Salams folks! Let’s dive into a week filled with the goodness of shopping local, embracing eco-friendly decorations, and giving a big ‘no’ to fast fashion! Get ready for a journey where local finds, sustainable decorations, and mindful choices take centre stage. It’s a week dedicated to celebrating community, adding eco-charm to our spaces, and making fashion choices that stand the test of time. Join us in saying yes to a week of conscious living and making a positive impact, one local purchase at a time!
Shop Local:
Shopping locally is not only convenient but also fosters a sense of community whilst at the same time reduces your carbon footprint. How easy is it to just "pop down to the corner shop" if it's just down the road? Not only are you helping the environment (by not taking your car to the supermarket) but you're also helping to support small independent businesses!
By shopping at farmer's markets, you will be supporting local farmers, growers and crafters who have grown or made their products within the local community! Hence you are supporting your local economy too!
Local produce also does not require artificial preservatives to prolong their shelf life. Buying produce grown locally means you will be buying fruit and veg that are in season and not shipped halfway across the globe (usually in plastic packaging 😖) which by the way uses massive amounts of fuel to transport!
Seek out your neighborhood artisans, craftsmen, and boutique shops for unique Eid gifts.
Eco-friendly Deco:
Did you know many of the decorations we buy like balloons, banners etc have plastic in them? Not to forget glitter! Glitter is made up of tiny plastic particles that damage the environment! Therefore we need to be mindful of what we're using to decorate our homes with.
There are many other ways we can decorate our houses. How about you make your own deco with things you have around your house? Upcycle tin cans to make lanterns, make your own bunting with fabric or card or just about any material you may have at home. These are great activities to get the kids involved in! They all love a bit of arts and crafts!
If you have any of the previous year's deco, consider reusing that and save it again to use next year. Remember to reduce-reuse-recycle where ever you can!
Say No to Fast Fashion:
Many reports say that fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world!
Did you know we buy more clothes per person in the UK than any country in Europe? Around 300,000 tonnes of used clothes are burned or buried in landfill each year! According to the United Nations, the fashion industry consumes more energy than the aviation and shipping industry combined. It’s long supply chains and high energy consumption means it contributes to around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, it is estimated to use around 1.5 trillion litres of water annually! Clothing is usually sold in a country different to where it was manufactured, hence also increasing your carbon footprint.
In the UK, the average lifespan for a piece of clothing is only 2.2 years. Extending this lifespan by just nine months can go a long way to reducing its environmental impact. Mend and/or alter clothing you already have or upcycle an old piece of clothing to give it a new lease on life. Rewear your best occasion clothes for those special occasions such as Eid. Or even borrow/hire occasion wear from family and friends.
If you are going to buy clothes, consider only buying good quality clothing that will last longer and buy less often. Buy only clothes you see yourself wearing for the next 10, 20, 30 years, promoting a culture of mindful consumption and reducing fashion waste.
Not to mention plastics in clothing 😪 Many of our clothes contain plastics like polyester, nylon, acrylic and polyamide. In fact, most new fabrics are made of plastic – up to 64% of them! When these clothes are washed, they shed microplastics which then end up in our oceans and affect marine life 😪 Consider only buying/wearing clothing that are made from natural fibres such as cotton, linen, hemp and merino wool.
Have you ever considered going to a clothes swap event? I recently came across Zainab from @zainab.slow.fashion on Instagram and she has hosted a South Asian clothes swap where you can find your pre-loved occasionwear. Why not host your own amongst family and friends and find your new Eid outfit? Or even something for that wedding that’s coming up soon?
In a world full of choices, we’ve explored the joys of shopping local, adorning our spaces with eco-friendly flair, and ditching the fast-fashion frenzy. As we wrap up this journey, remember that every purchase is a chance to make a positive impact. Let’s continue supporting local businesses, embracing sustainable decorations, and saying no to fast fashion. Together, we’re not just making style statements; we’re weaving a story of conscious living and vibrant communities. So, here’s to a future where our choices reflect the love we have for our planet and the communities we call home. Happy shopping, happy decorating, and salute to a brighter, greener tomorrow!