Izzy Newcomb

I thought this challenge was awesome! It was a great way to be more mindful, which is something I am working on each day. I am so proud of everyone for completing challenges, reflecting on their choices and how they impact the environment, and interacting with other people in the feed! My last job produced an obscene amount of waste, so I am excited to work for a company that takes steps towards reducing waste and educating employees on the impact their decisions can have on mother nature.

Trying to spend some time drawing before bed instead of scrolling through social media! I've also been drawing during my lunch breaks while just listening to a youtube video or podcast. I find this is a great way to decompress and return to work feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the second half of the day!

I recently spent some time learning about 'fast fashion'. If you are not familiar with this term, it refers to clothing that is produced in a very short amount of time and is usually what is currently 'trendy'- aka, more likely to be discarded rather quickly once it is 'out of fashion'. Brands like H&M, Zara, Forever 21, and Topshop are some of the biggest culprits of fast fashion. So, why is fast fashion bad? For one, these brands tend to use offshore/overseas manufacturing to produce their products, where workers are subject to low wages and unsafe working conditions. They also use low-quality and environmentally unfriendly materials in their products- such as polyester, nylon, and lycra (sorry to anyone who was into the 1980's workout craze!). Fast fashion also contributes to water pollution through the use of cheap textile dyes. This water pollutions comes at the expense of many marine and land animals alike. 
Finding out all this information made my head spin. What can we as consumers do about this alarming trend? "Buy less, choose well, make it last." says notable fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. It may be tough to shell out $100 for a new jacket from a reputable eco-friendly brand when you could get something similar looking elsewhere for a fraction of a price. But in the long run, sustainably made clothing will last longer, and therefore contribute to less waste. There is even an app to learn more about a brand and their contribute to global waste called 'Good On You'.
The first step to reducing clothing waste is to just be aware. Reflect on your spending habits when it comes to clothing. Try not to buy more than you need, and buy items second hand when you can. Purchase well made, eco-friendly garments- ideally, they will last you for years to come! Together, through awareness and activism, we can put a stop to fast fashion and help to keep our planet the beautiful and wonderful place it is. 

Definitely need to get better about having less screen time! Especially before bed. My goal is to finish the book I've been reading by the end of the month.