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SLOW FASHION is the practice of prolonging the life span of an existing garment. There are many ways to slow down the environmental impacts of clothing. These practices start with making intentional and conscious choices when making a clothing purchase. Choose ethically produced garments or buy used or vintage. Then, extend that garment’s life by renting, swapping, selling, or upcycling when you are finished with it. Mending gently worn clothes and making your own are also examples of Slow Fashion.

SUSTAINABLE FASHION is product-centered, and it’s direct effect on the environment. Support sustainable fashion by choosing clothing that is designed, manufactured, distributed, and used in environmentally friendly ways.

ETHICAL FASHION is human-centered and covers how the entire process in the supply chain impacts garment workers. Ethical fashion closely overlaps with environmental justice. When the environment is impacted due to the process, usually the garment workers and surrounding communities are equally affected.

COMING SOON! Slow Fashion Based Community Programs:

• Community Clothesline Program – pair members with like sizes and styles to clotheslines through. When the bag reaches you, you take what you like, add to the bag and keep it moving down the line.
  
• Upcycle Boutique – post pictures and details of high-end and name-brand garments for porch pick up.
  
• Back to Work Clothing Exchange – designed to help young mothers, recently houseless, or anyone emerging back into the workforce, that may not have the extra funds to buy work clothes at this time. Please consider donating work attire rather than taking it to Goodwill or Value Village.
  
• #buyusedclothes social media takeover

The earth quakes and the sea stirs. The mountain rumbles back – communicating in only their voice. They are the pray surrounding the predator – waiting to take back what belongs to them. Playfully, we gamble – at all cost – selfishly.

We once were vulnerable – embedded and born to survive in their realm. Many circles around the sun, and we somehow acquire control. In a blink – we dominate – total devastation. A blinds eye to see that destroying them will destroy ourselves, but power makes even the most reasonable – ignorant. We take and take and take.

Uncovered wounds bleed and seep and eventually contaminate everything under the surface. It awakens a new, unseen virus that attacks from inside. From beneath. From above.

There is no where left to hide. What we took no longer serves us when what created it emerges as the enemy and is back for revenge.

Stubborn. Proud. We deny. So, the ground quakes, the sea stirs and the mountain rumbles.

Then there is fire.

We extinct.

Peace restores. 

The sun melts down to only moonlit darkness mirrored on a canvas of water.
Toes whisk waves under the old cedar planks that support us.
Side by side – we gaze. Longing.
Side by side – elbows brush – we talk. Engaged. 
Side by side – your fingers softly interlock mine – my heart drops – we desire. Silent.
But, I am not yours and you are not mine. Hearts affirmed by others. Burying our bound souls, that, only of lovers.
The moonlight is bright and safe from storm. The water is pure and safe and warm. Raw and vulnerable – all reason drowns – down – to the depths – so deep – that no one will see – except you and me.
Suddenly awake and alive – allegiance, obedience, and devotion resurface and gasp for air – just to survive. I cannot live a lie.

Peering over the edge of the mast of the boat, dragging my finger across the surface of the water leaving a pathway of ripples from the present to the past. Blue and green and all that is in between, blending the sky and clouds and trees as we pass. I am in my body. I am in my mind. But my soul plunges deep under the divide between what is and what could be. My reality then floats, weightless and focused, guided up towards the light. I see me from below and I see me from above. One is where I am and one is where I want to be. I see me. I see who I want to be. – jmw