• Home
  • Where to shop
    • Where to Shop Eco & Ethical Fashion
    • Where to Shop Clean & Natural Beauty
    • Shop My Instagram!
    • Shopping Guides
  • Style
    • Sustainable and Ethical Brands
    • Fair OOTDs
    • Eco & Ethical Beauty
  • Lifestyle
    • Career
    • Wellness
    • Books
    • Travel
  • About
    • About
    • Press
    • Legal Stuff
restitchstance

a sustainable and ethical (life)style blog

Eco/Ethical Fashion Education  /  October 14, 2018

Hey conscious consumer! It’s not up to just you to save the world.

How can we change the world beyond conscious consumerism?

Hey fellow conscious consumer! I have to tell you something.

The weight of the world is not on your shoulders, and conscious consumerism isn’t gonna save the world.

I know, this probably sounds hypocritical coming from someone who blogs mostly about conscious consumerism. Although I do believe that thinking critically about the things we buy and what kind of practices we support with our dollars is important, I’m worried that there’s too much emphasis on individual actions within the conscious consumerism movement.

Yes, where we spend our money matters—it’s important to support businesses and organizations working towards more ethical and sustainable practices, and to question how we are complicit in larger systems of labor and environmental exploitation. It can also be empowering to know you are making an informed, better decision when you buy something made sustainably and ethically.

How can we change the world beyond conscious consumerism?

But it’s not the only or most effective way to create change, and we as conscious consumers shouldn’t feel like the burden of saving the world rests on our own individual lifestyle choices.

I know that this mentality can become draining and overwhelming; over the past year or so, I’ve become hyper-critical of my own consumer choices and have at times been overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness as I discover yet another horrible social or environmental impact of a product that I buy. This is a feeling I’ve discussed with fellow ethical lifestyle bloggers and friends, who have felt the pressure of conscious consumerism impact their mental health as well.

And the thing is, as conscientious about my purchases as I can be, it’s impossible to be a perfectly ethical or sustainable consumer. In a world where corporations have limited accountability and supply chains are murky, how can you, a single human being, possibly vet every single item you consume for its impact on the earth and other people?

You can’t, and you shouldn’t feel like you have to.

Take, for example, the rhetoric related to environmental issues. Most of what we read and hear tells us that if we all do “our small part,” we can make a difference. However, this logic neglects the fact that 100 companies are responsible for 71% of the world’s climate emissions. To achieve the change that we need, we need government action to hold corporations accountable for their impact on the environment. (Want to know more about how we can combat climate change in the next 12 years—before it’s too late? Check out this article.)

There are ways beyond conscious consumerism and individual actions to push for the better world that you believe in. Collective action and organizing to push for policy changes, donating to organizations, and volunteering in your community are just a few of the ways you can broaden your impact as an individual, and use your time and energy towards creating a better world. Buying consciously or boycotting unethical goods can be powerful strategies in larger movements, but you shouldn’t feel that the fate of the world rests on your individual moral choices or that you are in this alone.

Conscious consumerism should complement your activism, not be your activism, and this is a balance I’m trying to find.

How can we change the world beyond conscious consumerism?

Some of the ways we can work towards change, beyond conscious consumerism, include:

  • Donating to an organization doing work you believe in. For example, to help support ethical practices in the fashion industry, you could donate to the Garment Worker Center, which advocates for low-wage garment workers’ rights in Los Angeles. Your money then goes directly to supporting the collective power of workers, instead of indirectly through a company that may or may not have shady practices that are often impossible to evaluate thoroughly. (Read more about the Garment Worker Center here!)
  • Engaging in civic action such as voting, organizing, and protesting. Take the time to research each candidate and policy when you vote, especially in local elections when your vote has the most impact. Although individual actions do have a small impact, the fastest and most powerful way to enact change is through collective and political action. Our elected officials have so much more power than we do as individuals to effect widespread change, so let’s put the pressure on them and not just the lifestyle choices we make. Show up for Election Day on November 6th, especially if you live in a contested district or state!
  • Supporting working class people everywhere, including in your own community and country. Often, ethical fashion can take on a savior-y tone—how many ethical fashion brands start with a white person taking a vacation to Latin America or Africa and realizing they could help the people there by employing them to make bags/shoes/clothes? That’s not to say these brands aren’t doing good, but the focus on labor abroad means we forget that there are workers in our own countries who are underpaid, work in dangerous conditions, and struggle to support their families, including garment workers (one of the largest hubs of garment manufacturing is Los Angeles, which has a problem with wage theft).

How do you balance your conscious consumerism with your activism?

