In less than seven days I have the honor of participating in my third Dressmeber.

If you don’t know what Dressember is, in short, it is a campaign to raise awareness, education, and money for the fight against human trafficking. They do this by having advocates commit to wearing either a dress or a tie every day in December in order to spark conversations about anti-human trafficking work. I’ve written about Dressember generally, before, so read that for more information — because it really is worth your time! So instead of explaining what Dressember is, I want to share why it matters to me, especially this year.

In 2020, human trafficking got a lot of press. Some of it was helpful, others not so much and while it is tempting to get into all that, — Wayfair is bad but not for those reasons — that’s also not the point. Instead, Dressember advocates are living in a world where more people are aware of the horrors surrounding human trafficking or at least more willing to talk about them. Which is amazing — because this is something we need to be talking about! We can’t get caught up in Facebook conspiracies. We need to address this situation full-on, with facts and education. If you’re looking for more information, Dressember, IJM, and Polaris are great places to start!

Human trafficking matters to me, because I believe in the dignity and freedom of all people. While it is easy to hyper focus on the horrors of sex trafficking, my heart was absolutely torn up by the realization that even my seemingly innocuous actions also fueled this broader crime. I was financing slavery and I had no idea.

You see, fast fashion is a huge contributor to human trafficking. Not only does it play a huge part in child labor, it’s also terrible for the environment. So what is fast fashion? Good on You describes fast fashion is, “cheap, trendy clothing, that samples ideas from the catwalk or celebrity culture and turns them into garments in high street stores at breakneck speed to meet consumer demand.” It was the only clothing I could afford and yet, when I realized the impact that my spending had, I knew I could no longer excuse myself from this tragedy, I had to do something. So I started changing my spending habits and I started advocating for Dressember, raising my own awareness and education, while also hopefully helping other people do the same!

And I think the hardest part for me, was not just that I was feeding into this human trafficking machine, it was also that the ideologies in which I was raised, fed this machine. Because, the core of fast fashion isn’t to inhumanely treat its workers. The core of fast fashion is to meet consumer demand for the least amount of money. It’s just capitalism doing its job.

Now before you call me a socialist and condemn me to hell — because for some reason there are people who exist that believe you can’t be a Christian and a socialist — I’m not actually trying to make a political statement and I’m probably not a socialist. All I am saying is, I realized, for the first time ever, that the whole supply and demand, make things as cheaply as possible so that private companies can make a lot of money, system wasn’t divinely inspired. I don’t know what the best alternative is, I’m not an economist. It just doesn’t sit well with me that people can exploit human beings (especially children) for their own gain AND that we, the average consumer, don’t even stop to think about where that new sweater from Walmart, Target, J. Crew, American Eagle, Madewell, etc. came from. We just think it’s so cute and trendy and HAVE to have it.

This process for me, was not unlike the realization people have when they stop to think about where their meat REALLY comes from and often, that leads people to become vegetarians or vegans. Because for some people, it does not matter how good bacon is, what the butcher did to Babe the pig, was just not acceptable. And you know what? I don’t necessarily disagree with them, except, bacon really is that good to me. BUT — I have tried to be more conscious of what meat I do consume and limit it. Not because of the health benefits — I don’t care about those — but because I do love animals and I do believe that God asked us to take care of them and I want to honor His command in Genesis to tend to the Earth.

In the same way, I knew my clothes shopping habits had to change. What I was doing to other human beings by swiping my debit card all willy nilly (within my budget, of course) was unacceptable to me. So I started buying second hand, thrifting, or saving up to buy full-price from an ethical company. And you know what? Not only is it not that hard, it’s a lot of fun and has some unexpected benefits. So why should you shop second hand, thrifted, or ethically if you can afford it? Because:

1. You’re attempting to eliminate, in a small but significant way, your direct impact on human trafficking.

2. You’re forced to stop and think about your purchases and that can lead you to actually defining your style — no longer are you swept away by the whims of the fashion industry or falling into peer pressure — you are realizing who you are and what you like!

3. You’re also more aware of how you spend your money in general and where it goes and it makes you a conscious shopper across the board — FairTrade chocolate and coffee, anyone?!

4. It fuels patience — for the longest time I was searching for a suede moto jacket, as seen on Beck from season one of You and this was before I knew about Poshmark or was a frequent ThredUp user, so I was left to whatever I could find at Goodwill or Savers. Months went by and then finally, I found a tan version at Savers. While not an exact replica, it was more versatile (neutrals) and the months of waiting to find it really made me assess if that was a piece I wanted in my closet because it fit my style vs. because I saw someone wear it on TV.

5. If buying ethically, you’re able to invest in pieces that will last you years. My mom always impressed in me the fact that investing in shoes is a worthwhile. Because 1. they literally support you, so comfort is key, but also 2. your shoe size probably isn’t going to change as an adult. My dress/pant size might ebb and flow as I have children, workout, etc. whatever — but, I’ll always have size 10 feet. So investing in a quality pair of boots that will last me many years, in the long run, may actually end up being cheaper than cheap boots every two or three years.

These are just a sampling of the reasons to consider changing your shopping habits. And I understand it’s not always possible. Underwear, for example, might just be easier to purchase in bulk from Walmart and there is no shame in that. While buying ethically is where I feel led, others express this by utilizing capsule wardrobes or buying minimally. They may even just sew their own clothing — which is epic! The point isn’t the what or how, the point is the why. However you choose to change your behavior is up to you. I just want us all to realize where our clothes come from and the impact that has on the lives of other human beings.

And maybe the idea of shopping ethically is overwhelming — because where do you start? Good On You is an incredible resource. It rates thousands of brands from Walmart to Versace and many others in between. It gives you an in-depth analysis of the brand so you can see where those who claim to be ethical might be falling a bit short on that expectation. For example, they rank Everlane as “not good enough” because while they do have some positives, there isn’t enough information that they actually provide livable wages or eliminate textile waste. Does that mean, I will never shop from Everlane again? No. They genuinely make the most comfortable jeans in my price range and they are putting forth effort to be sustainable and ethical and I think any company that is aware and improving their practices deserves a second chance. Which is why I really appreciate Good On You and how they break things down and explain their ratings. It gives me, a consumer, the most information to make a conscious purchase and I love that.

Additionally, I’ve also been utilizing second-hand online stores like Poshmark and ThredUp because while I love thrifting locally, I’m also aware of the local community and their need to have access to second hand items at low cost, sometimes it is all they can afford, and if I can afford to spend a bit more, I shouldn’t be taking all their resources. That isn’t to say I don’t thrift. I do and I love it. But I often utilize ThredUp and Poshmark more because 1. I can afford it. 2. It is easier to find a specific piece 3. Often, I’m helping other people, like me, who got something, missed a return date, and don’t want it in their closet.

I’m really aware of people flipping clothes on Poshmark and try to find accounts and items from people who genuinely seem more interested in cleaning out their home than making money. With second-hand stores I can often find the exact item I want at a fraction of the cost and without personally feeding corporations. It’s not a perfect option, but it works for me.

So let’s not believe the lie that just because we don’t participate in sex trafficking, we are eliminated from having a hand in human trafficking. Let’s humble ourselves and assess our slavery footprint and think about how we can make a difference.

And if you want to support me, this Dressember, you can donate here!

Photo by the amazing Erica Cole.