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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.