Further reading:

  • I love this article by ethical and sustainable fashion journalist and blogger Alden Wicker, which explains why conscious consumerism isn’t going to change the world, and how you can do things that will.
  • In light of the recent UN report that revealed we only have 12 years to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celcius—or face the worldwide devastation that would cause, here’s an article on the systemic changes we need to advocate for now.

This post was not about shopping ethical fashion, but that’s still fun and if you happen to be interested in my outfit, here are the deets:

Top: Reformation Flora Top
Jeans: Reformation Liza High Straight Jean
Boots: Nisolo Dari boots
Cardigan: thrifted
Earrings: Machete hoops

Until next time!

Pin it:

Hey conscious consumer! It's not up to just you to save the world.

Join the restitchstance!

Sign up for my e-mail newsletter to get notified first of new posts and special announcements! No spam, only sustainable & ethical goodness in your inbox.

By entering your e-mail address, you verify that you consent to receiving e-mail communications from me, and to this blog's privacy policy.

Please fill out all required fields.

You may also like:

Tags:

  • conscious consumerism

Post navigation

The future of fashion is gonna be dope & other lessons from the Garment Worker Center banquet
Better than Birchbox? / October Petit Vour Cruelty-Free Beauty Box review

10% off your first purchase

$10 off your first purchase

15% off with code CAT15

Follow me on Instagram

cookiecat.herine

✿ cat!!! ✿ (she/her)
Instagram post 17859875705489376 me: I should do the self-care thing⁣
⁣
also me: I should ignore all my responsibilities and stay up late for 3 nights in a row reading an intense fantasy series that will only leave me emotionally wrecked for days 👌🏼⁣
⁣
(just finished The Poppy War trilogy by R. F. Kuang and I am not okayyyyyyy!! quick review in my stories)⁣
⁣
[#35mm from what feels like forever ago when I thought mb the pandemic would not last a WHOLE F*CKING YEARRRR]

.
.
.
.
.
#sustainablefashion #slowfashion #boycottfastfashion #sustainablestyle #consciousconsumer #ethicallymade  #ethicallysourced #funkyfashion #y2k #retrofashion #cottagecore #picnic #lisasaysgah #whatimwearing #justshootfilm
Instagram post 17861532188469506 remember cottagecore thot? she decided to fast forward through her mid-life crisis to evolve into her final form as a picnic grandma 🌸 ⁣
⁣
ok but fr, I’m one mental breakdown away from learning tai chi in the park, who’s with me⁣
⁣
fit:⁣
dress: @shopaltar*⁣
sweater: old ref (we do not speak of this brand on this account; if you have questions see: qipao appropriation and accounts of antiblackness in their stores & corporate working environments)⁣
clogs: @earthoriginsusa

.
.
.
.
.
#sustainablefashion #slowfashion #boycottfastfashion #sustainablestyle #consciousconsumer #ethicallymade  #ethicallysourced #cleanbeauty #funkyfashion #y2k #retrofashion #grandmacore #cottagecore #rewearthat #picnic
Instagram post 17895975115866787 🌸👄🌸 ugh just another unrealistic beauty standard for women 🙄

(sometimes, this account feels like a second job. so here are some silly selfies just because)
Instagram post 17976620110357192 #ad // our living room has finally come together, and I couldn’t be happier! 🥰⁣
⁣
thanks so much to @article for partnering with me to create my dream living space. their #NirvanaSofa and #BeaconLamp were the perfect centerpieces to design our space around, and are versatile enough to work with any design aesthetic if our tastes change in the future.⁣
⁣
links to these @article pieces will be in my stories, as well as a link for $50 off $200 (valid until the end of March).⁣
⁣
#OurArticle⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#sustainablestyle #consciousconsumer #ethicallymade #cottagecore #midcenturymodern #interiordesigninspo #gallerywall #danishinterior #colourfulhome #colorfulhome #colorfulhomedecor #retrohome #eclecticdecor #interiordesigninspo #vintagehomedecor #colourfulinteriors #dreamyinteriors #homedreaming #livingroom #livingroomdecor
Instagram post 18136535791154734 hope whoever you’re spending today with, whether it’s family, friends, pets, or yourself, it’s full of love and fair-trade chocolate 💗

📸: the amazing @heyzinah

#valentines #valentinesday
Instagram post 17869894808321388 ✿ flower power ✿ these might be my favorite nail design I’ve done!

