Hey everyone, Melanie here with sariKNOtsari! This week on the blog we are talking about SLOW FASHION. I am so excited to share this with you and as I learn more about it I can’t wait to share it with you all.

So, in order to understand slow fashion we first need to understand fast fashion. We’re going to quickly talk about the problem with fast fashion. So this is what we as consumers understand to be fashion in our everyday lives. For example, you go to the mall and you find let’s say 5 shirts, they are each €5-10, very on-trend, you love them, pick them up, bring them home. And I’m guilty of this too. You wear them a few times...you probably don’t even wear all of them. And then in a few months the trends are already changing. We want to be trendy and look hip so we go back to the mall and pick up some new stuff….some dresses, some pants.

And the cycle goes on and on. This is fast fashion consuming.  

It doesn’t seem like a huge problem. If you’re thinking “Well if I don’t wear something, I can donate it. What’s the problem with that? It helps someone who maybe can’t afford things from the mall and I get to go buy something new because I just donated something!”

Well actually, there is a big problem with this industry. It starts at the production end of things...social and environmental impacts. Environmentally, 1 kg of fabric produces 23 kg of greenhouse gases. Just think about that. 1 to 23 ratio of greenhouse gases. There’s also thousands of litres of water that are put into production to make new fabric.

You may not know this (I didn’t learn this until Priya, our founder, told me this week) but oil is the #1 pollutant, most people know that in our world, but fabric production is the second biggest pollutant in the world. SECOND BIGGEST. So every time we go to the mall or we go to different stores and buying cheap fabric, we are contributing to that environmental impact.

Also socially, we all remember a few years ago Rana Plaza in Bangladesh collapsed, a bunch of workers died from that (1100 to be exact!). When you buy things that are €5 or €10...we can’t have the same restrictions or policies in place to ensure that those places are safe. We don’t know if the workers are in a safe environment or a clean environment, if they’re getting breaks etc.

So what can we do to change this? We are done talking about the problem...we know about the problem.

There is a solution! And buyers have a huge power...a huge impact in this world of consumerism!

So let’s first talk about some alternatives. The first alternative is just wearing what you already have. 20% of clothing is what we wear. In our closets, we are only wearing 20%...most of us. And I’m guilty of this too. We find our favourite pieces, we know they look good on us, they feel good and we just wear them all the time. So just start with wearing more, mix and match, finding different combinations. Wear what you already have.

And if you can’t do that, maybe borrow something. If you have an event and you need a new dress, instead of buying one, maybe your friend has a really cute one. Or there’s some cool organizations now (Trusted Clothes out of Waterloo)  where you can swap. Clothing swaps are happening locally all the time and you can borrow clothing through these companies (Boro It in Toronto). It’s a great new model.

Another thing you can do is go to the thrift store and pick up stuff from there. That’s another great option. Maybe make something yourself? Old school...sew it yourself!

And if none of those alternatives work for you, that’s fine. If you have to buy something...maybe you have to buy a gift for someone or you have to buy something for yourself...shop ethically!

If you have to do it, do it ethically. I always say vote with your wallet. So I’m gonna be biased because now I’m learning more about chiangmaicctv and I love them! So I’m going to talk about their clothing brand.

So Priya, our founder, went to India and found two family-run businesses that make our clothing using upcycled Indian saris. They are cotton saris and silk saris that they turn into dresses, shirts, pants, tops, everything.

And if you are wondering, “Well what about the scraps from those? Don’t those go in the garbage?” No! They use the scraps, as well! This is amazing to me. They use it for gift wrap, for scarves, they use it for bunting which is a decoration you can have in your house.

So they are upcycling fabric, they are using the scraps to make more products, and then even better, they also support social change. €1 from every purchase of chiangmaicctv goes to Save the Elephants which is an organization that works on elephant conservation.

So you have these three amazing things that this organization does that you can use as a buyer. Use your power...shop ethically instead of supporting fast fashion.

And everything is on sale right now...it doesn’t get better than that!

So...that’s my little blog for this week. Next week, let me know what you want to hear about. What I’m thinking is...shopping locally, thinking globally… talking about my favourite places in Hamilton to do this.

So stay tuned for next week, thanks for watching this week. Bye!

It’s called The Price of Free and documents the work of Kailash Satyarthi; the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 (along with Malala Yousafzai that year). According to the trailer, “As a young man, he promised himself that he would end child slavery in his lifetime. In the decades since, he has rescued more than 80,000 children and built a global movement.”

