I’ve dabbled in the divine for years, but with more contemplative time at home, I’ve been drawn to learn more about planetary alignments. Astrologically 2022 is meant to be transformative. The year started with a New Moon in Capricorn on January 2nd, and the energy created by this lunation makes us want less confinement. That feels right!
Considering the restrictions, the past two years has demanded of us getting re-inspired, and re-charging had to come mostly from within. For almost two years, I’ve barely left my studio. But with the New Year upon us, I wanted to share the new perspective I’ve gained and how it has influenced my work.
Pre-pandemic, I was looking for a new project and bought several second-hand denim jackets – which I hand-stitched with statements of optimism. As the world started to unravel during the pandemic, it felt like perky statements on funky jackets should be more meaningful.
My background is in the corporate fashion industry. I traveled extensively to factories overseas to design and develop clothing that could be mass-produced and shipped at big profits. It was all so interesting and demanding, and kept me so busy I barely had time to register the reality of what the industry was doing to the planet.
I since learned that the fashion industry is the 4th worst polluting industry globally. For instance, producing one pair of jeans uses 2500+ gallons of water. Eleven percent (11%) of the pesticides used yearly worldwide go to cotton that is grown to make denim. The total number of denim jeans sold worldwide every year is 1,240,000,000 pairs! That’s a LOT of WASTE WATER! And then, there’s the energy it takes to make and ship the final denim garments. Globally, 80% of discarded textiles end up in landfills or get incinerated. Only 20% are reused or recycled. The carbon footprint is enormous.
Knowing this, I decided to make what I was doing a statement toward activism. Less consumption. More mindfulness. The more I know about why a brand-new t-shirt costs less than a tuna sandwich, the less inclined I am to buy it.
So here I am, in 2022, still creating, but with a commitment to use what already exists . I haunt thrift stores, resale shops, and fabric warehouses filled with cast-off goods. Even the jewelry is made from ‘found’ components.
It’s not about fashion. It’s about style, creativity, mindfulness, and commitment. And if I left out FUN, I’d be remiss, because no one likes to laugh and enjoy life as much as I do!
Happy New Year , Love, Mary
The astrologer I follow now is Chani Nicholas