I love that colors and funky patterns are back in style, bc it’s reminding me that fashion can be fun and playful and help us laugh at ourselves. also, bright colors and cute prints help trick my brain into creating serotonin 🙃

.
.
.
.
.
#sustainablefashion #slowfashion #boycottfastfashion #sustainablestyle #consciousconsumer #ethicallymade  #ethicallysourced #cleanbeauty #funkyfashion #y2k #retrofashion #nailsofinstagram #nailsoftheday #nailart #naildesign #nailinspo
Instagram post 18136339873154202 the necklace says it all. happy lunar new year, friends 🎊🧧⁣
⁣
growing up, my family tried so hard to instill a pride in our culture despite living in a country that takes our difference and exoticizes us as perpetual foreigners, that takes our assimilation and weaponizes it against us and other BIPOC communities in the form of the model minority myth.⁣
⁣
it’s never been easy to celebrate my culture without white supremacy casting an ugly shadow over it. but the more I’ve unpacked my internalized racial trauma, the more I’ve been able to find beauty and comfort in where I come from.⁣
⁣
my fellow Asian Americans & diasporic Asians, I hope today is simply full of joy and celebration. ❤️⁣
⁣
necklace from Asian-woman-owned brand @miramui_studio💗 #gifted⁣
⁣
(also swipe to the end to see more of my nails lol I just need them to get the recognition they deserve)⁣
⁣
#lunarnewyear #lunarnewyear2021 #modelminoritymyth #sustainablefashion #slowfashion #boycottfastfashion #sustainablestyle #consciousconsumer #ethicallymade #whatimwearing  #ethicalfashionrepresentationmatters #ethicallysourced #cottagecore #funkyfashion #y2k⁣ #nailsofinstagram #nailsoftheday
Instagram post 17906012773720875 for most of my life I was afraid to take up space. talk too loudly. draw too much attention.⁣
⁣
it was ingrained in me, a survival instinct passed down by my refugee parents. with the recent rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, I’m reminded of the quiet suffering my family often chooses to bear in the face of racism, because (they believe) to avoid notice is to avoid being targeted for further violence.⁣
⁣
but silence while we suffer does not protect us; silence while our fellow BIPOC communities suffer does not protect us. it is only by acknowledging the unique yet shared ways we suffer violence at the hands of white supremacy that we can learn to protect each other.⁣
⁣
for my fellow Asian Americans unlearning silence as a survival tactic, I see you. for my non-Asian community speaking up and standing with us, I am so grateful for you.⁣
⁣
[waffle knit set from @solunacollective, a small woman-owned brand that exemplifies everything I love about slow fashion: ethical labor, small batches, thoughtful and timeless collections. #partner]

.
.
.
.
.
#sustainablefashion #slowfashion #boycottfastfashion #sustainablestyle #consciousconsumer #ethicallymade #whatimwearing  #ethicalfashionrepresentationmatters #rewearthat #ethicallysourced #cottagecore #funkyfashion #y2k
Instagram post 17866704509292562 slowly reconnecting with my self-care habits ✨⁣
⁣
I’ll admit, I haven’t been taking care of myself (life hasn’t let me). but this week I spent one whole hour doing yoga. I made rainbows in my bedroom. I watered my plants and pulled them back from the brink of death. I wrote in my journal and told myself to STOP FEELING LIKE I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING, because I don’t! I went outside, enjoyed sunlight, screamed in the car.⁣
⁣
tldr; I’m still stressy & depressy but I‘ve made a little more room for myself to breathe, and I am grateful.⁣
⁣
[matcha from Black-owned brand @golde 🍵 it has a mellow taste that’s great for lattes. I used @thatcurlytop’s link for $5 off! use her link to support a Black creative and a Black-owned brand in one go, wow 🤩]

.
.
.
.
.
#ethicalliving #sustainable #sustainability #consciousliving #consciousconsumer #sustainablefashion #selfcare #mindfulliving #matcha #matchalatte #matchalover #greenmood
Instagram post 18154721023118077 life update: i went outside ☀️⁣
⁣
fit:⁣
sweatshirt: mitski merch⁣
leggings: @girlfriend*⁣
shoes: @laneeight*⁣
⁣
*gifted

.
.
.
.
.
#sustainablefashion #slowfashion #boycottfastfashion #sustainablestyle #consciousconsumer #ethicallymade #gooutside #getoutside #losangeles #womenwhohike
Instagram post 17855992511449166 #BlackHistoryMonth has everything to do with environmentalism—here’s why!⁣
⁣
did you know that Black people founded the environmental justice movement? the movement began with a protest by a predominately Black community in Warren County, North Carolina in 1982.⁣
⁣
from that point, communities and organizations around the country began working together to fight environmental racism.⁣
⁣
Black & Indigenous communities have always been at the forefront of environmentalism! let’s not forget that as we continue this work. ⁣
⁣
#intersectionalenvironmentalist #intersectionalenvironmentalism #environmentaljustice #environmentalracism #sustainability #sustainable
Instagram post 17904927220720039 #ad // making our new apartment into a home has been a labor of love, and it’s given my partner and I something to look forward to during this difficult time in our lives.⁣
⁣
our latest project: I’ve always wanted a gallery wall and we finally made it happen! (well, my partner made it happen, by actually hanging up everything. I stood there and told him where to put the frames 🙃.) I think it complements our cozy @article sofa perfectly.⁣
⁣
thanks to @article for partnering with me to showcase their #NirvanaSofa & #BeaconLamp! links will be in my stories, as well as a link for $50 off $200!⁣
⁣
#OurArticle

