Long Live Old Ways

This re-post revised from one previously posted that didn't come over when we made this new website:

Our fast-paced world of multitasking is really “crammin’ it all in”. We're in this strange place of constant stimulation and distraction. We never have to wonder about anything.

It’s rare to figure out how to get to a new place, calculate a conversion, or ponder a "how to" without simply looking it up. All the answers are in the ol' pocket. 

Remember the days of going to the library to get information? I do, and, although I love the time savings, I miss having to go out and dig through books for the answers.

Traditions are inherited, passed between people face to face and through books. My grandmother taught me to mend and press to perfection. I learned to cook from my Mom, my best friends Mom, and my husband, recipes learned from their Mother's. I have hand written recipes which I couldn't bare to digitize and discard. A hand written recipe somehow captures the writer's character – it’s a treasure and a gift, stains, spills and all!

As a teen I spent hours on the phone talking to friends. We’d laugh and share secrets and dreams. My young adult daughter connects by texting and social media. Lost is the sense of trust with the person on the other end. There is something so permanent in writing and I think this makes people carefully "craft" what we share, rather than just pouring it out in a messy, honest, and natural way. On a phone call I felt safe to be my silliest, most honest self. A human voice says much about the heart behind it. That’s missed with texting -  emoji’s could never compare.

I starting a clothing brand, it was important to me to honor traditional ways of doing things. Even the name, Affine, means descended from the same root. One of the things I feel strongly about is the use of old-school fabrics. I feel they have proven themselves and are safe to work with and wear. How long have these natural fiber fabrics have been use by humans?

Polyester has only been around for about 90 years. As the predominantly used fabric today, it’s slow decomposition is filling up our Earth with plastic. Polyester takes about 500 years to decompose and even then, it's never completely gone, just in smaller bits! Alternatively, natural fiber fabrics break down completely within months. (It should be noted that that even lettuce takes longer to decompose in a landfill as opposed to a compost heap, so it is important to dispose of things properly). 

Affine Fibers clothing is made locally. This is another important factor to me. Globalized production of clothing is relatively new, becoming more common around the 1960's. Now, it's even become cheaper to produce 8,000 km away, than it is in North America! Imagine the extra pollution associated with that! Making it here supports of the local economy, makes for a more interesting community, and allows for knowing the conditions under which our garments are made (for the workers).  

Technology solves problems but comes with new issues. The busy lives we’ve created lack balance and connection. We don’t take time to think and are quick to sacrifice for easy.

Old ways of doing things usually take more time. But there are benefits to that. You may not get as many things done in a day, but you will likely get the chance to reflect, wonder, and be in a state of flow. I don't think you can beat that!

Why not choose a slower way to do something this week? Just give it a chance! Knit by hand, go to the library, write a letter by hand, or make a phone call. Share your comments on what you tried or like to do the old way - we'd love to know!