How can we find joy and purpose in tough times?

It’s hard to reconcile

In these turbulent times, it can feel difficult to reconcile our love for beautiful things with the urgent need for political, social and environmental justice. Like many of you, I feel the weight of current events. The news cycle feels like a relentless storm, and it's easy to get lost in the despair. As someone deeply invested in the well-being of both people and the planet (especially my beloved manatees!), the challenges we face can feel immense.

It feels like walking a tightrope: on one side, the urgent need to stay informed and engaged; on the other, the vital importance of preserving our own mental and emotional well-being so we can continue to fight for what we believe in.

This cognitive dissonance isn’t just a passing thought; it’s a core part of my experience. On one hand, I cherish vintage fashion as a form of self-expression and creativity, and on the other, I am acutely aware of the pressing issues we face—looming autocracy, climate change, social injustices, and the fragility of wildlife. Instead of allowing these feelings to pull me apart, I focus on the fact that wearing vintage is a sustainable fashion choice—a way to advocate against the fast fashion industry that contributes to environmental degradation. Each vintage piece I wear or sell acts as a statement, a conversation starter where my customers and I can educate others about sustainability and inspire those around us to consider the implications of their choices.

Joy is not frivolous; it's fuel

Can we take pleasure in vintage fashion while the world feels like it's on fire? It can feel frivolous, self-indulgent, even. But I've come to realize that it can also be a form of resistance.

Vintage fashion brings me joy. Maybe it does the same for you.

It’s the history: There are never-ending rabbit holes of information about the history of fashion. This is the richest of histories, at the intersection of sociology, geopolitical events, art and craftsmanship.

It’s the quality: Just hold a fine piece of vintage clothing and you can feel and see the thoughtful design. These were not items destined to be thrown away. They were meant to be mended, cleaned and appreciated for as long as possible.

It’s the self-expression: Our choice of clothing is a powerful statement, and vintage clothing speaks to our desire for quality and sustainability, individuality and beauty. It’s also a form of armor—while expressing our values, it projects our strength.

It’s the community: I meet so many interesting, thoughtful, warm and generous people through my work in vintage fashion. We’re a diverse group with a shared passion.

It’s the sustainability: Vintage clothing is a rejection of fast fashion, consumerism, and the environmental impact of new clothing production.

There are days when I just want to shut all the bad news out. But the plight of the manatees, the injustices I see around me, the future I want for the next generation—these pull me back in. The question becomes, how do we stay engaged without burning out?

Small ways to help yourself

I try (not always successfully!) to limit my news consumption to designated times and reliable news sources (my choices are NPR, AP, Reuters, and BBC). If I come across a big news item on social media, I hold off reacting until I can verify the story.

Spending time in nature is essential for my well-being. Whether it's a walk in the park or a visit to see the manatees (I wish!), connecting with the natural world reminds me what I'm fighting for.

I actively look for things to do that are creative. For me, that's vintage fashion, writing, music and design. When I spend time in creative pursuits, I come up with original solutions—sometimes for completely unrelated problems.

Do you meditate? I used to think that meditation was just another thing I had to do—a burden. But when I consider taking deep breaths and looking out a window for a minute, or going to sleep giving thanks, I know I am calming my mind and reducing stress.

I am an introverted, independent person, but I still need to talk with others who share my values and passions. I know a few wonderful people with whom I can talk about anything, and just knowing we are there for each other helps us cope. My work volunteering time for the nonprofits Vintage Fashion Guild and Save the Manatee Club gives me a sense of belonging and purpose.

Self-care isn't just bubble baths and face masks (though those are nice too!). It's about finding ways to calm our minds, whether it’s by setting boundaries, lifting our spirits, or nourishing our souls. I have to say to myself over and over: Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s strategic. It’s a conscious act of defiance against despair. It's about reclaiming your energy and fueling your resilience.

Turn Passion into action

I have many passions, and one of the biggest involves a very big, very gentle creature: the manatee. We humans have imperiled these wonderful animals to the brink of extinction and while their population has rebounded, several years of tragic losses have threatened the progress that has been made. I give 10% of my vintage fashion earnings to Save the Manatee Club for the protection of this beloved and vulnerable species. I write about them often. I once was stopped in a local store by a woman who asked if I was “that manatee lady.” You can call me that any day!

