I HAVE A DREAM

I have always been a person who does not enjoy a lot of stuff. I dislike clutter, too much in my closet sends me into breathing fits and junk or other things lying around only makes things worse. My ultimate house would be a yurt with just the basics and not much closet space. I wear a lot of my clothes until they can no longer function, I suppose I took more of a male perspective in the clothing department. Which, do not get me wrong here, it works for me.

So I was slightly well more than slightly shocked when I and my husband walked into a local thrift store located in Boise and there were rows and rows and rows of racks of jeans, tops, skirts, shorts, dresses etc. It was huge and instantly I knew, I knew what I am supposed to do with my sewing.

You see I have had this inkling that so much of our America quest for things is driving everything in our lives. It is truly the ultimate task master and I have sought ways to free myself from this mindless quest to have everything quickly and right now. And now our teens due to all kinds of media, social media, smart phones, tablets and computers tell us that the newest and best pair of shorts is only 19 bucks at the nearest retail store. And so even though they have a million pairs of shorts that they just bought a week ago, they run down and buy the new pair, tweet it, Facebook it, and boom everyone now knows that they too must have a pair just like it.

My question is why? Why are we filling thrift stores and non-profits with tons of clothes that for the most part have not been worn? Why are we wasting our money, our health and emotional well being for a "fast clothing" high?

I do not know why, because for me it makes no sense. It does not work for me and I have been thinking and mulling over in my mind how I, a simple person can help make a difference in some way. Even if it is small or the media never find me in the midst of this cyber space. But here it is!

There are several parts to this dream but I desire to keep it simple! So here it goes.

Boise has a huge population of Refugees and misplaced people from Africa. We also have a lot of single  mothers trying to feed, clothe and educate their kids while working more than full time. There are women all over this state who are homeless or living in shelters because for what ever reason they could no longer fend for themselves. Most of our clothing manufacturing is done over seas at the expense of human life and decency. Another blog on that point of view, but I will try to stay on track.

You see this is my heart! Sewing is my soul and helping other women create a better life for themselves fuels my passion for living and life.

So what if, what if I take a small pile of those used clothes and create something fun and interesting, up-cycle if you want to be politaclly correct. But take those clothes that are no longer being used, utilize my sewing skills, designer instincts and make something fun and usable again.

Now, what if I take the knowledge and begin to teach the women here in this valley how to sew, start helping them utilize their talents, artistic skills, designer instincts and they begin to create new wardrobes for themselves and to suplement their income.

Are you with me still? I hope so because this is so important to me.

Now what if I took these women and opened up a beautiful, clean, safe and family friendly/supportive sewing/manufacturing company locally? What if I provided job training, financial support, small micro loans to women who eventually desired to get out on their own and do their own thing? What if this manufacturing company was able to pay these women what they are really worth, all the while utilizing piles of clothing that we as American throw away, and supply shops and our own stores around the world? What if for a moment women could breathe knowing that their talents, skills and dreams could send their son or daughter to college, or able to retire when they get older?

YES I have a dream! And it is starting in a small room with my sewing machine and a few piles of used clothes. Because I believe that if enough women were to dream this big we can change the world, and I am starting with me!