A Community Climate Conversation

Inaugural Hanover Community Climate Conversation at Salt Hill Pub, Hanover, NH February 4, 2020

Who knew
that 20 people would
show up for Hanover's inaugural 
Community Climate Conversation? With just 
a few hand-made notices around town
and in a few social media outlets,
we drew a small crowd.
How cool is that?

Handmade Poster for Hanover Community Climate Conversation, 2020

Indeed,
what does the climate
have to do with fashion and clothing?
As it turns out, more than most of us know or understand.
Apparel and footwear accounted for 8% of global greenhouse gas
emissions in 2016 (more carbon than international flights
and maritime shipping), is the second largest
consumer of the world's water supply,
and pollutes oceans with micro-
plastics and rivers with
toxic chemicals.

My favorite black boots purchased on consignment from The Pink Alligator in West Lebanon, NH

Clothes 
are also something
we wear every day and that can
often make our day. I know that is the case
for me. My black boots give a kick to my step and my
long purple wool cardigan embraces me and gives me confidence.
There is no reason to feel bad about dressing in garments
that make us feel good. Our challenge is learning
how to wear clothes that both feel
great and don't harm
the earth.

Kim Souza, Owner of Revolution in White River Junction, VT Photo by ERSwett

I loved hearing
Kim Souza, owner of
Revolution (in White River
Junction, VT) talk about how she 
curates her store. While some dresses
or fun socks might sell big, she will not sell them
if they are not made in the US or ethically produced.
Joan Ecker, Founder of Fat Hat Clothing,
shared valuable insights about the
costs of clothing production
​and the dangers of
'greenwashing.'

Dr.LeeAnn T Rutkovsky shares her wisdom with Joan Ecker, Founder Fat Hat Clothing, and others Photo by ERSwett

For me,
laughter was
the best part of the
evening. Here were a bunch
of people, some more interested in
'fashion' than others, who came together
to begin a conversation about climate that actually 
started with what we were wearing. By
sharing stories about our clothes
in an informal setting we got
to know each other in a
different kind of
way.

Self portrait wearing favorite 24 year old wool sweater Photo by ERSwett

Just as one
wool sweater is 
not the same as another
(was the wool sustainably harvested,
were the sheep treated well, were the people
who assembled the garment paid a living wage?),
no two people have the same relationship to their wardrobes
and how their clothes make them feel. Like so much
in the climate conversation, there is always
more than meets the eye. Can you tell,
for example, that this ancient &
beloved turtleneck was
repaired last
​week?

Armpit holes waiting for attention Photo by ERSwett

In my last
blog post, Compost,
Fiber and Fashion, I considered
the power of re-imagining my clothes and,
in the process, re-imagining myself. At their heart,
these reflections come from my ongoing concern for and
fascination with waste, not just of food, but of
everything. My mother-in-law saved 
her hems, because she hated
things going to waste.

Sashiko style repairs Photo by ERSwett

I repaired this
twenty-four year old
wool turtleneck sweater I bought
at a street fair in Germany because I love it,
and it seemed wasteful to find another one when I
could ​mend this one. It seems to me that how we connect
to our clothing may perhaps reflect how we think
not just about ourselves, but also about
what it means to be wasteful
in general.

Old sweater, new life & a new look Photo by ERSwett

I hope that
our first Community
Climate Conversation inspires
those who attended to think more deeply
about what they wear. More importantly, though,
I hope our laughter invites others to join these gatherings,
knowing that we find joy and have fun while
paying attention to topics that we
know about and love.

---

This is where we'll be: The cozy corner at Still North Book in Hanover Photo by ERSwett

Next Community Climate Conversation:
What's the Story of OUR Stuff?
(bring an object you love)
​
March 3, 2020 @ Still North Books, Hanover, NH
​5:30 - 7:30 pm

Facilitator: Marc Morgan
(By day, the manager of Lebanon, NH's solid waste facility;
By night, an advocate for deeper thinking
about what we consume
and why)