Pretty much everyone I know has been affected by the economy… even for those with the most secure jobs, times are tough.
In this time of heightened taxes and cut-backs, spending money on new clothes seems almost irresponsible. Enter: Sheena Matheiken and The Uniform Project.
Starting May 2009, Sheena has pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day Sheena will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Sheena thinks of it as “wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade’s boudoir.”
The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums.
While I’m not suggesting you wear the same thing every day, Sheena’s blog goes to show how far fashion can go with a little creativity and a few accessories . . . It also highlights something I try to focus on daily in my own life.
Our society is forever focused on getting more: more money, more status, more friends (how many facebook friends do you have?) As you move forward and accumulate, it’s so important to actually just stop. Stop and really take time out to value what you have. (In a trite sense:) Instead of buying that new outfit, why not go back to some of your favorites and dress them up in a new creative way? (In a “facebook is kind of creepy sense:”) Instead of prowling facebook for new friends, why not place a phone call to one that you already have? Someone you haven’t spoken to in months… years? (In a real sense:) Instead of stressing about the fact you aren’t getting a raise because of cutbacks, why not take a moment to really really be thankful for the job that you have? It seems so simple, but sometimes, when caught up in the speed of reality, I forget to take the time and really appreciate things. Obviously I don’t know you or your situation and I’m in no way trying to be preach… It’s just that I was very recently warmed by an encounter that highlighted all of this for me, and I would be somewhat remiss not to share.
Anyway, this post wasn’t meant to go where it went, lol. Sometimes the smallest thing can turn me all nostalgic and sappy … my ride back from CHE yesterday did just that. Thanks a lot SS!
(Credits: Sheena is pictured in the first picture, wearing one of her creative interpretations. Middle picture is an adorable accessory from A Alicia and bottom is a sheer distressed dress from Scully).
