give more than we take.

We’re counting on those people to help us make this happen. Those who want to support ethical clothing, the environment, simple lifestyles, and freedom from stuff.

We might be crazy. Some have said, “You know, there’s a reason why no one has tapped into this market.”

But it’s not a market. It’s a way of life, that doesn’t involve easy profits, high turnover, and infinite resources.

So you’re not going to see minimalism in the malls anytime soon. But slowly, we hope to provide options, in locally-owned shops all over America, for those who want to say,

Fuck trends. I care about shit, and I am not a shopaholic. {r}

How to Edit Your Life and Stop Wasting Time

I’m the type of person who likes things simple.

I don’t own a car. I only have one monthly bill in my name. I use debit instead of credit.

But as we enter 2011, things are getting more complicated. After we registered as an LLC, I realized, “Ugh, we have to start keeping track of things now. This is for real.”

We have a lot going on. Researching production. Updating the blog. Photography. Managing money and paperwork for taxes. Product design. Social Media.

Life just became a lot less simple.

So, being part of the millennial generation and all, I started Googling “lifehacking.”

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, I’ll save you a trip to Wikipedia:

“The term ‘life hack’ refers to productivity tricks that programmers devise and employ to cut through information overload and organize their data… Today, anything that solves an everyday problem in a clever or non-obvious way might be called a life hack.”

So basically, life hacking means getting control of your life — finding more efficient ways to do things, gaining focus and direction, and creating shortcuts for virtually everything.

Soon after I began my research, I noticed a paradox:

Looking on the web for life hacks and ways to be productive is the most unproductive way to spend your time.

So I’m going to simplify it for you. What every single site from 43Folders to Tim Ferriss says is this:

Identify what’s most important to you.
Eliminate everything else.

Basically, edit your life. Automate what you can. Outsource what you need to. Choose to do the things that are important to you and that you do best. Don’t do the other things.

It’s that simple. {r}

What Goes In, Must Come Out: "The Story of Stuff"

This is the “Story of Stuff.” It’s about how our things get made.

It’s about how big companies take the natural resources of developing countries, strip them, toxify them, and churn out finished products to consumers like us.

It’s scary. Because what goes in, must come out.

Have you ever thought about the chemicals on your clothes? I don’t want to sound like a hemp-wearing hippy, but seriously, have you ever noticed that your hands feel dirty after a big day of clothes shopping?

Forget for a second all of the toxins that are on your clothes right now; preserving color, wicking away moisture, defeating smelly microbes, and even retarding flames (should your clothes catch on fire).

Instead, think about the way your clothes were made. All of those synthetics had to come from somewhere. They were manufactured in some factory, in some developing country. Then, they were applied to your clothes, by people, in yet another developing country, that probably doesn’t have proper safety regulations.

The factories’ smoke polluted their air. The byproducts were dumped into their rivers. And we bought their products.

And so it goes; the cycle of fashion continues. We buy, they produce, and no one wins. We all lose. We lose precious resources, beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and our health.

Organic is not just a buzzword. It’s an important element in reclaiming our human rights — the rights that the big-wigs in the fashion industry have pilfered away so readily for a quick buck.

This is why we believe that organic is the only answer. Truly organic. We won’t have it any other way. {r}

What Goes In, Must Come Out: “The Story of Stuff”

This is the “Story of Stuff.” It’s about how our things get made.

It’s about how big companies take the natural resources of developing countries, strip them, toxify them, and churn out finished products to consumers like us.

It’s scary. Because what goes in, must come out.

The factories’ smoke polluted their air. The byproducts were dumped into their rivers. And we bought their products.

And so it goes; the cycle of fashion continues. We buy, they produce, and no one wins. We all lose. We lose precious resources, beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and our health.

Organic is not just a buzzword. It’s an important element in reclaiming our human rights — the rights that the big-wigs in the fashion industry have pilfered away so readily for a quick buck.

This is why we believe that organic is the only answer. Truly organic. We won’t have it any other way. {r}

{r}evolution apparel: Our Plan to Change the Fashion Industry

We’re travelers. Our lives thrive on new experiences. We have an overwhelming need to see, touch, taste and explore.

Traveling through developing countries with just a pack on our backs has forced us to think about needs. Real needs. When surrounded by poverty our lavish lives back home seem less and less fulfilling. The things in our cluttered apartments become meaningless. It’s just us and our backpacks in a place that no longer seems a world away. Life becomes something else — and it has nothing to do with buying the iPhone4 or a new pair of jeans.

It has become more about the effects of pesticides for cotton crops and the hardships of exploitative factory work. All so that the rest of us can consume. And throw out. And consume again. Over and over, until we realize that things will never truly fulfill us.

We have been fortunate to experience countries so rich in culture, so full of life, that we can’t seem to shake one repeating thought:

We don’t need all of that.

Even more, we can’t reason why the developing world should bear the brunt of our consumption. Environmentally. Economically. Personally.

And that’s how our revolution began.

Imagine owning eight items of clothing. Just eight, functional, versatile pieces. But with those eight pieces, over 100 different looks could be created. Dressy. Casual. Everything in between. With style. Without khaki cargo zip-offs or two-toned “skorts.”

That’s our goal. To create the ideal wardrobe for women like us, looking to simplify our lives, reduce our footprint, and look damn good in the process.

It’s not going to be easy. We’ve already hit a few bumps in the road. But we’re determined to do this right. To bring a new face to the apparel industry — one that doesn’t exploit, or destroy, or waste in the name of “fashion.” We are on a search for organic fabric, fair trade labor and a system of production we’ll be proud to call our own. An ethical brand that others will be proud to wear. {r}

If what we’re doing jives with your own ideals, then please don’t be shy. This is our shameless plea for you to spread the word, Tweet, Like, Stumble, you know the drill. We’ll be forever grateful. K + S

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

{the blog}

Tagged: minimalism