I tweeted about it. I shared the news on Facebook. I was guilty of stalking the likes of Ecouterre, Peppermint Magazine and other green websites for more information. And still I feel I haven’t done enough to raise awareness of the demons of fast fashion.

If you have been living under a rock somewhere, and have no idea what happened, here it is in a nutshell: more than 600 people lost their lives in a garment factory collapse in Bangladesh.

It is bewildering that so many people perished in a building that was unsafe because scrupulous owners  paid no heed of an engineers’ advice to evacuate the building. It is shocking that a group of owners chose their manufacturing deadlines and profits over the safety of their workers. Workers who had the right to safe working conditions.

Although I guess in some way justice may prevail as the people in Bangladesh, grieving and coming to terms with this preventable disaster, push for murder charges against the owners of the building and demand capital punishment.

But it shouldn’t end there.

And it will if we as consumers stand idly by.

We have the power to make a difference and create positive change by voting with our dollars. If you purchase a $10 tee, do you ask yourself how it could cost so little? If you consider the price of fabric and materials, shipping costs, the cost of labour and the cost of adhering to safe working practices, do you think that $10 is a reasonable price to pay?

Well do you?

Any person wanting and working towards a fair and equitable world knows that the answer to that question is NO!

So before you make a purchase, please consider these questions. The welcome side effects may just be that you start boycotting certain businesses with questionable ethics; start purchasing things that are fair trade, ethical and sustainable and reduce your consumption of fast fashion and things you don’t need in general.

And although some say ignorance is bliss, I am a big believer that knowledge is power.

In which case, now that YOU know, what are you going to do about it?

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Recycling: Partner with recycling companies such as Visy and your local councils and start recycling paper, envelopes, cardboard, newspapers, bottles. You can even recycle print cartridges through Fuji Xerox.

Energy efficient office equipment: Using energy efficient lighting, photocopiers, kitchen appliances and computers will help to reduce your office’s energy usage.

Reducing waste: Setting computers and printers to automatic double-sided printing, using auto PC sleep when computers are not in use and turning off computers, lights and air conditioners when leaving the building to reduce paper and energy waste.

Eco office supplies: Purchasing recycled office supplies such as recycled paper, recycled business cards from companies such as VistaPrint, toilet paper, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and detergents your office will reduce your business’ overall carbon footprint.

Natural light: Effectively using natural sunlight where possible and reducing the use of artificial light, particularly in bathrooms and offices, will reduce energy consumption.

Sustainable transport: By providing employees with bicycle storage, your business is encouraging use of more sustainable modes of transportation. And you can go one step forward and perhaps purchase a hybrid car as your company car, such as the Toyota Hybrid Camry.

Eco interior design: Decorating the office with fresh plants will help restore any imbalance in the office environment and promote fresh air.

Should your boss try and avoid their environmental responsibility and discount any of these ideas, just explain that the business can save money and increase it’s bottom line due to reduced expenses on office supplies and electricity bills. That usually motivates any business manager to action. And it it doesn’t work, well you can always share you story with me

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I got your message the other day and I’m sorry I haven’t got back to you – I’ve been really busy at work.

Anyway, I know why you called and I know you’re disappointed.

I guess I’d be disappointed too if I were in your position. You asked us politely to stop what we were doing and we didn’t take any notice of your request.

In fact, I have to admit – we were just plain selfish.

We ignored your request and continued clearing your rain forests, chopping down your trees, mining your land, polluting your oceans, killing your wildlife and poisoning your atmosphere.

I know it seems lame, but we did this to you because we really did need to make a living and create jobs for people around the world. We also needed to make things so that we could sell it to people – even if we produced things people didn’t really need. We also needed to keep our economies going, although we know it isn’t sustainable. And I know it’s no excuse but you have so much, and we have so little, and we figured, it’s there to be taken and used – right?

Anyway, I can see why you got fed up and you needed to prove your point. I guess your actions seem justified, but I personally think it was a little over the top and a bit unfair.

I mean, did you have to kill people? You weren’t even satisfied with killing just one or two of us. You’ve killed hundreds of thousands of us.

And for what? To prove your point? Are you trying to wipe our species out?

Did you really need to call on the Rain Gods and make it flood? Did you really have to send Cyclone Yasi? What about the recent Japanese tsumani? Or the New Zealand earthquake? What do you have to say about the Boxing Day tsunami years back? Or Hurricane Katrina?