This sets the scene for the rest of the documentary. During these raids Kailash has found anywhere from 10 to 100 children. In another example, he finds a room of children making jewellery boxes. There are a few of them sitting on the floor putting gems on the boxes. There is a chemical leaking on the floor that they use for the glue. Kailash picks up the box and turns it over to see a homesense label...A HOMESENSE LABEL! I had to pause the film for a moment at this point because I just couldn’t believe it.

Time and time again Kailash puts himself in danger to find children and return them to their families. When asked why he does it he says that if it was his own child he would stop at nothing to find them...so why wouldn’t he do this for others? This is what amazed me. Kailash never gives up and never loses hope. He believes in the power that one person has and even more, the positive change we can make when we all work together.

Kailash says it’s all about education. We first need to know that there is a problem before we can do anything about it. Find out where your products come from and then from there decide what you want to do. Do you want to keep buying from that company because they pay fairly? Do you want to write a letter asking them to change their practices because they don’t?

And they don’t just rescue children! They also work to ensure more children aren’t being forced into this industry. They are getting to the root of the problem of modern slavery. His centre educates the children so, when they are old enough to get a job, they can get a good one and help their family break the cycle of poverty.

The Price of Free urges us to think and act. You can find more info about how to help here: https://chiangmaicctv.com/

And you can find the full documentary here: https://chiangmaicctv.com/watch?v=UsqKz1hd_CY&list=PLzvRx_johoA-rUghlugCzdOzSUMxXbUV0&index=1

Until next week,

Melanie

Hi everyone,

Melanie here at chiangmaicctv and today I’m working in the store so I wanted to use it as an opportunity to show you some of our new pieces that just came in. And specifically to talk to you about fabric upcycling. I’ve talked about this in the blog before but we got some new pieces in that show we are really trying not to have scraps go in the landfill but use them for different products, as well.

So when artisans have a sari they usually cut it into three pieces and I would say they can get three to four items of clothing out of them. So, for example, this shawl is a beautiful purple and light brown print. And we also have other items in store when we use an upcycled sari so they can make a shawl, a vest, a top, pants...a few different items out of the individual sari.

So, like I said, the sari can be used for many different shapes, sizes, styles of clothing and now smaller hair accessories. Another thing I wanted to show you is these new straw pouches that just came in. And these I’m really excited for personally because I use reusable straws and cutlery but after they are used you don’t want to put them back in your purse dirty. So you can just throw them in here and then the pouch itself can be hand washed or put in the washing machine and it’s clean!

The bunting I’ve talked about on the blog, as well. This is many different colours and patterns. These they would’ve used scraps...maybe they were making clothing for us and had just a few smaller pieces and decided to make the decorative bunting. This is a great way to add a pop of colour...a lot of us have minimalistic/neutral homes and we want to add a splash of colour. It’s an easy decoration you can change out. And it’s another great way to support the cause.

This is our gift wrap. Sustainable gift wrap is a huge thing lately, especially around the holidays. Instead of throwing all that wrapping paper out, you can give someone a beautiful piece of fabric. Again, all upcycled saris (silk or cotton). And these are multipurpose! A lot of things we carry here have versatility and multi-purpose. So you can use this as a handkerchief, a scarf, a shawl if it’s cold outside. They can be just about anything. Some people use them as napkins too. So that’s something else I wanted to show you that came in that uses recycled fabrics.

These are earbud holders- a lot of us have ear buds at the bottom of our purses all tangled up in a knot. With these you just wrap them around and close...perfect!

Lastly, our Doodlage line. Doodlage is a line coming in this week from India. They also use upcycled scraps and things that would otherwise go in the landfill from other designers and clothing companies. They usually gather them all up and throw them on the floor, never use them again. Doodlage turns them into new clothing. I’ll go into more detail about them in a future blog post or unboxing.

It’s a great environmentally friendly way to repurpose things! And the fabric feels so soft! Stay tuned for new items coming in with these fabrics. I love the embroidery on this next one. It’s made of recycled denim...what a cool company! And the embroidery says “hold on to your dreams tonight, don’t let them fade away.” And this last one is coming in a duffel bag...how cool is that colour, I love it! If you look close there is embroidering but other than that the design comes from fabric scraps. So we have a beautiful jacket coming in, dresses, duffel bags, eye masks, makeup pouches...so many things!

