I do a lot of posts attempting to normalize and cool-ify hella subversive stuff
#VisibleMending
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more on the topic of cultural change: https://brightgreenfutures.substack.com/p/episode-27-zines-cultural-change
@susankayequinn My small green alien likes your mycelium-idea very much! (Well, and me too!) https://ko-fi.com/s/700d3d3138
I kinda hope it'll become cool to buy directly from indie authors.
Not sure how to make something "cool", though.
it's easy to make something "cool"
Hold something up & say "this is cool!" and mean it and say why.
It may only be cool TO YOU... for now... but we are very influenced by others and what we see people doing, especially things they're EXCITED about, has influence.
I very strongly believe we're in the middle of a radical cultural change toward greater authenticity and sustainability and justice.
You don't have to believe it to make it true... you just have to work towards it. :)
@Firlefanz @susankayequinn Bear in mind if you want indie publishing to be cool, you need relative cool, not necessarily absolute cool. It might increase the coolness differential to also mention that the big publishing companies are uncool, "for the following reasons..."
I do a lot of posts attempting to normalize and cool-ify hella subversive stuff
#VisibleMending
if you want someone to learn how to darn socks encourage them to exclusively wear socks made from either Cashmere or Sea Island Cotton, the cost factor in replacing is such that darning becomes a very sensible option 😐
@happy haha yes that's definitely one approach
But some of my favorite socks are favs for sentimental reasons, not money reasons... I want to darn them because I want to keep them.
Making everything about money, like cost is the only thing that motivates people, goes counter to the cultural change we really need (or just acknowledging that money *already* is not the most important thing).
It's not always about the money, I am partial to Pantherella over the calf socks and for me it's about the comfort factor that comes from a well designed sock (they are also one of the few brands whose over the calf socks fit properly on my extra long legs). That said due to several inches of snow currently wearing HJ Hall Commando socks.
I'm also a big fan of the new trend of visible mending — normalizing those patched clothes is important. (I just wrote a short story this fall literally called *Visible Mending* 🙂 ) #VisibleMending
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visible_mending
@susankayequinn When I was a young child (in the 1970s) visible mending was the norm. I am delighted to see it making a comeback.
@pussreboots I do remember that, actually! It was a brief phase before the consumerism really hit.
It's important to understand culture definitionally changes in the underground, below the radar.
"People will never shop used at scale."
This is the status quo lie (alongside "no change is possible unless it's the product I've invested billions in").
Thrifting exists in the underground long before anyone (except those doing it) know it's "a thing.
It becomes "cool" long before it goes mainstream.
Wholesale change of the culture is possible and in ways billionaires can do nothing about.
@susankayequinn the funny thing is: Here in NL, many private buyers never buy new cars. The saying is that a new car looses its first 10% of value as soon as you leave the dealer… So people are actually quite used to buying 2nd hand 🙃
(That said: I don’t remember buying 2nd hands clothes…)
@cejjacobs used cars are becoming much more popular because the cost of cars has become astronomical
The market for 2nd hand clothes has been around forever but there's been a huge surge in the last 5-10 years and it's not because clothes are expensive... it's exactly the opposite. Clothes are too cheap, fall apart, low quality... and the fast fashion industry is wrecking the planet. People are consciously choosing thrifting... even Mamdani's wife wears thrifted clothes (ie "coolness" IRL)
I had a discussion with my daughter over the holidays because I've been, for years, giving the kids clothes (or gift cards) to get NEW clothes from sustainable clothes places. I tell them explicitly that I want them to try new things from places that are making durable, fair trade, sustainable clothing.
My daughter said she really prefers used clothes, and I super support that, but when you need (or just want) something new, it's important to support these fledgling companies...
They're remaking the clothing industry to be more sustainable. Many are new (and there are more every year!) but if we don't support them, then the only options will be fast fashion.
I'm a firm believer that both work well together. Thrift/reuse primarily... you'll save money and the planet... and then when you want/need something new, you can afford to spend more and support a business that's trying to remake the industry into something more sustainable.
A lot more on the topic of thrifting/reuse: https://susankayequinn.com/2025/04/how-to-prepare-not-prep-for-uncertain-times-and-build-a-better-world-in-the-process.html
@susankayequinn Susan, this is insightful. Since you are into this stuff, I recommend this fantastic post by Hans Stegeman on shoes: https://hansstegeman.substack.com/p/50-put-on-your-running-shoes
* 23 billion pairs produced each year
* Repairable leather is almost totally gone, and everything is now sneakers: plastics, composite materials, fossil fuel-heavy, almost impossible to repair and recycle
* Norms change in that case went anti-environment.
* Norms change can be a placebo for systems change.
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@susankayequinn Feel free to share examples of new companies like this! It's always hard to tell when a manufacturer is actually doing good or if they're just greenwashing, but I generally trust my fediverse friends to have done the research. 🙂
A little (big?) diversion: I feel like one of the biggest hurdles of buying new clothes online is having actual transparent sizing. One of the damages that fast fashion has done is releasing thousands of new styles every year absolutely prevents everyone from releasing detailed actual size measurements for their pieces.
For example, if a manufacturer offered only 3 styles of pants but lots of fabric options and optional embellishments or minor modifications (i.e. nearing bespoke), they could provide exact fitment measurements for every size.
I will shop used clothing online solely because sellers take a picture of a measuring tape over the actual waist size of a pair of pants so I know they will fit.
Yeesh I'm all frustrated about the clothing industry now 😅
@susankayequinn thanks for reminding me, I have two Patagonia jackets that require minor repair, and they actually have a service where they will repair or recycle your clothes.