If magazines and designers said that women should wear flaming tire tubes on their heads, some women would do it, without a thought of the absurdity or the environmental impact. However, it is time for consumers to dictate fashion by demanding that environmental, human, and animal rights be the foundation from which the trends of our time are created upon.
It concerns me that fur is making a resurgence in the fashion world this season. Designers and consumers go from supporting animal rights one year to wearing animals the next. There is something utterly embarrassing in that human fickleness, which consumers, in particular, need to speak out against. Nothing should have to die for a fashion trend now that we no longer live off the land, trapping animals for our dinner and eating berries off trees for dessert.
Until all consumers, as a whole, take charge of actively choosing more ethically on a daily basis, I don't believe we will see any positive changes environmentally or otherwise. I am talking about the every day purchases from milk to jeans, not cars to airplanes. Instead of being hypnotized by cheap prices of brands such as Joe, Old Navy, H&M, etc.. all consumers need to ask themselves why that tee-shirt is only $4.95? Someone made it, it was shipped using expensive fuels, there are duty and customs charges, mark-up margins, and the overhead of the store, etc.. To then only be priced at $4.95 may seem like a screaming deal to the consumer, but I feel it is our responsibility as fortunate people to live in North America, to instead, put down that tee-shirt, walk out of the store, and choose to shop in a more humane and sustainable way.
The Best of Vancouver Awards came out recently in The Georgia Straight. For a city who seems to talk a lot of sustainability, fair trade, ethical living, and especially of shopping local, it disappointed me that a lot of the top stores listed as winners are US owned chain stores that carry this type of cheap clothing. I am wondering what these stores do for our communities and city? Owner operated businesses give endlessly to their communities, schools, customer's kids' fundraising efforts, yet are a dying breed due to lease rate increases, lower sales, and higher expenses.
We have seen many shopping areas of Vancouver such as West 4th Avenue, Robson, and South Granville become US owned strip malls in many ways. Most of the owner/operated businesses cannot afford the rents in this city, and when they close, only to be replaced by a big box chain, I wonder why people are not crying out more to preserve the makeup of our city? I am concerned by what this does to our community and therefore, our world.
Some businesses completely suck and deserve to shut down. They are a disgrace to those of us who pour our heart and souls 24/7 into our businesses, and treat it as an extension of ourselves; our legacy. I believe in survival of the fittest, but what I am moreso amazed at, is all of the many outstanding businesses that have been forced to close, only to be replaced by a now US owned, Tim Horton's or another chain store that sells cheap crap made in China.
When I was in New York City, recently, I found an amazing bakery cafe grocery store called, Butterfield Market, that was founded in 1915. Wow. They survived the depression and the introduction of the supermarket through their service and expertise. I am very thankful to the customers of Butterfield Market over the last near century as they had the dedication, loyalty, and respect for that owner / operated business. The customers are the ones who kept that store thriving through troubled times when there were many other easy and maybe even cheaper, options for them. My aim is to be a survival story like Butterfield Market, but again, it comes down to the values that the inhabitants of our city hold true.
"The Personal is the Political;" Our choices, however small, large, or fashionable, make a statement and change the world. Here's to choosing well. Changes Good.
