Wellbeing

What I’ve learnt: About Conscious Shopping

Our columnist reveals the joy of owning less and how to spark joy into your month without spending

As winter starts to transition into early spring, we start to emerge from hibernation and think about having a good old spring clean.

We dust off the old as we make room for fresh starts and the possibility of a bit more company. Cushions are plumped, wardrobes are overhauled, and clutter is cleared as we let the air back in.

It’s a ritual I enjoy as much as the next person. There’s something so soothing about restoring order to a home. As a lifelong lover of fashion and interiors, I also take a real joy in seeing the new season trends hitting stores and working out how some new pieces can be integrated into my existing line-up.

But as we all become more conscious of how our impact on the planet, I’ve had to ask myself how to shop more thoughtfully. I enjoy shopping as much as the next person, but can we justify throwing away perfectly good things to enhance our sense of emotional newness every time the seasons change?

In trying to work out how to change our habits, I realised there had to be a compromise. I’m not advocating giving up shopping completely – not least because the economy would come to a crashing halt and that would cause almost as many issues as climate change. However, I am loving exploring the ways we can choose our purchases consciously, with ethics, quality and longevity in mind.

Fast fashion is hugely impacting the environment, from overusing resources to dyes causing water pollution, so we all need to address our attitude to style. When I was a kid, I loved picking through the flea markets of East London for a vintage find. Nothing was more exciting then spotting a one-off designer gem hidden amongst random nylon tat. I don’t have the time I did in those days though, so instead I trawl sites like Vestaire, founded by Selfridges, to find pre-loved designer wear in great quality. HEWI is also brilliant, especially for Instagram-look lovers. And Bagista lets you buy, sell, or swap designer bags.

If you’re looking to run a more sustainable home, without compromising on aesthetics or spending hours scrubbing, look no further than advice from blogger Christine Liu. Her book Sustainable Home is a great resource for making small, but lasting changes.

Skincare and make-up is another area that has seen huge strides in sustainability in recent years. I’ve discovered that whilst packaging regulations make using no plastic difficult, many brands are taking innovative and considered approaches to their design, without compromising on quality. I especially love Dr Hauschka, who use biodynamic farming methods for all its products. Irene Forte offers the Mediterranean diet in skincare form, with truly delicious sounding ingredients sourced where possible on her Sicilian farm.

Finally, I truly believe that addressing our own conditioning as ‘need it now’ shoppers is where we can make the biggest changes. Yes, online superstores can deliver you that cheap-as-chips item tomorrow, but it’ll be in a mountain of packaging with a carbon footprint as big as an elephant. It might cost you less to buy it that way, but it costs the earth, literally.

Delayed gratification is better for the mind and the local economy. Get to know artisans in your community, shop on the high street and give your money to faces you know, not brands you are just in the habit of using.

Clearing out the need for more and more ‘things’ leaves you lighter emotionally and gives more room and money for experiences that last longer and ultimately bring more joy. And isn’t that idea where a real breath of fresh air can come from this month?

Patsy’s beauty range, Preciously Perfect, is available from Ideal World (idealworld.tv/search/preciously-perfect-by-patsy-kensit)