Never before has there been a better time to embrace the concept of mindful shopping – something I’ve been talking about for years and something that we’ve been discussing in our Everyday Style Facebook Group today.
In a nutshell, how to shop mindfully in these tricky COVID-19 times comes down to two things:
- Are you in a position to shop?
- If you can shop, where should you ideally be spending your dollars?
In the Facebook Group we were primarily talking about clothes, lifestyle and beauty items but I think this idea does extend to the essentials as well. I know I’m consciously choosing to spend by grocery and dining in budget with local butchers, fruit and veg shops, cake shops and restaurants.
How all this thinking started today was thanks a thoughtful post from one of our community members. Here’s a snippet below:
My husband and I are very fortunate to have secure jobs. I love clothes. I love to buy them, I love making an effort when choosing my outfits. I’m still putting in some effort to getting dressed each day as I find it helps me to stay focused. If I’m in my pjs, I’m not as productive (we have pjs-all-day days on Sundays!) I have plenty of clothes, more than I need. I like to buy from small businesses and buy Australian-made whenever I can. I really don’t need any more, especially when I’m home all the time so it’s easy to stay up to date with the washing. However, I feel like I should be doing something to help support small businesses. I’ve been ordering in to help support our local restaurants, I’ve bought some puzzles and books for my preschooler to keep her occupied while I work and I’ve bought a couple of items of clothing. Do we keep shopping to support others or do we stop and try to mindfully use what we already have?
I absolutely loved the conversation that this question started. I know, personally, I’ve been shopping to support others where I can. And, of course, my business, and my ability to keep my small team employed, relies on people still shopping with us. So, disclaimer: I have a vested interest in discussing this.
But, I know that so, so many people who normally would spend with us – and with other independent labels – now don’t have that luxury. I want you to know I hear you, we understand but we’d also love your support in other ways.
If you’re not in a position to shop right now, please support us by doing the below:
- please wear pieces from our label and other independent labels. Rediscover how it feels to wear those pieces. Use that feeling to help you feel motivated each day.
- Share on social media photos of you wearing those clothes. If this is something you don’t feel comfortable doing publicly, then please subscribe and join our closed Facebook Group. You can post to our new monthly #athomewithsy outfit posts.
- When you’re scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, please like, comment and share posts from the independent fashion labels you love … they need your moral support and love. Please show it.
If you can shop, I ask this of you (pretty please):
- I do ask that you mindfully shop when you can. You will help keep people in jobs and you’ll help keep independent fashion labels around to bring the style diversity that you’ve come to know and love.
- I ask that you seek out Australian-made fashion first. What came up in the discussion today was that most people didn’t know where to start to find out if something was Australian-made. So, I got to work building out a list of brands and labels that I know are (or mostly are). Click HERE for a list of labels and brands that fit that criteria. I’m updating this list as we discover more.
- I ask that if you’re buying gifts (there will be birthdays, Easter, Mother’s Day and so much more), that you shop locally or with small online businesses. These businesses will go the extra mile for you and those on the receiving end of your gifts will love the care that that you’ve gone to – especially when you can’t give in person. You’ll find some ideas and links in this blog post and don’t forget out our #ShopitFoward list of online businesses in drought-affected regions. There is a growing list of businesses can be found in our Facebook Group. We will add more as we discover more.
Remember: we’re all in this together!
I promise you that if you support small … happy dances do happen!
Comments 12
Thank you Nikki for this list I should do the kids Birthdays and Christmas shopping,as I don’t think I need anymore Winter clothes I’m have been shopping much more mindfully for a while and only adding pieces I know I need!
Author
I think we’ll all be doing our gift giving via online. Strange times indeed. x
Thankyou Nikki for sharing my label and shining a light on Ausdie made x
Author
We need to keep shining a light and shouting it to the rooftops!
Thank you for the list! It’s good to know where we can spend our money and do it consciously, while helping Australia out.
I also want to congratulate you Nikki for bringing it to our attention, and running with the question in the Facebook group. You opened up a frank discussion, and embraced it, without being threatened x
Author
I so loved the discussion Elesha … what a fabulous bunch of women! Yourself included. x
Nikki, thanks so much for sharing this list! It’s hard to know where to start sometimes when looking to shop Australian. I will keep this list for when this is all over & I am able to shop again x
Author
It is so hard! Even trying to research this post, it was not easy to find a comprehensive list!
Thanks for recognizing this subject, and as always shining a positive light on ways to help. As I mentioned in the group chat today, I truly hope that all Aussies will embrace Australian labels during this catastrophe and for the long haul on the other side as the world becomes a safer and ‘smaller’ place again. Thanks for spotlighting Philosophy xx
Author
Thank you for all that you do to keep Australian manufacturers alive!
Bohemian Traders … but I’m not sure if their clothes are made here but definitley designed in Australian and they employ staff as well.
Author
Not made here but they do employ a lot of people Jacqueline x