the beginning of max 5

Early in October I got an email from Sweden’s largest environmental non-profit organisation Naturskyddsföreningen (of which I’m of course a member) - Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC).

They had launched their latest campaign Max 5. Ie buy no more than mx five new produced garments during a year. That’s the limit to what the world can handle. (It does not include under garments or socks, but no need for most of us to go bananas with that either.) 

Long long gone are the days when I bought a lot of newly produced clothes. And for as long as I can remember it has been slow fashion made to last. 

Still the only sustainable fashion is second hand and has already been produced.

If my memory serves me right I think it has been said that we already have enough clothes produced on this planet to last for 15 generations. Which is gobsmackingly crazy.

I don’t want to be part of this crazy unsustainable circus that is the fashion industry.

But I still find quality clothes and fun, colourful (duh) design intriguing and irresistable. And a wonderful way to express myself in creative ways.

But I don’t exactly NEED new clothes in my wardrobe. I can mix and match plenty with what I already have and love.

So for the year to come I will settle for max 5 new pieces in my wardrobe. (Of which one will definitely be a pair of casual trousers, I have already set my eyes on.)

The very last thing I bought before I sign this (voluntary) agreement (no police will fine me if I step out of five of course, but I will certainly punish myself with shame), was this wonderful slowfashion Marimekko denim skirt.

It’s produced in a much more sustainable way than regular denim (one of the most water intensive/wasteful industries there are) and is made from 80% organic cotton and 20% recycled cotton. The Unikko print (my favourite pattern) makes it even more special.

I got it as an early birthday gift for myself, and I have already used it plenty and with much delight.

As it is a unisex garment it isn’t really made for curvier bodies, but it does look great open over a t-shirt too. And going up a size means it would be ridiculously large over shoulders and have too long arms, so I’m fine with curve flaw.

It goes superbly with that blue organic cotton skirt I got past spring.

In fact that skirt has already been my most used garment this year. It’s lovely. And it haz pockets. Of course.

I got myself another top notch piece of clothing prior to my birthday too. But it’s second hand, and there’s a little serendipituous story behind it, so it surely deserves a post of its own.

To come. Or to be continued. That is the question.

💙