So I’m so excited to share these new items with you I know it was a long blog today but there was so much to talk about. And I look forward to talking to you next week! We’re gonna talk more about all the new pieces that are coming in.

Melanie

Photo credit: @petraalexandra

The five items I chose are items that you can easily switch over to more sustainable options. Most yogis already own these items, but it is important to look at where you got them from and the benefit they have on yourself and the world.

Often, the path to sustainability starts with getting rid of plastic in your life. Whether it be straws, water bottles, take-out containers etc. Why not use this opportunity to buy something that will be healing for your body while not adding waste to landfills?

Recently, I’ve learned about the benefits of copper. These include anti-aging, immunity-boosting, skin healing, and mental and joint health. We carry a brand called Kaarigar Copper based out of India. They make products such as reusable water bottles, tumblrs, mugs, straws etc. out of 100% copper. Who doesn’t want all these benefits from drinking water during their yoga practice?

2. Clothing

Yoga clothing is all about comfort. You don’t want something that you have to fidget with during your practice. Often, we also want something that we can run around and do errands in after class, as well.

A great line we carry is Uranta. This is an upcycled clothing line out of a fair trade workshop in Mexico. Their clothing line is “made for people who celebrate their lives through the inspiration delivered by movement.” How beautiful is that? Whether you are dancing, stretching, sweating, meditating...this clothing line is built for you! They use 100% recycled materials while designing pieces that are also fashionable...what’s not to love?

3. Props

Often in yoga we use props such as mats, carrying bags, straps, and pillows. Like I said earlier, it is important to examine where these are coming from and their impact. At chiangmaicctv we carry bags and straps made of upcycled fabric. That way, new fabric production isn't creating pollution and old fabric isn’t going into the landfill.

We also have pillows coming in from India for meditation! I’m personally excited for these because I get a sore back when sitting on the floor for too long. These will prop you up nicely so you can focus more on mediation and less on being uncomfortable. They are hand-made in India by our artisans which Priya has ensured make a fair wage and use eco-friendly practices.

4. Tea

I’ve talked about this tea before but I love it so much so I’m talking about it again. It is great for yoga because it has healing benefits! Drinking tea is a ritual that allows us to slow down and focus on our mind and body. This brand is made by a holistic nutritionist in Toronto who creates her teas with naturally-flavoured plants. The tea tastes amazing while healing your body of common ailments such as anxiety, stress, and inflammation!

We have a tea flavour coming in called Sticky Ginger Chai made exclusively for chiangmaicctv. We had it at our grand opening and it was a huge hit! It is warming and comforting with just the right hints of spice. I can’t wait enjoy it again soon.

5.Bracelets

Anyone who has been to a yoga show knows that there’s always mala bracelets! These are bracelets used for mindfulness or to set intention (originally from malas used for prayer in Buddhism). Again, it is important to ask where these bracelets come from. Unfortunately, not all stones are ethically sourced.

Items used every day by yogis can have a positive impact on themselves and the world. It starts with asking where we are already buying things from. And then making small changes accordingly if we have to.

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog :)

Until next week,

Melanie

It’s one thing to have the knowledge that we need to support better brands but it’s another thing to act! When you are shopping and find a piece of clothing you love, how do you know that it benefits people instead of harming them? So I thought I would give you the tools to do so this week!  

Here are their four main features:

See how your favourite brands rate

This app allows you to search brands and gives you ratings on them based on labour rights, effect on the environment, and animal welfare. It gives each company a general rating out of five and detailed ratings on each of the three categories. What I like is that the app provides blurbs on each brand and category explaining why they chose the rating they did.

Discover new, ethical brands

Under the preferences section you are able to choose the criteria that are most important to you when buying clothing (labour rights, environmental impact, and/or animal welfare). Good On You then suggests new and ethical brands that it thinks you will like. There’s also an option to put in your location so they can tell you which retailers close by carry these brands. This is another feature I enjoyed! It also personalized suggestions based on my location, gender, and style. 

Find great deals on ethical brands

We have all heard the argument that ethical brands can be more expensive. But you’ve seen me talk about quality over quantity in this blog and buying less/wearing more. I still believe all this but another feature of this app is that it shows you local offers on ethical brands. So if you’ve had your eye on a piece but can’t afford it at this time, you will be notified when it goes on sale. This makes ethically sourced pieces more affordable for more people.

