It's time to shift your mindset

Author

Nia Shalise
June 27, 2021

Big questions often don’t yield easy or even tangible answers. As such, “How can I be more sustainable?” is not met with a destination and a distinct list of steps, but a journey filled with learning curves. And it begins with shifting your mindset.

I couldn’t fully grasp the bigger picture when consumer culture expert Elizabeth Cline first offered this response in regard to becoming a sustainable fashion consumer. But by the time The Useless Project duo described to me how they transformed from fast fashion enthusiasts to those who respect resources, i.e. their clothes, I understood.

Re-evaluating our relationships with what we own, how we consume, and how our identities intersect with the contexts we live in are critical to taking a mindful stand for ourselves, our communities, and our planet. This can begin as simply as deciding not to buy that dress from Fashion Nova because you don’t need it, or educating yourself on the environmental factors that cause people of color to suffer worse health outcomes than their white peers.

Businesses and governments play huge roles in the state of our planet (but more on that later!), but even in imperfect systems, we must step beyond indifference or fear to make changes that reflect the world we want to see. For me, this is an equitable and sustainable circular economy that is anti-capitalist, anti-colonial, and anti-racist, where my peers also strive to live lifestyles that are more mindful of their environment and that reframe waste as resources.

So, what does that mean? And how can we take incremental steps toward a happy planet and people beginning with ourselves? Follow along as I explore the intersectional bounds of sustainability, our lifestyles, and the world around us, centered in the Greater Boston area. You’ll also find insights from local organizations, businesses, and experts who are taking their own strides for a greener future, and ways you can be friendlier to the earth in your own life.

Thanks for subscribing, and I hope you enjoy!

With love,

Nia Shalise

So let’s start with the basics. Way before the extent of the climate crisis was common knowledge—back when bringing your reusable bags to the grocery store was still a hippie notion on the fringe—we were taught to reduce, reuse, and recycle. These three steps actually follow a hierarchy, and the first and foremost is to reduce.

How did we get so much stuff in the first place? It wasn’t always one click and two days away. Goods used to be produced in small batches, and they were relatively unique and offered at premium prices—which makes sense, as they took into account the high-quality materials and labor that went into what was created. With the Industrial Revolution, new methods sprouted that allowed for quicker and cheaper production en-masse. In turn, a strong middle class emerged, meaning the average citizen, who once struggled to make ends meet, could now afford much more. Given the context of rising to “have” from “have not” and the predominant capitalist drive for wealth coupled with marketing that linked social standing with material possessions, it’s no surprise that consumption became deeply synonymous with success and happiness.

Even within our lifetimes, the likes of fast fashion have multiplied our closets at a fraction of the cost. At the same time, what we own doesn’t mean that much to us. After all, what difference does it make if a $5 top you bought on an impulse sits in your closet unworn until the next declutter, like over 50 percent of our wardrobes on average? While increased financial accessibility to goods was and is crucial to millions of people’s livelihoods, with it came greater dissociation between us and the value of our stuff.

But as expected, people are slowly realizing that stuff doesn’t really make us happy. While it may not be realistic for every lifestyle, the philosophy of minimalism holds values that we all can learn from. From the outside, it seems to be all about having less, when in actuality, minimalism is about making room for the things that truly matter. It’s time we address our own internalized associations between self worth and things, and maybe one day our rows of clothes will pare down to a selection of favorites, each garment taken care of and fondly reminding us of our experiences.

Moving forward, we can be more selective about what we take in. Take this as a unique opportunity to develop our styles and cultivate what we want to own.

To get the ball rolling, here are some actions to reduce:

  • You may find it useful to start with a declutter. Whether you sort your piles by frequency of use, or by Marie Kondo’s joy method, an intimate look at what you have—and what you never really needed or wanted—can set begin the process of thinking more critically of what you’re taking in.

  • Similarly, you can take a look at your waste with a trash audit.

  • While they aren’t quite up my alley, capsule wardrobes are a popular way to curate clothes that can be mixed and matched, maximizing your use of each item.

  • Think twice before accepting random marketing materials: if you aren’t going to use that stress ball or card holder, it will create clutter and ultimately go to waste!

Located in Jamaica Plain, 40 South Street is a vintage clothing boutique that offers a selection of unique finds. Hilken Mancini, the longtime JP community member who runs the shop, shares her punk rock way of living with the store—that is, a way of individuality and thinking for yourself. Stuffed with garments that you may also find in your grandma’s closet, from authentic ‘60s cardigans to durable denim to accessories galore, 40 South Street strives to offer distinctive pieces that you may find will express you.

“The whole point of my store is that you can be whoever you want to be,” says Hilken, who is co-founder of Punk Rock Aerobics and Girls Rock Campaign Boston.

While Hilken notes that the younger generations are much more tuned into the environmental effects of fashion, and everything we do really, she knows that the older clothing she offers were made from materials designed to last, unlike many finds from fast fashion brands.

If you find yourself in JP, stop in to browse her one-off pieces!

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About me

Nia Shalise is an environmentalist content creator (an eco-creative, if you will) passionate about educating and empowering her peers to lead environmentally-mindful lifestyles. Find more content on YouTube, Instagram, and niashalise.com. If you enjoy my free content, you can donate the cost of a chai latte here.

Have questions or a topic you’d like me to cover? Email me at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram!