The other day my business partner Rena sent me a link to the The Uniform Project . I was so intrigued and impressed by it that I wanted to share it with all of you. Starting May 2009, Sheena Matheiken pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion.
"Here’s how it works," Sheena explains: "There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day I will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade's boudoir."
What a creative challenge, I thought to myself! How exciting! And then I read further that the The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation , a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, Sheena will donate all contributions to Akanksha's School Project to pay for uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums. Sheena grew up in India and knows first hand the need that exists for school uniforms and other supplies--especially for students living in the slums.
Sheena posts her daily outfits with the dress (designed by Eliza Starbuck ) on her website (noting where her accessories came from, which I just love), and is in the process of developing a blog. In addition to posting a daily photo, Sheena also donates a dollar a day to her own cause. "By the end of the year," she writes, "I'll have just enough to sponsor one child in school. Today, there are 7 million children in India that never attend school." Sheena accepts monetary donations via her website . You can also help to keep her outfits inspired and fresh by donating accessories you might be purging from your own wardrobe.
I've become addicted to visiting The Uniform Project seeing what' Sheena's wearing with the dress every day. She's got amazing style and is clearly having a great time with her self-imposed challenge! Truly inspirational.
Posted by Lisa Congdon
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