More and more brands are moving from brick and mortar shops to online stores. This makes it harder to ask questions of sales associates. This app fixes that problem and does the work for you! You can have the answers to all your questions at your fingertips. They also have a great blog I recommend reading (in case you get bored of mine haha).

Here’s their website if you want to learn more about them and how they rate brands: https://chiangmaicctv.com/about/.

Until next week,

I think it is important to celebrate love and the relationships we have around us whether that be significant others, family, friends, pets etc….but I don’t think you need a day to tell you when to do it. So on today’s blog I go through my top 5 ways to celebrate with our loved ones...whether that be Feb. 14 or any other day of the year!

1. A Night In

A night in can be anything that makes you happy. I’m a fan of good ol’ fashioned board game nights or dance parties. Or my little cousins and I like to do our nails and play pretend. Anything that keeps you in the moment and brings joy with the ones you love. We are here on this earth to be connected to one another and what better way than to disconnect for a bit?

2. Gal-entine’s Day

This one is seriously so fun! My roomates and I used to celebrate it in university. It’s similar to a night in with your significant other or family except it’s with your gal pals (did I just use that phrase?). Friends will be there for you before the significant others enter your life and if/when they leave. So why not spent Valentine’s Day celebrating each other and the value you add to one another’s lives?

My friend Katie and I bought a heart shaped cake one year and each ate half! We would watch Grey’s Anatomy together and drink wine and eat cookie dough. Those are some of the best memories I have from university. Or my roomates and I would buy each other a small gift to let them know we were thinking of them that day. Women supporting women is so important!

3. Self-Care

Sometimes we don’t want to spend time with anyone and I get that. After a long day at work you just want to relax and spend time alone. Self- love is also so important. I once heard that we can’t fill up anyone else’s cup if ours is empty. Some of my favourite self-care rituals are meditating, taking a bath, yoga, reading, and journaling.

It’s also really nice on a day off to treat yourself to a spa day at home. Set a relaxing atmosphere by lighting a candle, turning on your twinkle lights, and listening to your favourite music. Put on a face mask, do your nails, try out all those samples in your bathroom drawer that you have been meaning to, exfoliate..the list goes on. It’s not always easy to carve out time for ourselves but it is so valuable!

4. Volunteering

Another thing I did in university that I just loved was volunteering at a nursing home once a week. I would go and paint nails every Saturday for an hour. This doesn’t seem like much but the ladies and I looked forward to it every week. It was another way for me to be present and spend quality time with others. We would have donuts and share stories and laugh. And for one hour a week they would forget their worries and so would I.

I really recommend volunteering with a significant other, friend, or family member. Working together towards the common good really brings you together while bettering the community. Oh man I’m already feeling warm and fuzzy after writing this blog haha.

5. Meaningful Gift-Giving

If you are planning on giving a gift to someone special this Valentine’s Day, make sure it is ethically sourced! A great place to start is Buy Good Feel Good. They are an organization that features ethically sourced products from all over the world. They have an expo coming up in April that we will be at that I’m personally so excited for. I do most of my gift-buying at this show because I know every organization featured there does good!  

What I want to stress at the end of this blog is gratitude. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle in life and forget to stop and be grateful for what we have. That is something I hope Valentine’s Day is for us all. An opportunity to look around at those who helped us get where we are right now. To celebrate their love and support and then remember to do this more than once a year!

Have a great day!

Everything we do at chiangmaicctv is guided by the slow fashion movement. We aim to inspire you to buy less and wear more. By doing so, you love every piece you own and reduce your impact on the planet. We curate our products to make sure everything is ethically sourced and well made. By choosing to buy our items, you are making a statement to support sustainability over consumerism.

Most of our products are upcycled including the chiangmaicctv Up-cycled Vintage collection. We do this intentionally to reduce the amount of product going into landfills. Artisans are able to use materials they already have to create beautiful pieces.

Similarly, we make sure our items are low-waste and encourage our artisans to turn any scrap pieces into new items. For example, in our chiangmaicctv linen and up-cycled vintage lines, scraps from dresses and tops are used to make gift wrap, bunting and hair accessories.

Brands that use remnants to create new products also reduce the carbon footprint that would have been caused by the creation of new fabrics.  By starting with high quality, pre-loved pieces, our artisans reduce on costs without compromising quality. This also allows us to provide products to our customers in a variety of price points, making them accessible to all.

