My AHA Experience - Sarah Judge
"So you’re filling your pockets at the expense of human lives, Dad?" "Yes, Sarah, that’s right, which is why it’s important that we pay attention to what we buy."
In 2013, when I was sitting in front of the TV with my father watching the news and saw the images of the collapsed Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh, where so many well-known fashion brands were producing their clothing under unbelievably poor working conditions, I suddenly got goosebumps.
Many people died or were so severely injured that they could never work again in their lives. One of the worst accidents in the country. Cracks in the building had already been discovered the day before the disaster, but many people were forced to continue working. And all this just because fashion brands want to save money.
I just sat there and couldn’t close my mouth anymore.
Every third purchase theoretically ends up in the trash
These images stayed in my mind. After this experience, I spent more and more time learning about Fair Fashion and sustainable products - for hours.
For example, I realized the added value that Fair Fashion creates: for the environment, for us people, for our health.
Fair fashion has long since stopped meaning potato sack!
The clothing is anything but gray, colorless, and shapeless, which is still ingrained in many minds. It can be easily combined into individual looks for leisure, sports, and business. The selection ranges from minimalist designs to beautiful prints and bright colors, as well as fabrics characterized by durable quality and a comfortable feel.
I have also found that sustainable clothing is more than just a short-term trend that will be replaced by the next hype tomorrow. You bring favorite pieces into your wardrobe that you will enjoy for many years. In addition, the clothing from sustainable labels is particularly distinguished by durable material quality and careful craftsmanship.
So it became clear to me: I want to live more consciously!
Fashion brands decide whether they pay attention to social and fair working conditions at their producers, but I have the choice and decide which brand I trust. This moment, these images, they swept me away and prompted me to be more critical of my own behavior patterns and views.
Dad has always bought secondhand for us, and after seeing these pictures, I’m even happier that he taught my sister and me this way of shopping.
By the way, I still shop secondhand today and love it when my clothes have a story to tell. You wear a unique piece, you give a garment a second life, and that fascinates me. That’s why I started my “Secondhand Sunday” on my Instagram account.
One day a week, I show the world how beautiful secondhand can be and how easily you can incorporate secondhand clothes into your looks. I present secondhand pieces from wardrobes found on a well-known secondhand platform. I have managed to build a large community that recognizes the added value of fair and secondhand fashion, and that makes me incredibly happy.
Fair fashion or secondhand, both create huge value for people and the environment and make the world a little better. The more people pay attention to this and chase current fast fashion trends less, the faster we can achieve success in sustainability.
What I want to say in conclusion is this:
My path is certainly not perfect; I don’t only have secondhand or fair fashion clothes in my wardrobe, and sometimes I don’t use sustainable lipstick either.
I’m not a fan of extremes anyway and believe that we can lead a sustainable and happy life if we take a middle path.
The path doesn’t have to be perfect, but it has to be conscious!
Sarah Judge
"Change can happen in small steps, and yet each one of them has a big impact, I am sure of that. We alone have the power to make a positive difference with our (purchase) behavior."
More inspiration as well as great styling tips for fair and secondhand fashion can be found on Sarah's Instagram channel.
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