.
.
.
.
.
#ethicalliving #sustainable #sustainability #consciousliving #consciousconsumer #midcenturymodern #apartmenttherapy #interiordesign #scandinaviandesign #scandihome #livingroominspo #livingroomdesign #livingroomdecor #livingroomideas #gallerywall
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Categories

  • Blogging
  • Books
  • Career
  • DIY
  • DREAMCHASERS
  • Eco & Ethical Beauty
  • Eco/Ethical Fashion Education
  • Fair OOTDs
  • Featured
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Outfit Diaries
  • Outside
  • Reviews
  • Shopping Guides
  • Skincare
  • Slow Living
  • Style
  • Sustainable and Ethical Brands
  • Sustainable Living
  • Trail Journal
  • Travel
  • Wellness
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

12 Comments

  • Alden Wicker says:
    October 14, 2018 at 11:34 am

    OMG, I disagree on so many levels. JK! Clearly I love this. I came here and was nodding along, like yessss, and then I saw you linked to EcoCult. Thank you! And thanks for being a kind yet pragmatic voice in the movement. So glad to have you as part of our eco blogger crew! xo

    Reply
    • Cat says:
      October 14, 2018 at 5:52 pm

      Haha! I’ve been mulling this topic over for months and months and a lot of what you’ve been writing and saying has helped me think it through. Thanks Alden!

      Reply
  • Heidi says:
    October 14, 2018 at 12:33 pm

    Thank you for this post. I didn’t even realize I was experiencing this until I started reading. It was a good mind-opener…I can still do the best I can to shop sustainably, but I don’t have to do it with the weight of the world on my shoulders.

    Reply
    • Cat says:
      October 14, 2018 at 5:54 pm

      Yes! We can end up putting so much pressure on ourselves to live the most ethical lives through what we buy and the lifestyle changes we make, but it’s also about joining forces with like-minded folks and supporting those on the front lines working in organizations. Thanks for all you do!

      Reply
  • Caroline says:
    October 14, 2018 at 10:00 pm

    I’ve been writing about this on my blog too – I think we are definitely hard on our ourselves about making even the smallest mistake. In my opinion, civic engagement is better than being super strict with ourselves about what we buy. We’re all doing the best we can!

    Reply
    • Cat says:
      October 15, 2018 at 9:06 am

      100% agreed! We need to push for change more directly especially with the clock ticking on climate change 🙁

      Reply
  • Megan McSherry says:
    October 24, 2018 at 7:29 pm

    I love the idea that conscious consumerism should complement your activism, not be your activism. This is such an important sentiment and is something I’ve been thinking a lot about recently!!

    Reply
    • Cat says:
      October 24, 2018 at 8:51 pm

      Hi Megan! Thank you! I think you’ve been doing a great job of talking about other issues besides conscious consumerism!

      Reply
  • Annabelle Schmitt says:
    October 25, 2018 at 2:52 pm

    Hey Cat! Love this post, as I always love your blog posts. This is something that I think about consistently, and probably what keeps me from transitioning completely to sustainable and ethical fashion. I’ve finally managed to switch to cruelty-free beauty, but especially with clothes, it’s just so hard to find clothes that I can both afford on my college budget AND are sustainable! I get frustrated that I’m not doing more, but this post is such a great reminder that it’s you can never do it all and that’s a ok! I’m doing my best and as I grow and learn more, I’m sure I can make even more conscious choices as a consumer. But at the end of the day, it really is about making your voice heard and working to hold these corporations responsible!!! Ty for always inspiring me

    xx
    annabelle | http://www.mixed-hues.com

    Reply
    • Cat says:
      October 25, 2018 at 3:58 pm

      I know how hard it is as a college student and you definitely should NOT feel bad! Capitalism is effed up in the way that it’s a privilege to be less complicit in the exploitation of others…so do what you can and keep trying but don’t feel discouraged when you can’t be perfect 🙂 Thank you for reading!

      Reply
  • Anna says:
    November 1, 2019 at 11:54 am

    Great Article! Important to remember

    Reply
    • Cat says:
      November 2, 2019 at 6:04 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
© Copyright restitchstance. All rights reserved.
Cressida Pro by LyraThemes.com