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> c.) extending the lifespan of their clothing buy repairing/altering. This sounds nice but requires another generation before becomes socially acceptable agai

> c.) extending the lifespan of their clothing buy repairing/altering. This sounds nice but requires another generation before becomes socially acceptable again. More specifically, I know no middle-level manager who would dare to adopt it. (The top and bottom of the ladder could, for different reasons.)

pjc50 6y ago
Invisible mending is totally a thing. Most of the common early failure points of clothes are at seams. The problem is more obsolescence than wear; "fast fashion" encouraging people to buy more new clothes leads to the old ones being disposed of.
vanusa 6y ago
More specifically, I know no middle-level manager who would dare to adopt it. We'll make them adopt it, then. That's what re-education camps are for. Seriously -- this is kind of like saying (in February of 2020) "Telling people to wear masks sounds nice but it just won't fly because it's not socially acceptable. More specifically, I know of no one in my office who would dare to wear a mask in public (except the low-level shitworkers whom none of us hang out with anyways)". When it's a matter of survival -- and yes, curtailing our living standards to head of the worst aspects of climate change clearly is -- there are always ways to make it "socially acceptable". And I'm not referring to coercive means - it's simply a matter of political will, and this thing known as "basic integrity". That's why (in all but the most backward places) nearly everyone (who isn't basically a jerk or an idiot) is willing to wear a mask now (at least in places where it's truly necessary), even though most of us thought it to be awkward and icky (or probably not worth the hassle) the hassle. Because enough people in positions of influence / visibility came through and said "Look, we really need to do this." Oh, and laws ("coercion") also help too. But the main thing that moves the needle is -- people (in positions of influence) having the cuts to act with integrity, and simply be open and honest about what needs to be done. And of course to back that up by leading by example.
skinkestek 6y ago
I am a decently paid (by local standards) sw engineer. I fix my clothes not because I cannot afford new ones but because I strongly dislike that my jeans fail after a few months of use and because I prioritize differently. I make patches from worn out pants, apply fabric glue and stitch them in place using thread with a matching colour. After doing it a few times I feel I can now make it next to impossible. There's no reason people in middle management cannot do the same - if they want :-)

pjc50 6y ago

Invisible mending is totally a thing. Most of the common early failure points of clothes are at seams. The problem is more obsolescence than wear; "fast fashion" encouraging people to buy more new clothes leads to the old ones being disposed of.

vanusa 6y ago

More specifically, I know no middle-level manager who would dare to adopt it. We'll make them adopt it, then. That's what re-education camps are for. Seriously -- this is kind of like saying (in February of 2020) "Telling people to wear masks sounds nice but it just won't fly because it's not socially acceptable. More specifically, I know of no one in my office who would dare to wear a mask in public (except the low-level shitworkers whom none of us hang out with anyways)". When it's a matter of survival -- and yes, curtailing our living standards to head of the worst aspects of climate change clearly is -- there are always ways to make it "socially acceptable". And I'm not referring to coercive means - it's simply a matter of political will, and this thing known as "basic integrity". That's why (in all but the most backward places) nearly everyone (who isn't basically a jerk or an idiot) is willing to wear a mask now (at least in places where it's truly necessary), even though most of us thought it to be awkward and icky (or probably not worth the hassle) the hassle. Because enough people in positions of influence / visibility came through and said "Look, we really need to do this." Oh, and laws ("coercion") also help too. But the main thing that moves the needle is -- people (in positions of influence) having the cuts to act with integrity, and simply be open and honest about what needs to be done. And of course to back that up by leading by example.

skinkestek 6y ago

I am a decently paid (by local standards) sw engineer. I fix my clothes not because I cannot afford new ones but because I strongly dislike that my jeans fail after a few months of use and because I prioritize differently. I make patches from worn out pants, apply fabric glue and stitch them in place using thread with a matching colour. After doing it a few times I feel I can now make it next to impossible. There's no reason people in middle management cannot do the same - if they want :-)