{"id":14158,"title":"The Perils of Black Friday","description":"Giant corporate machines are rubbing their sausage fingers together, gurning with glee, as you obediently follow their instruction to buy, buy, buy.","content":"

\"\"Dearest Bird Lovers, Black Friday approaches, a colossus looming large over the end of this chilly November week. This one day offers the promise of bargain basement bundles. Under priced goods will be hurtling themselves into your shopping baskets with gay abandon, your inner self will be filled with warmth and satisfaction, you\u2019ll be delighted to find the best bargain possible. You\u2019ll be revelling in celebration that you, amongst countless other millions have managed to pay far less than the market value of some irrelevant little trinket or meaningless device.\u00a0<\/p>

And what could possibly be wrong with that? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot. The notion of Black Friday began in the USA, the undisputed king of capitalism, the giant world engine of consumption. Black Friday has been designed to fan a frenzy of frenetic tomfoolery usually preserved for the January sales. Giant corporate machines are rubbing their sausage fingers together, gurning with glee, as you obediently follow their instruction to buy, buy, buy. Apparently the day was intended to lubricate gift buying in the lead up to the festive season. Though as it turns out most purchases are luxurious little treats for ones self. What\u2019s the harm? Well as it turns out there\u2019s quite a lot.<\/p>

As consumers we are hard wired to buy when a bargain is presented to us. We tell ourselves that \u201cwe've actually saved money\u201d as this was \u201cso and so\u201d and is now just \u201cso\u201d. We inexplicably believe that we have saved money, when we\u2019ve actually just spent it, such is the power of the word \u2018bargain\u2019. Evidence suggests that we are far more likely to purchase something we don\u2019t actually want or need when the word bargain is attached. We think to ourselves, \u201cWell it\u2019s such a bargain, I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll grow into it, or lose weight to fit into it, or perhaps this puce poncho with pom-poms will come into fashion at some point.\u201d This leads to waste. Lots and lots of waste.<\/p>

There are countless articles about how much waste, each discussing the increase in petrol use of delivery trucks, the waste of unnecessary and environmentally unfriendly packaging and large quantities of products that simply end up in land fill. A study by the Green Alliance<\/a> \u201cfound that nearly all Black Friday purchases end up as waste\u201d - Nearly All<\/strong>!\"\"So why would I, as a so-called \u2018on-line fashion retailer\u2019<\/a> be telling you NOT <\/u><\/strong>to buy things? Well, I have decided to do things differently from the very beginning of Birds Can Fly. All of my products have been inspired by nature, so when I began to investigate this little venture, I had to make sure my supplier had proper environmentally friendly credentials. Teemill is that supplier, their factory is powered by renewable energy. Their products are vegan, organic and even the ink that they use is friendly to the planet. They also have frequent promotions that are designed to boost a circular fashion economy. Their packaging is plastic-free and when the garment you purchase has been worn so much that it frays, you can send it back to them and it will be remade into other products.\u00a0\"\"
This Black Friday all the way to so called Cyber Monday every purchase on Birds Can Fly clothing will plant a tree. The international tree planting organisations Teemill partner with, work to maintain natural biodiversity and combat deforestation, working in areas where the trees are needed the most. So purchasing really does make a difference.\u00a0<\/p>

I am just a little gnat on the back of the colossal organisations that are attempting to seduce you to part with your hard earned cash. I am a teeny little thingamajig creating things from my love of birds and the natural world. If you care a jot about the world, don\u2019t just buy from Birds Can Fly if you like it, buy from Birds Can Fly because you adore birds and you want to tell the world you\u2019re a bird lover.\"\"<\/a>
More than buy, you can share. Sharing my posts via word of mouth or on social media will help Birds Can Fly beat the algorithms that are overwhelmingly stacked in the favour of Amazon, Argos and Asos. Sharing my content is - it could be argued - far more powerful than your very valued and appreciated patronage. In the Black Friday bonanza many independent businesses are overlooked, we are swimming against a tide of over consumption. If you don\u2019t share mine, share other smaller businesses you love. We need your help.\u00a0<\/p>

So my Black Friday will Be Green, what colour will yours be?<\/p>

\"\"
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