I love this from the end of the book, Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss:
” This,” cried the mayor, “is your town’s darkest hour!
The time for all Whos who have blood that is red
To come to the aid of their country!” he said.
“We’ve GOT to make noises in greater amounts!
So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!”
Thus he spoke as he climbed. When they got to the top,
The lad cleared his throat and he shouted out, “YOPP!”…
(intermission)
I’ve been thinking about being green a lot lately. As you probably know, I work with recycled materials, focusing on felting wool from second hand sweaters. The look and feel of it is so inspiring to me! I think I will love it forever because it is just so beautiful and versatile. The “hunt and gather” aspect of thrifting for it is part of the fun. It’s like being some kind of fiber archaeologist unearthing the perfect wool sweater buried in layers of acrylic rubble.
The first time my work was featured in a green blog I was actually surprised. “I don’t work with hemp! This wool is not organic!”…oh, duh. The recycled thing….riiight. I guess I hadn’t thought about my work that way at first. I was just making cool stuff out of something I thought was beautiful. But the more time I spend in thrift stores, the more I realize that there is way too much stuff in the world. Everytime we can reuse something or make one thing into another can only be good. (Kids are naturals at seeing an object in a new light, we should take lessons from them. “Look! This stick is a fishing pole! What toliet paper tube? This is my telescope.”)
A few weeks ago when I was in Minneapolis, I had the opportunity to tour the Goodwill headquarters there. Wow, what an eye-opener! They are truly amazing. I could go on and on about their charitable work, how they help individuals with job training, how they auction cars and rent medical equipment…but maybe in another post. Now I want to talk about the clothes.
I saw the new donations come in, get sorted, and hung on the racks. I saw the sales floor with the unsold items being taken off the racks to go to the outlet. I saw the trailer trucks that took the clothes to the outlet where people can buy them by the pound. (ooh, I really liked that part) The stuff no one bought that day was baled. Giant compressed stacks of clothing tied up in a big hay-bale looking things. I think they weigh 1000 lbs and are the size of my washer and dryer put together. Jobbers buy the bales and resell them to different industries or overseas. All of that work prevents, or at least delays, those items from heading straight for the landfill. Good thing. But yet, I was disturbed. I was there on one day. In one Goodwill. In one state. There were A LOT of bales.
For almost 20 years I’ve designed kids apparel for the fashion industry. I always loved the design aspect and still do. It’s such a thrill to see a kid at the playground or the grocery store wearing something I designed. In my corporate jobs, I used to go to the big fabric mills in the south to approve our fabrics being printed. I’ve travelled to China to visit the factories making the samples. In the back of my mind I felt like my career didn’t really help any one…not like a nurse or a teacher. I told myself that I designed pretty things that made kids comfortable and happy…that’s good, right?
It’s only now that I am really learning how wasteful the fashion industry is. Not only in production, but as a marketing machine. Fast trends, disposable clothing…get it fast and cheap at any cost. It’s a vicious cycle!
So what’s a style conscious gal to do? For starters, let’s get educated and make choices. I don’t have all of the answers, but I have a few links to share. Check out worsted witch for info on sustainability in the fashion industry as well as a plethera of green living info. I also love the new blog sew green and this post about eco-conscious fashion. Really, there are ways to be stylish without sacrifice!
I know making a cupcake pincushion out of an old sweater won’t save the world, but I don’t think it’ll hurt it. I know I’m trying to learn all I can about how my choices affect the world my kids live in. I know that I can set an example for them by being respectful of the earth. And to teach them, that no matter how small, every little bit helps…
oh yes, that brings us back to our story…
“And that Yopp…
That one small, extra Yopp put it over!
Finally, at last! From that speck on that clover
Their voices were heard! They rang out clear and clean.
And the elephant smiled. “Do you see what I mean?…
They’ve proved they ARE persons, no matter how small
And their whole world was saved by the Smallest of All!”
Yopp! Every little bit helps…Happy almost-Earth Day, everyone!
Betz, Wow, this is one powerful post! I hope you reach a lot of readers with this one. Readers, send this to everyone you know!
OOOH… you are sooo hitting on an area that is near and dear to my heart! Thanks for saying everything that I have wanted to say… but just haven’t said yet! I AGREE! Soo much waste! That is why I am committed to only buying 2nd hand and remake, repurpose and recycle! And I am actually buying more quality items… because I could never afford the retail cost of the things I buy 2nd hand.
So thanks Betz! Love your blog! I grew up in WI… live in Phx… but drive back there every year!
And yes, I am going to link others to you!! Great message!