I have volunteered for the Vintage Fashion Guild, of which I am a member, for years. I have dedicated my passion for fashion history to creating the VFG’s Fabric Resource, and I have written blogs, created videos, answered questions in our forums and researched and written about designers and manufacturers of clothing for our Label Resource. Long after I’m gone, the collective knowledge to which I have contributed will live on.

My love for vintage fashion and my passion for protecting manatees might seem unrelated, but they both stem from a desire to preserve what is beautiful and precious in this world.

What are your unique skills and passions? How can you use your gifts to contribute to a better world? My suggestion is to take just what you have, right where you are, and do what you can, no matter how small. True heroism is not often flamboyant, but incremental and cumulative.

Let's use our collective passions to create a future where joy and justice can thrive

Tell me what you do for self care, what gives you joy, and what actions you want to take. I’d really love to hear from you.

Fabrics and me

photo courtesy of desktopretreat.blogspot.com

One summer, I read the Fairchild’s Dictionary of Textiles cover to cover (don't I know how to have fun?) and chose a collection of fabrics that seemed to come up in vintage clothing descriptions and in my observations. I didn’t, and don’t, consider myself an expert on the subject, but I love learning about fabrics.

I really have to know fabric better all the time. I sell vintage clothing, and my buyers and I want to know what a item is made from. To know this is to tell someone whether she will be allergic, how to wash or clean the item, predict how it will take dye. It is to know how fine it is, how long it will last, how the color will hold up. It helps make certain the vintage. It gives a better sense of how it will feel when worn. Buying clothing online is hard enough, and knowing all you can about the item is just smart.

The year after I read the Fairchild’s I was a board member of the Vintage Fashion Guild, and I proposed the idea of the VFG website having a fabric resource. For many years, the VFG Label Resource has made an inestimable contribution to vintage knowledge and interest, and the other resources (Fur Resource and Lingerie Guide) are also of tremendous value (heck, you should just go check out the whole site!). Everyone thought a fabric resource was a good idea, so I got started on it.

Fast forward to 2012, and I have been working bit by bit on a fabric resource for most of five years now. Fabrics are complicated. As one article in an issue of the great American Fabrics magazine begins:

The history of textiles is the history of the world...politically, socially, economically.

So much of human history has been interwoven with fabrics—any one fabric can take you back to ancient civilizations, or even prehistoric times. This makes many of them difficult to quickly summarize.  I noted one of the fabrics in the Fairchild’s that was particularly mind-boggling for me, frisé.

frisé [free-zay’] 1. Originally the finest grade of linen made in Friesland, The Netherlands. It was strong, stout, grained, and well-bleached. 2. A French term for curled. 3. A coarse ratiné fabric that is made with slub yarns in a plain weave ( See RATINÉ 1.) 4. A looped pile fabric usually of uncut loops that may have a pattern cut into them. This term sometimes is used for TERRY CLOTH or BOUCLÉ FABRIC. 5. A coarse, stout cotton or linen fabric that is made in a plain weave with a flat, wiry texture and a pronounced rep or rib. Made in imitation of the worsted or mohair pile fabric known as FRIEZE. All fabrics listed in 1.—5. are used for upholstery. 6. A cut pile carpet of twisted yarns in solid color or of varicolored yarns.

You can see there are divergent histories here, along with terms that may not be familiar (they certainly weren’t all familiar to me). There are comments about usage, origins of the name, related fabrics. Not all fabrics have this much complexity in their definitions, but some have more.

I’m not trying to make excuses for the long time I’ve been working on this; on the contrary, when the Fabric Resource is published in mid July it will just be a start—I plan to continue working on it. I really just mean to say it is a very deep subject, with much to know. My hope is that the Fabric Resource will provide basic information about fabrics, help people searching for the name of a “mystery” fabric, help with determining fiber types, and maybe even inspire some interest in further research.

I know I’m inspired by fabrics, and I hope others are too!

Would you like one sneak peek? Just to explain, there will be a link to a definition in the resource for all the words in bold type, and a link to any related fabrics. It will be possible to click on all photos to enlarge them to 1000 x 1000 pixels.


Chinchilla cloth

Constructed like fleece, with a long nap, chinchilla cloth is given a machine finish which rubs the nap into nubs. It is made of wool, wool blends, and the warp may be cotton for strength. The town of Chinchilla, Spain is where the present fabric was first made.

Uses: Coats, hats

See also fleece