We love to support artisans abroad and make the world a better place while doing so. However, we don’t believe this means we can’t support local talent too! For example, ALTR Soaps is a company out of Hamilton that uses locally picked botanicals to make their products. These items benefit our local economy while benefiting the planet by only using natural materials...a win-win!

We work directly with our artisans for our chiangmaicctv collections, ensuring that they are paid a fair price for their labour. In fact, our owner Priya travels to India to handpick sustainable fabrics and designs and ensure safe work environments. When we bring other vendors into the store, we research to see that they are following these criteria. In this way, customers know when they walk into our store that everything has a positive impact on people and the planet.

We believe that you can make a difference every time you buy something and encourage our customers to vote with their wallet. Instead of having a neutral or negative impact, why not have a positive one? Many of our products support social causes in addition to being ethically sourced. For example, one dollar from every chiangmaicctv brand purchase, and €20 from every Elephant Necklace purchase, goes directly to Save The Elephants, an organization that protects elephants and their grazing lands in Africa. Our A Million Elephants collection helps create awareness of on-going de-mining efforts in Laos.

Let it be known that I wasn’t planning on writing this week’s blog tonight. But I got so fired up that I had to! But I’m getting ahead of myself let’s take a step back.

Who else has been watching Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix? My cousins were watching it when I went to Ottawa for Christmas and they got me hooked! For those of you who don’t know, Marie is a “tidying specialist” from Japan and each episode helps a different family organize their home.

She has a specific order of tidying- Clothes, Books, Papers, Kitchen, Bathroom, Garage, and Miscellaneous. The goal is to work on a different category each week. Each week you put every single item from the category in a heaping pile together and go through it one by one. As you pick up each item you decide if it sparks joy for you and if not you get rid of it.

Simple enough right? That’s what I thought. Wrong. This process was so hard for me and revealed a lot about myself and my relationship with my clothes that I just had to share with you!

You see, I’ve been on this journey for a while. I know all about fair trade and minimalism. I work in these sectors and blog about these topics. I figured I’m well on my way compared to the people on Netflix and was maybe being judgemental of them? I’m embarrassed to say that but this blog has taught me honesty.

Anyway, I decided tonight to go through this process myself. I thought most of my clothes bring me joy so it shouldn’t take too long and I’ll just get rid of a few things. Again, I was wrong. I started with the one pile of clothes on my bed and was shocked at how big it was! I just went through clothes when it changed seasons and donated a bunch...how is there still so much left?

So I used Marie’s method and went one by one only keeping items that sparked joy in me. This is an interesting concept that I haven’t done before. Usually I just get rid of items that don’t fit or that I don’t wear anymore. But this way of thinking forced me to examine the relationships I had with my clothes.

Which brings me to another weird concept...why do we have a relationship with our clothes? I am a very sentimental person so found myself having items that reminded me of someone or something. But those memories live in my mind and those clothes don’t fit me anymore so away they went! Throughout this process I was thinking that I want to have a relationship with people not things. I know the less we have in life the more connected we are to others, and I was reminded of that.

I also found items I was keeping because of guilt. I had shirts I kept because of who bought them for me or because I spent a lot of money on them or because I had never worn them or because they may fit again one day (Anyone else with me?). But none of those reasons were enough for me to wear them. I didn’t like them and wasn’t wearing them...so why keep them? I also saved my “maybes” for the end and tried them all on to be sure. Turns out, if you’re already on the fence about if you like a piece...you probably won’t wear it so why keep it!

I also felt shame. I found duplicates of a lot of things. Often we go out shopping thinking we don’t have an item when we actually have a different version of it at home. Before going shopping we should go through what we currently have and see if we need more. Now that I’ve done this, I notice that there are a few key pieces I can add to my wardrobe to help me mix and match the pieces I already have. Which ties into the slow fashion movement we have been talking about! Ultimately, this saves on waste of clothing we don’t need.

As you can tell, this process was good and bad! I feel like it was a roller coaster of emotion and I didn’t expect that. I got to consciously choose which clothes I wanted to bring into my future with me and use to express myself. And it feels like I have more clothes now because I know what I have. Before this I was a bit overwhelmed by all that I had so I only wore a few of my favourites. Now I know everything in my closet sparks joy and I’m wearing it more as a result.

And that felt so good! It was hard but I’m glad I did it. Now I only have pieces that spark joy in me...how beautiful is that? I feel as though the baggage is gone. Physically and mentally! This process has cleared things out for me. And now I’m looking around my apartment seeing what other items I can get rid of and what items I really want to keep. I can’t wait to live in a space where everything has meaning!

