The Ultimate Buyer's Guide to Conscious Consumerism

“Have nothing in your home that you do not believe to be beautiful or know to be useful” said William Morris. He was a British textile designer operating during the early days of the Industrial Revolution. A social reformer, an early environmentalist, and an important political theorist, Morris had a deeply held belief in the power of beauty to transform human lives. As more goods were available for cheaper cost than ever before in human history, he saw the rise of large scale Consumerism and predicted the kind of over consumption that has cluttered our homes. Good for business and the economy at large but at what cost? 

There is so much stuff in the world. More stuff than we know what to do with. Fashion trends cycle by season and unsold items end up in the dumpster or shipped off to foreign countries to fill their landfills with the seemingly endless stream of stuff. Designed obsolescence is a common practice of making items that will either go out of style quickly or fall apart after only a few years, forcing you to go back and buy more. This is the face of fast fashion.

In order to contend with over-consumption I believe that a new ‘conscious consumerism’ can help guide our buying practices and naturally lead us to source from brands with a slow fashion mindset. 

1. Wait ~ Marketing is often designed to create a sense of urgency. Impulse buying can lead to choices that end up ultimately being a waste of money. If you come across something you like, wait 24 hours and come back to it later to see if you still really want it. 
2. Materials ~ what kind of materials are being used? What are the care instructions? Can this object be maintained or repaired by your or the manufacturer? I have a preference for natural materials like cotton, linen, silk and leather. Leather for example, with some maintenance can last for decades and even look better over time! That kind of long term value means it can be a staple piece in your wardrobe or be passed onto others and continue to serve the user. 
3. Ethical manufacturing ~ not all factories are created equal. When you buy from a company that does their due diligence around how their product is made you can know that workers are being given a fair wage in safe conditions. If you purchase a product from an individual artisan you can be assured that the product was thoughtfully produced. 
4. Minimalist mindset ~ Do I already own something like this in my wardrobe that would serve the same function? Will this go complement my existing wardrobe and be a versatile piece. We all have that thing in our closet that we only wore once. We can minimize this by considering how something new will interact with what we already have going on. 

Conscious consumerism is not technically "good for business" because it calls on each of us to say ‘no’ more often. All marketing is designed to create desire, a feeling of lack that this or that product can fulfill. This is something I've been wrestling with since I started this leather work business. It all started for me with one belt that I really wanted for my own wardrobe that I couldn’t find anywhere! After making the design I realized how much I enjoyed the craft and felt it was something that others would appreciate. I want to sell my leather goods but in an ethical way. My mission is to create beautiful, functional leather goods that serves people for many years and hope that these accessories will make a valued addition to your slow fashion wardrobe.