So I’ve been thinking. Firstly, I just want to say on behalf of mankind, that we’re sorry. Really and truly sorry.

Secondly, I think we should call a truce: we’ll try our best to protect and preserve our planet if you promise that you will try not to bring harm to our kind.

Anyway, sorry again for not acknowledging your wishes and taking your concerns seriously.

We promise to do better from now on.

Yours sincerely,

Jennifer Nini – Eco Warrior Princess

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So we got to thinking. And thinking. The silence was deafening.

We weren’t even successful in coming up with more than four moments between us. Four!

So we were left wondering: is it because we hadn’t really taken notice when a stranger showed us any kindness? Or is it because they occurred so rarely that we were already scraping the bottom of our memory barrel? We both agreed, however, that the few times we were recipients of a random act of kindness, we held the memory close to our heart and remembered how we felt in that moment, treasuring the selfless act of a complete stranger.

Then we started thinking about how often we did this to others and we realised that unless it was our family or friends, we didn’t really go out of our way for complete strangers – people we would never see again. Actually, there was that one time during my lunch break many years ago when I noticed a homeless man in Bourke Street, whilst on my way to Hungry Jacks. So I bought my meal, and one for him too and I remembered the look on his face. I have never forgotten that moment and I have never seen this man since. But that was years ago!

So Ben and I decided that we would join this cause and pay it forward one small gesture at a time. We figured it’s the least we can do to help this world become a little brighter, a little more peaceful and bring some humanity back into our society. Care to join us?

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I sometimes think, sure sure, you just don’t want me to go out and get the exact same thing, but then when you check out the tag with its stained and cursive writing and your friend points out a flaw in the hem that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise, it dawns on you she’s telling you the truth.

As annoying as it is when that happens, I shouldn’t be one to talk as I know that I’m guilty of saying the very same thing many times over the years. In fact, nearly half of the contents in my walk-in wardrobe is comprised of items I’ve picked up at the op-shops over the years, and many of my favourite items of clothing and accessories are from vintage and second-hand stores like Shag or the ever popular Savers.

I have been shopping for vintage and second hand clothing or what I’ve often referred to as “op-shopping” since I was in Year 8. I was 13 years old and had no income and did not receive pocket money, so I would save the money my mother had given me to buy lunch at the canteen and instead I would go to the local St Vinnies or Salvation Army after school and sift my way through the recycled clothing.

I found it tedious and a lot of hard work at times, swarming through moth balls and listening to classic music as only Magic 693 can provide, however I was often rewarded for my persistence when I’d find the most amazing sequinned 1950′s style cardigan or gorgeous blue velvet 1980′s wiggle dress. And many of the items I purchased cost me $4 or less.

I used to think I was weird in some way for loving garments that were pre-loved and pre-worn. My friends looked at me as though I was nuts and my mother would lecture me on being a scavenger and I should be above that and that she could afford something better for me to wear. I always felt that my friends and my mother would come around and would find the beauty and the specialness in something they couldn’t find in a normal retail store. That the attraction for me was the fact that no-one had what I had, it was unique and I would be the only one wearing it.

Yes, granted I was traumatised when I was in Year 7 and my mother helped me to purchase a cream coloured velvet sleeveless baby doll dress from Miss Shop to wear to a birthday party only to find that another girl was wearing the exact same dress! Needless to say that I spent more and more time looking for clothes that I knew no-one else would be wearing and mind you, I didn’t look at popular retail outlets the same way again after that incident.

And I have to be honest, because I know that it is rare to find a diamond in the haystack, I don’t have a high level of expectation in finding something. So if you are looking for that perfect little black dress for that cocktail party, you’re taking some big chances trawling through vintage shops and second-hand clothing stores. Remember that even if you find that perfect dress, it might be 2 sizes too large or small in which case you could have better spent the time trawling through normal retail stores. My suggestion is always to go to a shop that carries independent or emerging designers because you’ll find styles that you may not otherwise see carried in the mainstream chain stores.

So for those of you who cannot be converted or convinced; those of you fashionistas who continue to pout and raising your snotty little noses up in the air thinking “I would never wear something someone else has already worn” and all the whilst donning your current season Prada skirt and Gucci blouse, remember that anyone can look like they stepped out of the covers of Vogue magazine with the right bank balance. It takes someone with imagination, creativity and real style to put together an ensemble of vintage and second hand clothes and still make it look an effortless stroke of genius. And if you need lessons on the art of vintage styling, feel free to contact me

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