Ethics and a lolita challenge

It occurred to me last night how being into lolita feels a bit uncomfortable for me. I've always been a person who deeply loves the world we live in - its people, plants, animals and environments, and I can't help but feel that my lolita habit is having a less-than-desirable effect on these things. The clothes - synthetic fibres (plastics) which don't break down, shipped all over the world and wasting fossil fuels, plastic bags, and worst of all, materials sewn in cramped factories where the workers are paid so little they can basically never afford to buy new clothes. Does this feel cruel to anyone else? Here I am in my $300 dress, not to mention petticoat, bag, shoes, blouse, feeling like a princess... while some poor woman tears up her hands and injures her back and doesn't get the rest or even the food she needs to make me these clothes. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Here's one of the few videos I could find which shows how things are in clothing factories and cotton picking fields (yes, people still pick cotton!). Skip to around 2minutes, but I warn you, it's sickening and heart-breaking:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8cj6d_clothing-made-in-india-slave-and-ch_news

But I love lolita. So so much. I'm thinking about learning to sew (have been saying this for a long time!) and if I get any good at it, starting a clothing line that makes ethical lolita clothing - organic cottons, sewn by me, printed with vegetable dyes, and so on. I want to create something that says: you can be beautiful AND good to the world. Recycled fabrics would also feature largely in my designs.

If I learn to sew and come up with some nice designs, would you be interested? The clothing would probably cost a little more than standard handmade clothing, but less than brand, and you could wear it feeling good that you're doing something for the environment and not exploiting poor workers in impoverished countries!

I couldn't find footage of any lolita factories (no surprise there) but I doubt the conditions at places like Bodyline are better - and I wouldn't put money on big brands like AP having better working conditions either.

Now on a lighter note (I need cheering up after all that), unusual_alice at My Princess Garden has left us bloggers with a challenge - to make some new lolita friends! Online, penpal, in person, whatever! She writes:

To anyone reading this post! I have a challenge for you! Whether or not you accept it is up to you, but lets give it our best shot to help all of those lonely lolita's out there feel at home! Whether you are lonley or not, I would love to ask of everyone to find someone on Livejournal, msn, facebook, whatever you like, and try and make friends! You can message each other, send gifts, and one day, you may have realized that you have found a best friend :)



So, if you'd like to be my pen-pal, leave a comment or email me at bandanna@gmail.com and I'd love to make friends with you! ^__^


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