Gucci with a hole in it

Gucci with a hole in it.

This phrase is an ongoing joke I have with my daughter and now business partner, Margot Adams.  We are both guilty of over-indulging in fashion consumerism over the years. I was the last season’s bargain shopper and resale queen.  Margot was the fast fashion, latest-trends-on-a-budget girl. We had an ongoing joke when she would proudly show off a new top purchased at Zara or Forever 21. I would tell her that I would have gotten a Gucci top for the same price.  Her comeback? “Gucci with a hole in it.”

I am happy to say that we are both scaling back in our fashion consumerism.  I buy almost exclusively from resale, auction or thrift stores. Margot is happy to wear the latest styles through her Rent-the-Runway subscription. Both of these trends are catching on in society as we all try to reduce, reuse and recycle in the fashion space. 

The other day I pulled out a favorite Gucci sweater (purchased years ago at Rosa’s Closet in East Grand Rapids, MI; and part of my inspiration for the deep V-neck, long sleeved layering top).  When I put it on, I was dismayed to see that there was a moth hole in it!  

I grew up in rural western Michigan.  My family was frugal out of both philosophy and necessity.  We bought little. We reused often. We recycled by repairing and repurposing as needed.  I was shocked and embarrassed the first time I realized that I was the only one in my second grade class who “darned” the holes in her socks!

I no longer darn my socks, though perhaps I should.  I do, however, repair the beautiful sweaters, coats and other garments that are discarded by other fashionable women.  Wearing repaired clothing is no longer an embarrassment to me. It is a point of pride and a creative challenge. I quickly repaired the hole in my Gucci sweater and put it on for the day.  

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is certainly a start in the push toward a more sustainable society.  But we should not forget about the fourth, important R: Repair. Investing a little time and resources into repairing what we have to give it longer life will support our greater collective efforts to repair our climate.

Although I have yet to take on the “visible mending” trend of Kate Sekules from visiblemending.com,  I do keep a needle a thread close; and hope to catch up on repairs during the Cornonavirus shutdown. When I eventually get back out into the world, I will proudly be wearing Gucci with a hole in it.