At the end of this tidying journey I will be surrounded only by things that spark joy in me. How is that going to affect my life? And relationships with others? It seems like a stretch but it’s true. Most couples and families on the show emphasized how much this process brought them together in a joyful environment.

If you haven’t seen this show yet, I really encourage you to watch it! And, if I haven’t scared you off, to start your own tidying process. Let’s do this together and motivate each other!

But...please go easy on yourself. After all the work of donating a bunch of my clothes, I’m going to reward myself by buying one really nice piece. And that’s okay! I’m going to make sure it is well made, ethically sourced, and sparks joy in me. Then I’ll be so much more likely to wear it more often and take good care of it. And isn’t that what it’s all about? It comes full circle!

Thanks for reading my little debrief! I’m already excited to pick out an outfit for tomorrow which is something I usually dread. And I find myself looking forward to the next category I’m going to declutter...this is a great process to see what matters to me at this point in my life.

Have you ever done something like this? If so, how did it go?

Looking forward to this conversation!

Melanie

P.s. Stay tuned next week to see the main criteria we use at chiangmaicctv when bringing brands in and why we choose them.

This week I wanted to highlight 5 items we have in store that every wardrobe needs. I picked these items because they have more than one function and that is what slow fashion is all about. What we seek to do is buy less and wear more. By adding items like these into your wardrobe, you can easily dress your other pieces up or down. Let’s get started!

1. Brooch

Another great purpose is to carry your glasses! I’m always losing mine so it’s great to keep them right on me. We get this item from Barbara Rubber, a company that recycles rubber tires into necklaces. So you know your money is going to a great organization that is helping clean the environment! 

2. Sleevey Wonders

Sleevey Wonders are also great for following a dress code at work or if you want to feel more comfortable in a certain outfit. We have a full sleeve style and a ¾ length one, as well. Each side of this item is different so you can wear it with a high neckline or as a V-Neck, an added bonus!

3. Upcycled Scarf

We have scarves with our chiangmaicctv line that are made of upcycled saris in India. This means they help the planet while you wear them by saving the material from going into a landfill. Our scarves come in squares and rectangles and in cotton or silk. They also double as reusable, fabric gift wrap...does it get any better? 

4. Black Pants

They are seriously so comfortable! Once again, these are items that can be dressed up or down, used to layer under dresses, or worn alone. We carry both regular and plus-size options. Bamboo also rarely needs to be ironed, saving you time!

5. Black Top

We have both camisoles and long-sleeved tops for all your layering needs. As I’ve said with the other items in this post, they can be dressed up or down with the right accessories. I pick black because it matches virtually everything which means you will wear it more and that is what we want!

Who doesn’t want to save money by buying less clothes while also reducing their environmental footprint?

Let me know in the comments!

Hi everyone,

Melanie here with chiangmaicctv! This week for the blog I wanted to pop on video to talk about impact. You’ll notice the topic for this week is “You make a difference...You are making an impact!” And this is something I wanted to address because over the Christmas season and New Year’s, I noticed talking with a lot of friends and family that we are overwhelmed by all the negativity in the world and all the problems going on.

We don’t know where to start. There’s war, violence, AIDS, refugees, poverty...the list goes on and on. And it can be overwhelming to know how one person can make a difference. Some people think, “Can I even make a difference?” And I’m here to tell you this week that you can and, in fact, you are making a difference already.

First of all, I want to start with a little example that I’ve figured out through working in retail. This happens all the time. So let’s say a customer asks for a certain product, a fair trade tea. And then someone else asks for it. And someone else asks for it. Eventually we bring that in. It’s supply and demand. So customers have an impact just right there. By asking for something. The owner or manager will say this is very valuable to the customer and we should bring it in.

Another example is just asking for fair trade or ethically sourced. It’s great to be challenged by customers. When people are asking us, “Where does this come from? Where do you get it? Is it local, organic, direct trade?” And sometimes we don’t know the answers to those questions but that’s great because then we get to find out together. And then when the next person asks, we know the answer.

So there’s this ripple effect and this connectiveness where when you are asking a question or making a comment or wanting a product to be brought in, that is effecting other people. It effects us as staff and our product knowledge and future customers who now can have that knowledge from us and buy that product that you asked to bring in.

