About The Buy 5 Initiative

It's about Kate Spade.  Well not EXACTLY about the brand, but it's about opening up an email advertising a super cute tote for $99. I'd use it every day and it's hard to beat that price.

Then I got a little curious. I wonder where this bag is made?

My name is Stacy Nelson and back when I first started my Kate Spade addiction, her bags were made here in the USA. Some of the leather work was done in Europe, but the quality was good and there were no sweat shops involved that I knew of.

Each year I purchase one or two new bags, usually a Kate Spade. I use that bag all year long until the signs of wear start showing and then I donate it and get a fresh one. It's one of my vices that I'm happy to play into.

So I'm checking it out and guess where this bag that is listed as "IMPORTED" is actually made? Yep, China or Indonesia.

Shit.

No.
More.
Kate Spade.
For.
Me.

It's not that items made in those countries are inherently bad, but I cannot know for sure without tracking down the exact factory (and even that has other factors involved like outsourcing etc.) so it's safer just to cross it off my list.

It started a few months ago. I'm no fashionista. I'd like to consider myself a pretty average consumer but I had a shocking moment while sitting in my closet looking at all the cute shirts I've collected, all purchased on a bargain of some sort. I have designer brands and cheap brands. I paused for some reason to look at the labels - I'm going to blame Emma Watson for her Beauty and the Beast Press Tour where she vetted each item she wore, who made it, how it was ethically responsible, how many times she will wear it, etc. Almost everything I own is mass produced in places like China, India, Indonesia.

I dove into a rabbit hole. I've been reading, researching, feeling sicker & sicker and the worst part is that it was so overwhelming that I didn't know how to begin. I'm paralyzed with the knowledge that everything I buy has the ability to do good or do harm.

In this rabbit hole I saw a mention of a Buy 5 Campaign, encouraging people to buy 5 responsible clothing items this year and then letting the old companies know why you're no longer their customer. 

It feels like a small thing to do, but imagine if each of us did this on simple thing.

Do the math.
That feels really good.

So I'm asking you a favor - can you commit to making just a 5 different choices this year?

This is about us making a gentle shift in our collective conscious consumption.
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Because let's face it, something's got to replace Kate Spade in my closet and it's going to be something that's mindful, elegant and all around awesome...