Is it possible to buy only five articles of new clothing per year? Announcements, Events & more from Tyee and select partners CONTEST: Win Two Tickets to Veronica Swift at Jazz Fest The iconic summer festival returns, featuring over 50 free shows across Vancouver. The Tyee’s ‘Points of Interest’ Is Coming to Victoria Join us on the Island as we celebrate our bestselling book. In January, the Guardian introduced a new initiative with a challenge to readers.
Because a radical reduction in global fashion consumption is critical for making any meaningful progress in addressing climate change, the U.K. news organization asked readers if they could commit to buying just five new items of clothing per year.
Having tried different methodologies to curb the shopping habit, I was skeptical at first. But given that there’s a clothing landfill in Chile so large that you can see it from space, I gave it a go. It’s been almost five months, and so far, so good.
The experience reminds me strangely of “The Sponge,” a memorable 1995 episode of Seinfeld in which Elaine buys up a box of contraceptive sponges before they’re taken off the market. She tallies the pros and cons of prospective romantic partners to decide whether they’re “ sponge-worthy ” or not. Standing in clothing stores this year, I’ve found myself muttering “Are you sponge-worthy?” to certain sartorial items.
More often than not, the answer is no. I’m not exactly sure what makes the Guardian’s “f.
