Secondhand Shops Become Popular in Poland

Now that Poland is finding itself richer than before, secondhand shops are gaining in popularity, finds an article in today's New York Times. The young, with a growing environmental consciousness and fatter wallets, are finding that thrift stores are a great place to create a stylish wardrobe while waiting for wages to catch up to those earned in the rest of the EU.

image from tomitex.com.pl

For some, there is still stigma attached - the photographer for the Times article was cursed for taking pictures of some who are ashamed to be seen in the store. One even cursed him as another complained that she would look poor.

Vegan Shoes, Natalie?

Am I the last person to hear about Natalie Portman's collaboration with Té Casan to create a line of vegan shoes?


“All of my shoes are from Target or Stella McCartney," says Portman. "As a vegan, it's been challenging finding designer shoes made of alternative materials." The line launched January 15 online and hit stores February 1.

Now, call me old fashioned, but any reference to vegan clothing always throws me for a bit of a loop. I'd prefer a more technical description, such as "leather free" or "no animal products." The "vegan clothing" label stresses me out, as if I'll be expected to eat it or something. Maybe I just have unfortunate associations with the early days of spelt egg-free cakes that tasted like chalk. All it means is that the shoes are made free of leather or any other animal products, and 5% of the profits (all of Natalie's share) will go to as-yet undisclosed charity (various non-profit organizations dedicated to environmental preservation and animal rights) - one source said it would be The Nature Conservancy.

Speaking of old fashioned, does anyone else think the shoes look, well.. a bit outdated?

My read: save energy, wear your old shoes, and donate $10 to charity (equal to 5% of the $200 you would have spent on the vegan footwear).

But mistake not my sarcasm! I appreciate Natalie's efforts. Maybe someday I'll find a pair of $20 animal-free classic-style shoes and 100% of the profits will go to charity (oh wait, it's called Goodwill...).

I kid, Natalie, I kid. I'm just jealous.

Green Clothes Cleaners

So I wondered idly the other day why clothes didn't smell bad when I'd brought them home from the cleaners.



Turns out, Brookwood is an organic cleaner! That's why it's so expensive!

An article from OrganicConsumers.org says that "Regulators say the chief villain is perchloroethylene, the solvent that gives clothes that whiff of synthetic sweetness."

Well, not so on my clothes!