Why I Became a Conscious Shopper
Conscious consumerism means you are aware of your purchasing power and choose to make responsible decisions when shopping. A conscious consumer is someone who intentionally seeks out products that consider social impact, in addition to quality or price, for example. Today I’m going to go to share why I became a conscious shopper, and why I love it!
This post is in collaboration with Nati Macchiato, and I’m so excited to team up with Nati today! She’s a blogger with a mission to make sustainable fashion attainable, and she talks about sustainable fashion, ethics, capsule wardrobes, and the like!
Please go check her out — she’s sharing her own perspective on this topic on her blog today as well.
Why I Became a Conscious Shopper:
Becoming a conscious shopper isn’t something that happens overnight. Usually there are one or two major issues that tug at your heart and soul, and that unravels a whole world of shopping and selecting differently.
At least that’s how things went for me. These days making conscious consumer choices is such an integral part of my personality I don’t even have to think about it.
Ethics – Put simply, shopping more consciously can make a huge human rights impact. It really bothers me that people suffer for the sake of our consumer goods, and that comes into each one of my purchasing decisions. You can research the ethics and labor practices of brands using the Good on You app, or other third-party sources.
Sustainability – We live in throwaway culture, and that is a huge contributor to the current climate emergency. Do your research when purchasing something to see if you can reuse, upcycle, or find a more sustainable option for that product.
My Sanity – Having less can be so good for allowing your mind to rest and reducing overwhelm. Nati talks about this in her articles about creating a capsule wardrobe.
For my wallet – You all know I love to shop second-hand. I started shopping second-hand in college as a way to save money. Now I’ve come to realize that shopping second-hand aligns perfectly with my conscious consumer values, and it also helps my limited budget!
For my love of rad vintage style style – When it comes to clothes, vintage and unique things are my absolute favorite. Period. It’s easy for me to make a conscious decision to shop second-hand when it comes to clothes because it is my style preference.
It feels good – I love to ‘purchase with a purpose.’ By this, I mean I like to buy from companies that give back in some way or support a cause. This could mean purchasing an organic teddy bear that means a teddy bear is donated to a kid in need, or shopping at a company like Patagonia that values corporate responsibility. Check out 1% for the Planet for ideas about companies that give back.
Reduce regret – One of the most conscious ways to shop is to choose not to buy at all. Thinking more intentionally about my purchases has helped me avoid so much buying regret over the years.
To Screw Corrupt Corporations – I don’t like to put my money into the pockets of gigantic, corrupt corporations. Monopolies and corporations are killing the American economy and destroying the environment. I don’t want to give them a dollar more to do so.
I love local – I love to support local or family-owned businesses, or even creative makers I meet online. There’s something so exciting about knowing my purchase helps a creative live their dream!
Because it’s super fun. Shopping consciously is so rewarding.
For more fun!
Don’t forget to check out Nati’s post! I’m so glad we were able to do this together to celebrate conscious shopping. If you want more posts like this, check out my fashion revolution story, why I love vintage, or really any episode of Pre-Loved Podcast!
Until next time — let’s chat on Instagram or Twitter, where I’m @brumeanddaisy. And don’t forget, subscribe to my podcast for new episodes of Pre-Loved Podcast each week!
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