Oh, yes. I am totally with you on this. I have been reading your blog for a couple of months now and am coming out of lurkdom to say I really agree with you about the too much stuff. When I manage all of my stuff and all of the kids stuff and we bring more in every minute! I have always been a thrift store person–how can anybody not be?
My MIL says she feels sorry for my kids that they never get anything new (actually not true) and then she buys them something from WalMart that looks raggedy in one washing.
Anyways, long live reduce-reuse-recycle! I am opening an Etsy shop this weekend on that very philosophy.
Amen! I’m getting greener every day!
Great post. I was inspired by fellow bloggers to make my own goal for the year — no clothing purchases. It is embarrassing to have to report that my coworkers are constantly commenting on my “new” cloths — it’s that 80% of the stuff in my closet that just hung there while I was wearing the 20% and buying new (but not anymore). I was inspired Sew Green to start contacting companies I like so I could find out how they do business — are their materials recycled/recyclable? How “sustainable” are their practices? It keeps me informed, and lets companies know that it does matter. Every little thing we do DOES make a difference!
Hi Betz,
I’m training to be a textiles teacher and I want to send your message loud and clear to my future students, thanks for confirming my beliefs on the fashion industry. Also Dr Zeuss books have powerful messages all through them – if you get a chance have a look at ‘The Lorax’, all about sustainablity and a horrible group of characters called ‘The Needs’ and the ‘Oncelers’.
I have bookmarked some of your tutorials for my classes (only a year to go!) and I can see these being great inspirations on recycling for them.
Thanks do much for your Blog and your hearfely info.
xxxxx
I think those thoughts, but then I am always tripped up by the simple fact that people make their livelihood from these industries. I suck at history but wasn’t that what the Industrial Revolution was all about? I can’t believe I said that(…duck…)correct me all you good history students : )
i always wondered how all that clothing got there. many years ago, as i was living/traveling throughout bolivia, i discovered a section of town (in cochabamba) that had all the used clothing from the usa. i did buy a couple of shirts because i needed them. i also remember seeing a shirt that had fuzzy letters ironed to it. one side said “whore dog”. i can’t remember what the other side said. it made me wonder if the person that might buy it would understand what it said exactly.
well, green is good. and i *heart* my felted cupcake too!
i use to be quite the shopper, back in the days when i had more money. now, i can’t believe how i chose to spend my money! all i shop for now is groceries and yarn. new clothing only comes through my doors when there’s a need for something specific. i don’t casual shop anymore. i knit or crochet most of my sweaters and tank tops. i sew most of my skirts. (nevermind the $100 dankso’s on my feet … i can’t make those … and all my jobs have me on my feet the entire shift).
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Love Dr. Suess and this is a great post. Your work is lovely and so creative.
Wow, guess I hit a nerve! 🙂 I’m not saying the fashion industry is all bad. I’m just saying let’s think about how we vote with our dollars and make the best choices we can. I’d love to be able to buy jeans made with organic cotton but I can’t afford them. There are always choices…
Thanks for the shout-out, Betz!
Betz, great post and a great link to the WW – I got some good links off her site and will be checking back!
I find it really frustrating how hard it is to get information about the ethics of new clothes. Just a few weeks ago I contacted a company that makes adorable kids’ shoes I was thinking of buying, asking about their labor practices, and I never heard back. Sigh.
I was fascinated by your description of the Goodwill headquarters, especially the baling, because I’ve seen that process at the other end, the unbaling and re-selling in Africa. Fascinating. Are you familiar with the debates around the importation of used American clothes? It’s an interesting situation, a real double-bind for African governments. Here are a couple good links:
http://www.wright.edu/~tdung/TradeTheory_UsedClothes.htm
http://www.newint.org/columns/currents/2004/11/01/uganda/
Thanks, Betz – love your blog.
I found you through Missy’s blog. I’ve enjoyed reading yours very much. I love your work – the cupcakes are fantastic! I have worked in the kids fashion/toy industry for the last 11 years… I know what mean. 🙂 Take care and I’ll definitely be back.
Holly
Venice, CA
Hello!!Great post:-)
what a wonderfully inspiring group of words… from all over the world we come to make our small contributions.. very empowering thanks.. margie b
Hello! I was looking for some suitable Horton Hears a Who pictures to put on my blog to explain “YOPP” – and you’ve taken the exact pictures I wanted! I hope it’s ok with you if I post those pictures to help me illustrate the meaning of yopp on my blog – do let me know if it is a problem!
Thanks!
… I am going to wait for your permission to use the photographs – I hope you are able to get back to me. 🙂
(I think my children have hidden my copy of the book!)
Pamelamama,
I couldn’t find an email for you to let you know that it’s ok if you use my photos from this post, linking to me and giving credit please.
Thanks,
Betz