"I have nothing to wear"? Yeah, right.

Today, I was trying to think of what I should wear to a semi-formal event this upcoming Thursday. As I thought through the items in my closet, I came to the same conclusion that I always come to when faced with Homecoming, picture day, or any other semi-formal event -- "I have nothing to wear."

I started making plans to go to Versona and pick out a nice pencil skirt and button-up shirt. I figured I didn't have time tonight, so I'd do it tomorrow. 

I came home and looked through my closet, just curious to see if anything I already owned would be sufficient. I noticed that I had a ton of random t-shirts from church and school, and out of curiosity, I started counting them. Then I counted my jackets. Then my tank tops. Then blouses. Jeans. Shorts. Swimsuits. Dresses. Skirts.

One hundred and sixty. I counted one hundred and sixty articles of clothing in my closet, not including socks and underwear.

"I have nothing to wear"? -- bullcrap.

Considering the fact that most people of the world could fit all of their personal belongings in a single bag, the fact that I had the audacity to think that I don't have enough is completely and utterly ludicrous.

I have no idea what the average amount of clothing for a seventeen-year-old, middle-class white girl in America to own is, but honestly, I don't care. I may have way more or way less than all of my friends, but that so isn't the point. Either way, I have too much.

And here, dear reader(s), is the kicker. As I stood staring at my closet, I couldn't help but wonder how many of those pieces of clothes, whether it be that $200 prom dress, that cute lace blouse, that bright coral pair of shorts -- I couldn't help but wonder how much of it had, in some way or another, been produced by underpaid workers. Or, slaves.

Please note that "underpaid worker" does not automatically mean "slave". Still, it means the exploitation of individuals who are simply trying to support themselves. I have read more than enough articles about work conditions in sweat shops, horrific stories of abuse, harassment, and far worse evils.

The funny thing is, though, that I read these articles months ago. I have known for almost half a year about the way things work, about why my really nice skirt only cost $20. I knew, but apparently, I didn't care enough to change. To stop. I have been okay with financing the exploitation of men, women, and child all around the world for six whole months.

Well, no more. Enough is enough.

So, I'm quitting. Starting January 1, 2014, I will not buy any clothing that is not fair trade for an entire year. Or, at least, I'm gonna try.

I realize that I cannot single-handedly stop the unfair conditions of workers all around the world. Even if I never bought another piece of clothing that was not fair trade, I would still be using items every day that were produced by underpaid workers. Food, coffee, pillows, tea -- you name it. I can't quit all of it.

But I can pick one thing, on product, and kick it. I'm not saying that I will never again buy a piece of clothing that is not fair trade. No, I'm starting smaller. I am starting with a single year. And honestly, I do not know if this is even possible. Can a middle-class American teenage girl go a year without buying clothes from slaves for twelve months? Maybe not...but maybe. And if it is possible, I'm going to do it. Not to amaze the world, but rather to show the world that when we decide that something is not okay, we, as individuals, do have the power to change it. To make a difference.

Even more so than all of this, more than rebelling against the status-quo, more than refusing to support slavery, I want to show the world that Jesus is enough. We live in a culture that screams at young women every single day that you have to buy this, wear that, use these to be pretty enough. Important enough. Good enough.

I do not believe that I need any of this. I do not have to prove myself. I believe that I am all that I need to be, because Christ has redeemed my life from the pit. So, I'm asking you to come along with me on this ride and to be willing to learn alongside me. I am probably going to fail. A lot. But, Lord willing, it will all be worth it in the end. As always, this is going to be a wild ride.

^"Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases^,
  who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion, 
 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."   

-Psalm 103:2-5