So basically in this blog post I want to focus on the fact that we aren’t neutral beings. This is something I feel strongly about. Our actions do not have a neutral effect. What we are doing everyday has a positive impact or a negative impact on the world.

So it may be overwhelming to think, “I have something I’m passionate about but I don’t have time. I don’t have time to organize my community to write a petition or do a protest or various other things.” You don’t have to do something that big. Don’t start with this huge problem I have to solve all by myself. Start everyday with little actions. Things you are already doing.

I buy coffee. So instead of buying unethical coffee, I buy ethical coffee. We buy clothing. Instead of buying unethical clothing, look into where you clothing is coming from. It is a great thing just to start asking those questions. Where does this come from?

And then we can make positive, small changes from there and can pick a more ethical option! So that’s basically where I’m at right now. That we can make a difference and we are making a difference through our actions every single day.

There’s another example I wanted to give you: social media. We’re all on social media I’m guilty of it. We are scrolling on instagram and facebook and we post or share funny memes and articles. But what if instead we shared our favourite local clothing brand? Or our favourite fair trade coffee? It can be anything you are passionate about or something that’s supporting someone else in our community.

Let’s say you share that fair trade clothing brand and your sister sees it. She clicks it and loves their stuff and buys something. Then she shares it on her instagram and one of her friends sees it. Same thing...they click it and buy something and so on. So you may think “I’m going to share this article, that’s not going to have any impact, who cares.” But we do have impact, even if we don’t know it! We always have an impact through that ripple effect and network of community.

So if you feel overwhelmed and like you don’t have the money to buy fair trade clothing or the time to volunteer for the causes you are passionate about, look at what you are already doing and see if you can change your actions in that way. If you are already buying coffee or already sharing links on social media, then make a positive difference that way.

It would just be so great if we could all do that! So that is our homework for this week, we’re getting homework again (me included). Whenever I go on video it seems I like to give out homework, I don’t know why. But that’s just what I wanted to leave you with. Vote with you wallet, I always say that.

Let’s get the conversation going. Let me know in the comments things that you can do everyday to make a positive impact.

Thanks so much!

Now that we have explored the topics of fair trade and slow fashion, I wanted to share with you my Top 5 favourite places to "act locally and think globally" in Hamilton.

I first heard this term in the early days of learning about fair trade. People would say to me that they loved the concept of fair trade but wanted to support local entrepreneurs instead of artisans abroad. But what if you can do both? Below are my favourite places to shop in Hamilton where you can help people and the planet with your purchases!

Most people know that Ten Thousand Villages started the fair trade movement. In 1946, Edna Ruth Byler brought items back with her from her trip to Puerto Rico. She began to sell the items out of her car to friends and family. The Mennonite Central Committee saw the importance of her work and started to fund her travels abroad to buy products.

Now, Ten Thousand Villages has stores in the US and Canada including one here in Hamilton. I was the Assistant Manager at this location for a year and a half. My favourite products there include the Ethiopian coffee and beautiful textiles. I also had the pleasure of meeting artisans from Peru when I went there in October. Definitely stop in this shop next time you are on Locke Street!

This summer I kept hearing about a store called The Pale Blue Dot. Friends kept telling me to check it out because they knew I would love it and they were right! This store is your one-stop-shop for sustainability in Hamilton. Mary does a wonderful job of curating products to help reduce waste in consumers’ every day lives.

Some of my favourite products bought here include my reusable straw, glass spray bottle, and bamboo utensils. I can’t wait to go back to browse their make-up products, soaps, and clothing! Check out the basement while you are there too for some beautiful vintage items!

I recently started working here and just love it! They do a great job of featuring local and organic produce, bulk items, prepared meals, and baked treats. They also carry some great local, fair trade brands such as Camino, Coffeecology, Terra Teas, and Chocosol.  

This is your one-stop-shop if you want to get a coffee, listen to some good music, do your grocery shopping, and help the planet at the same time. Need a last minute hostess gift? Dundurn Market has put together gift baskets and flower arrangements for you! And if you can’t make it out, they deliver around Hamilton, Dundas, and Ancaster through Bikeables. It doesn’t get better!

I first met Krista, the founder of Just One, at the Buy Good Feel Good Expo two years ago. She is such an amazing person and I love the name of her company. It reminds us that just one person can make a great impact on the world!

