Thrifted Threads with Purpose

Happy Monday, dear readers! Last week, I wrote about sustainable coffee solutions and how my Internet community connected me with the exact reusable product I needed. This week, I’d like to share another, similar story…this time about thrifted threads – with purpose!

I’m about to go on a yarn about a collaborative effort by a few people and businesses in this town to support thrifting, but before I do…I want to remind myself and you of why this story matters. It all comes back to those life-giving oceans! By choosing to buy secondhand, we not only save precious new resources from having to be mined, grown, or processed (like cotton, plastics, and other materials), we also send far less waste to landfill and create less pollution overall. All things that are good for our oceans. Capisce? Sweet, let’s get to it!

Thanks to Instagram (that damn platform bringing people together again!) – I now have an incredibly warm, wonderfully inspiring, thrifted sweater in my wardrobe, that I’ve pretty much been wearing non-stop since I pulled it off the rack at Frock and Fellow. The coolest thing about this sweater?

Thrifted Threads

It’s used. And refreshed with an intentional message. So many hands have touched this sweater, breathed new life into it, made it something that is truly one-of-a-kind.

But here’s the thing: it would have been beautiful as-is from the thrift-store rack, except for the fact that this sweater represents so much more than just a sweater. It represents the collaborative work of multiple people and businesses to consciously promote thrifting and buying secondhand. This sweater is the physical embodiment of businesses choosing to do the right thing for people and planet.

How did this whole thing unfold? Here’s the gist:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B6I5z0fhCJm/

Working with a local fashion blogger and a small, local print shop, one local Okanagan apparel company – Okanagan Lifestyle – curated a small collection of thrifted threads and on each one, carefully stitched (or printed) a special message: Do Less, Be More. The name of the collection? OKGN Thrifted. The final home for all these thrifted threads? A beautiful, wonderful local consignment shop: Frock & Fellow. Be still, my heart.

Origin Stories

I was sharing this story with a friend recently and she said something I really liked: that she loves hearing interesting origin stories of the things we fill our lives with. I think on some level, we all love a good origin story, particularly when it is unique and original. Think about these two stories:

1. I bought a sweater at the mall with an awesome, positive message on it.
2. I bought a sweater at an independently-owned, local consignment store that was hand-picked by a local thrifting champion, and refreshed with an awesome, positive message (sewn on by a local print shop).

Which sweater do you want to hear more about? (Hint: I hope you picked option #2)

We all know thrifting is good for the planet (and our oceans!), so I won’t bore you with stats and figures. Thrifting gives us clothing with stories, with meaning behind them.

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By removing the layers of packaging (and middle men) that would normally enshroud our threads, we shorten the distance between us and the maker. And, when multiple entities come together to make thrifted threads even more intentional, that’s a win on so many levels, I simply lose track of how much good this does for our communities.

Initiatives like this are also a perfect example of businesses (and people!) using their powers for good. This project promotes thrifting and sends a positive message: Do Less, Be More. Cheers to that!

Harnessing the Power of Biz…For Good

All of the people and businesses involved in this collaboration are well-regarded in the Okanagan Community and all come with a sizable following (on- and off-line). That’s a lot of eyeballs looking at (and earlobes hearing) the words “THRIFT!” and receiving the message “DO LESS, BE MORE!” loud and clear.

“A consciously curated THRIFTED collection. For leaders living sustainably – protecting the rich lifestyle that we love. A zero footprint invitation to do less harm, connect to the earth, adventure well, and be more alive. Wash this garment in the lake.”

Okanagan Lifestyle

To me, this is what businesses should be doing more of. Business will always exist as long as people buy stuff so why not harness that power for good? Advocate for conscious consumption, create products with purpose, and spread better messaging. In a funny way, by selling these kinds of products, businesses who embark upon this journey end up saving the planet as a bonus, and help to create awake and aware communities.

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Thank you to Okanagan Lifestyle, Alana Denham, Fleek Factory, and Frock & Fellow for choosing to use your platforms to create something that builds community, reminds us to live in the present moment, and saves the planet!

Are you a thrifter? If so, why – and more to the point…what has it brought into your life (besides just the thrifted threads)?