I’m tired of the media telling me that if I don’t buy consciously, I’m a bad consumer. It makes doing so a chore; it makes the whole thing sound horribly oppressive and, to be honest, really complicated.  What I don’t get is why those big-wig corporate executives (who are often the least conscious of us, in this big economic scheme) are using guilt to drive eco-conscious shopping when they could just as easily be inspiring us.

My opinion?  Screw those guys (and gals). Here are some of the things that make me feel good about making conscious shopping choices – instead of making me feel bad for putting on my Calvin Kleins.

Like a Cold Shower

Nature. I live on a cliff above Lake Washington, and Seattle’s last storm had me house-bound with little to do but stare off into nothingness – or blog, of course.  I’ll admit that I did a lot of the latter, but when I did bundle up and brave the cold, I couldn’t help but notice how clean the air tasted, and how serene the world looked blanketed in white.

This is where most people would preach about saving the trees and fighting global warming, but if you’re here you already know about all of that.  For me, that moment in the snow was much simpler: all of that natural beauty made me want to be a part of it again.  It reminded me of childhood – of playing in the snow, or the mud, or whatever nature was throwing at me - and tapped into the part of me that was totally free, totally organic.  In other words, it was at that moment that I finally understood the phrase “flower child.”  I decided that from now on I’d be a “snow bunny,” and that the phrase would have nothing to do with skiing.

Speaking of snow…

Local Music. The above video is for Blue Scholar’s “Coffee and Snow,” which is a song they wrote when they couldn’t make it to the shows they were supposed to play during that big December snowstorm.

Conscious music shopping can be just as frustrating as conscious fashion shopping.  I’ve met many an “indie music lover” who had the worst taste in music – I swear, they just listened to those crappy bands because no one else had heard of them.  (Is elitism really worth the time it takes to download that stuff?)  I feel the same way about indie music that I do about indie fashion: if it’s well made and I like it, I’ll spend my money on it, but I’m not going to devote my life to it.

For example, I waited until I went to the Blue Scholars show to buy their CDs, because buying at the show gives the artist a higher profit margin.  (CDs tend to be cheaper at shows than they are online or in retail stores, too.)  However, when I bought the Yeah Yeah Yeahs CD a few months ago I made my purchase at Amazon.com.  Why?  Because it was a really good deal and I wanted the music now…not next time they come to town.  And that’s okay.

My point is this: conscious shopping is not rocket science. Local bands (and the people who love them) remind me of that every day.

Quality. Buying direct, organic, and otherwise consciously means that you’re getting a better-made product – not because the product is organic or hand-made, but because you’re being conscious of what the product actually is. When I’m checking out an Etsy seller, a green store, or any other shop, I find myself checking seams and sizes more thoroughly than I did when I shopped corporate.  I want to know that this organic or handmade top is going to last, especially when organic and/or handmade often means more expensive.

[Above photo, clockwise from left: Eco-Ganik sweatshirt, ZephyrWoods pendants, St. Grace Carol pants, TotusMel ankle corsets, PaddyWax candles, Deco-Modiste outfit, My Lavaliere "gin" necklace]

Of course, those are only a few of the things that inspire my own personal conscious shopping kick.  At some point I’ll cover a few others, like religion and philosophy, the hippie obsession that comes with being a baby boomer’s kid, my various allergies to cheap metal and finding a balance to my tech lifestyle. Until then…

What inspires you to shop consciously?

Tags: all natural, buy local, clothing, conscious shopping, eco-conscious, etsy, inspiration, local, seattle, shopping