Just One works with Ugandan and Kenyan artisans to create amazing jewellery. What I love about her brand is the simplicity of the pieces. You can wear them with just about anything and dress them up or down. The artisans also use lots of recycled materials such as cow horn and magazines which would otherwise go to waste. I used to live in Uganda so these pieces are close to my heart! Check out her website or buy her pieces right beside our store on James Street at Vintage Charm.

I recently heard about Metta Made through Robin, my yoga teacher at De La Sol. I love how small Hamilton is and how we all connect to each other in some way! Metta Made is a new clothing business that uses ethical and eco-friendly fabrics.

What I love about their pieces is how versatile they are. They promote having a “capsule” wardrobe which you can learn more about on their website.  Their products are also made to order to provide a meaningful approach to supply and demand. Lastly, Metta Made donates a portion of their proceeds to Body Brave, a great not-for-profit also located in Hamilton.

That’s it for today. Always remember to vote with your wallet! And don’t forget to stop into chiangmaicctv to see all the amazing brands we carry that support both local and global causes :)

Where are your favourite places to shop in Hamilton? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next week,

Usually when we think about environmental waste the first thing that comes to mind is plastic and while plastic waste is still a huge contributor, it definitely isn’t the only thing that’s been taking its toll on the environment.  Did you know that second to oil, the clothing and textile industry is the largest polluter in the world?

• About 15% of clothing fabric ends up on the cutting room floor.
• Up to 95% of the textiles that are landfilled each year could have been recycled.
• Canadians on average purchase 70 new articles of clothing a year.
• Estimates show that Ontario generates 500,000 tonnes of clothing and textile waste every year and that number is expected to grow rapidly.
• Consumers in the UK have an estimated €46.7 billion worth of unworn clothing in their closets.

So now let’s count down some of our favourite guilt free fabrics!

5. Biodegradable Bamboo.

It almost seems like nowadays anything can be made using bamboo! From toothbrushes to cutting boards- if you’ve been trying to live a sustainable life you are no stranger to Bamboo. Antibacterial and biodegradable, bamboo is rapidly becoming a popular fabric source in the clothing industry. But the natural fiber made from bamboo has its downsides. While it may grow quickly, need little water to create and require no fertilizers or pesticides to grow, the process of turning bamboo into fabric is chemically intensive and it still produces a fair amount of waste.

4. Cautious Cotton

Chances are most pieces of clothing in your closet are made from this popular fibre. Cotton is one of the most common fabrics in the textile industry and for good reason. It’s hypoallergenic, breathable, durable and made from non-genetically modified plants. Another great advantage to cotton is that it won’t retain odor. This means you’ll be needing to wash your clothing less which will keep them in great condition while saving you money, time and water. Unfortunately, cotton has created a high environmental demand. Although, it’s a great option it doesn't quite make it to the top of our list!

3. 3. Lasting Linen.

Linen is a natural plant fiber that has been around for thousands of years. It adds a timeless, elegant and understated staple to any wardrobe. It was believed in ancient times to have healing properties given that it is hypoallergenic, antibacterial and breathable. 30% more durable than cotton, it remains the world's strongest natural fiber and will last you for decades! It also requires little water and no chemical fertilizers or pesticides to grow.  So what are the drawbacks? Since it is better quality, linen is typically a more expensive (but worthwhile), option. It also has a tendency to wrinkle, so keep your steamer handy!

2. Helpful Hemp.

It seems as if the pros are endless for this ecological and sustainable trailblazer.

Similar to linen, Hemp is an extremely durable option that has a tendency to bunch and crease in areas. It is naturally resistant to insects, easy to care for and requires little water. Hemp also grows so rapidly that it has become one of the most renewable fibers in the clothing industry. Besides being reusable and biodegradable it’s also non-polluting during its life cycle. I struggled to find cons for this fabric besides the fact that it’s hard to spin on its own and often has to be mixed with cotton (which could affect its ability to be recycled).  

1. 1. Upcycled Existing Fabric.

Unsurprisingly, the best option is always to repurpose what you already have. Upcycling is the process of converting something old into something new. If you’re tired of your existing closet, think of ways that you can transform what you already have into new pieces that better reflect your current style. Get fun with your fashion! An easy cut with scissors can turn a baggy sweater into a cute crop, or a long dress into a playful skirt. And if you're not too savvy with the scissors, you can save clothing from the waste stream and purchase pre-loved clothing and fabric or high quality sustainable pieces that will last you a lifetime:)