Why ‘Less Is More’

During World War I and II and even during the Great Depression, the clothes and the fashion of that time became completely different than what they were just a few decades earlier.

During an actual war there were priorities and budgets that went to the equipment and uniforms and anything they needed to help the military men and what they needed more than we ‘the citizens’ needed. They had to make and mend and use less. Some things were no longer available anymore and what was available was in small amounts and had to be used carefully and minimally. Even food had to rationed up per person. The fashion used less fabric and clothing had a tighter fit. They could no longer wear nylon stockings or buy lipstick. There were no longer yards of fabric in skirts and coats. There was no longer brightly colored imported silks. And even domestic goods were limited because many of the factories had morphed into making drab looking military goods. All this affected the fashion and people had to hang on to their wardrobe for years.

There were no Spring and Resort fashion trends. Everything had to be durable and sensible. Elbow and knee patches were normalized. Mending and hand-me downs were normalized. These were some tough times for fashion and the average person and even tougher for the poor penniless person.

All that said is to view what we wear knowing that our attitude, creativity, and a desire to help our family and neighbors can be the difference between a mental break down and depression. Think of it as the building of a good character. This new era is the actions of loving, responsible, caring humans no matter what ugliness and destruction the future has for us.

The lock downs of 2020 may have been tough but I know my son learned to cook and I improved on my knitting. We did so much for each other as a family. We read and cleaned and kept busy. I hung out in the backyard and listened to birds and stared at the greenery daily. Every day was about a new existence to keep sane and cheerful for others so they wouldn’t suffer the negative effects that others were talking about online. The best part of the lockdown for me and my family was being self-sufficient and learning new things.

This has been a great lesson in some ways to help us to prepare for the disasters to come ahead of us and are happening now in a bad economy. Our good attitude and creativity and a love for family and neighbors is going to help us now and in the future whatever comes our way. Learning new things and making do with what we have is going to give us a new purpose and challenge that some will not understand.

If you shop at Temu and are buying plastic items or imported items or anything that needs batteries and needs to be plugged in, then you are going backwards and have not learned or changed things for the better. You went back to an old era that is sick and dying and when it ends you will be traumatized and disappointed with what you have. Fast fashion, in particular, is cheap and is toxic.

You are enabling slavery and you are contributing to the pollution of importing things overseas.

You have to have a new positive, enouraging view on our resources. This is not about sacrifice. It’s about opportunity and a new era. Out with the old and bring in the new. It’s not ‘going without’ but a purposeful decision to transform our land, our homes and our life without being forced into it. You’re ahead of the game. It’s normal and enjoyable to wear natural fibers. It’s wonderful not buying cheap plastic clothes or yarn. We’re not relying on China, India, Pakistan or Turkey anymore.

I know there are a lot of people still going through the motions of the old plastic era thinking they have to use certain things. No they don’t. No one is forcing them to make plastic sweaters, beanies or blankets. There is always an alternatve. If a company requires plastic yarn for children or the homeless ,they are still living in the old plastic era. Leave them alone and go a different way. See it as opportunity. Find a new charity that accepts cotton. Find new clients that accept natural fibers and dyes. Maybe you will have to start a new business. Think of this ‘Less Is More’ era to see things as new opportunities and new choices, a new business, a new choice, a new challenge, a new outlook, a new life and a new purpose. Our attitude and outlook is what is going to make it enjoyable and keep us smiling.