How the toolkit works
Closing is a basic need that can meet our need to protect our body from the natural environments (Physiological and safety). Clothing can also help us have a sense of belonging by identifying us within a group. It can make us feel confident, powerful, and build our self-esteem. Finally, clothing allows us to express who we are to the world both in our aesthetic and in our values, which is a form of self-actualization.
The current global clothing systems that we participate in have negative impacts on the environment, economies, social systems, and cultural around the world. This global system makes it incredibly easy to obtain clothing making it possible for this global system to be a default in our lives.
Clothing's lifecycle can be used to help us wearers to identify different ways for us to USE clothing in a way that reflects our values.
Closing is a basic need that can meet our need to protect our body from the natural environments (Physiological and safety). Clothing can also help us have a sense of belonging by identifying us within a group. It can make us feel confident, powerful, and build our self-esteem. Finally, clothing allows us to express who we are to the world both in our aesthetic and in our values, which is a form of self-actualization.
First, let's start with some clothing basics like why is clothing needed, what is wrong with our current default system to meet our needs for clothing, and why does it matter?
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Second, the Wardrobe Wisdom toolkit is set up where each page presents a concept to help us see and use clothing in a different way. Each of these pages has the four following categories to help you identify realistic actions and ideas to match your worn values.
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All ideas and behaviors are divided by what stage in the clothing lifecycle that action or thought takes place. If you looking to purchase new clothing, look for ideas and behaviors under the production and obtaining sections to help look for ideas.
Each idea and behavior has a series of icons on the left that will tell you what post-growth values that idea and behavior support in a positive way when you adopt that idea. For example, if you are wanting to stay on budget or economically support fair trade and living wages, look for ideas and behaviors that include the economic icon on the left.
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These are the ideas and behaviors that you can pick and choose to help you match your values with the true outcome of your impact.
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Links! For each idea or behavior, there is a link to either a resource, an awesome brand that practices what they preach, or both!
What section of the clothing lifecycle the action or idea takes place
These icons tell you what post-growth values the idea supports in a positive way
Concept
Production
Idea: Explanation of the idea.
Links to brands or resources
that support this idea
Economic
Environment
Culture
Social
obtaining
Idea: Explanation of the idea.
use/reuse
Links to brands or resources
that support this idea
Idea: Explanation of the idea.
disposal
Links to brands or resources
that support this idea
Idea: Explanation of the idea.
Links to brands or resources
that support this idea
Third, while looking through the concepts, ideas, and actions to choose for yourself start with what makes you excited! Changing a global clothing system happens through deliberate individual decisions that are realistic and reachable.
Start with simple, small steps. Try to find one or two new behaviors and as those become normalized and comfortable in your life come back and some more inspiration for your Wardrobe Wisdom journey!