A few days ago, I woke up and began reading posts from my Twitter friends, and came across an article mentioning a fashion project called Project 333. I was intrigued, and started devouring blog entries about this concept.

Project 333 was started by Courtney Carver, who is the aspiring-minimalist behind the blog Be More With Less, a blog dedicated to making purposeful decisions and living contently without clutter.

Courtney was inspired by other, more strict minimalist projects to create Project 333, which allows you to have 33 items in your wardrobe for 3 months. Yes, you heard me correctly. 33 items including clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoes.

Wow, I thought to myself. Wow.

For a few hours, I started to process the concept. I looked in my closet. Ugh. Not pretty. I looked around my house. More clothes. Double ugh! My laundry? Full. Dressers? Overflowing. I had to start doing something about this.

Now don't get me wrong, I can tackle almost any fashion challenge put forth. But 33 items? INCLUDING jewelry, my GLASSES? MY PRECIOUS ACCESSORIES??? I couldn't wrap my head around it. I was going to be stuck with the same necklace and scarf for 3 months? I don't think so. As a jewelry designer and avid yarn crafter, I just couldn't see that working out for my specific needs.

But I couldn't give up then! Not after I stirred up all the emotion I apparently had hiding behind my attachment to entirely too many articles of clothing. I had to find a way to work this project into my handmade lifestyle.

I started thinking back to another fashion project I nearly joined recently. This project is called Wardrobe Refashion, and was started by an awesome girl named Nikki. You can find the project's website here: Wardrobe Refashion

Nikki's project has participants pledge to abstain from purchasing new manufactured clothing for the term of their participation. Participants pledge to "refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium," and to share their creations with the Wardrobe Refashion online community.

Nikki's project also allows for the use of one "Get out of Refashionista Jail Free" card per term, allowing the participant to have one slip-up, as long as they confess and post the badge on the blog.

This project seemed great for controlling my intake of new clothing, but what was I to do about all the stuff I already had?

Finally, I've also been participating in a group of twitter users called Stash Bust Army, denoted in tweets with #stashbustarmy as a hash tag. This group of crafters encourage each other to use up their yarn stashes, and post projects and updates on their own stash-busting status. Now, it's great to stash-bust yarn instead of going out and buying new yarn each time, but what if your stash expands beyond yarn? I decided to take #stashbustarmy another step into crafting, and work it together with what I was planning.

Mulling this all over for a while, I sat down with a notebook and started combining the three concepts together. I drafted myself a set of 10 rules, and with that, HomeGrown Fashion Project was born.

HomeGrown Fashion Project Rules

1. For the next 3 months, narrow your wardrobe to 33 items of clothing or shoes.

• Obviously, a pair of shoes counts as one item, not two.
• Does not include work uniforms, company shirts, or business suit pieces ONLY worn for work.
• Does not include underwear, socks, or stockings.
• Does not include lounge-wear or pajamas worn only at home. (No sneaking out in that velour sweat suit, no matter how little time you'll be out.)
• Does not include work-out clothing or shoes, but these must be used for exercise ONLY. (Same story, no wearing those yoga pants to class or that tank top to work!)

2. Only 3 manufactured, store-bought jewelry pieces are allowed.

• Other manufactured jewelry is limited to prescription and sunglasses, wedding ring, body or other permanent-wear jewelry.
• Any handmade jewelry is acceptable, and handmade by you is encouraged!

3. Accessories such as hats, gloves, scarves, belts, and heavy outerwear (not sweaters and jackets, but coats) are acceptable, but are encouraged to be handmade.

4. No store-bought purchases during term. Any newly-introduced clothing items must be handmade, refashioned, thrifted and altered, or recycled.

5. Any newly-introduced clothing or shoe items must be swapped out for the same number of items from the original 33, keeping the clothing/shoes count to 33 items at all times.

6. Newly-crafted clothing, jewelry, and accessories should come from stash supplies first.

• Items with exception include parts needed to finish a project, such as findings, closures, zippers, and thread.

7. HomeGrown Fashion Police Pass

• Like Wardrobe ReFashion, I'm invoking the "Get Out of Jail Free" card here. Sometimes, special events happen last-minute.
• Pass is good for 1 store purchase during three-month term.
• Purchased item must be posted with a public confession.
• Purchased item must be swapped into wardrobe for count to remain at 33.

8. In the case of a gift clothing item, you must either swap out the item for 1 of your 33, or you must store your item for the remainder of the term.

9. You are allowed 3 Craft Coupons per 3-month term.

• Craft coupons allow for non-stash craft purchases, such as fabric and buttons for a new dress, or yarn for a new scarf.
• Each coupon is good for the purchase of all items necessary to finish ONE project, not one shopping trip including purchases for several projects.

10. All other clothing, shoes, and manufactured jewelry must be boxed up and put out of site.

• If you choose to participate again after 3 months is up, you are allowed to swap your items before you begin again.

Well guys, today is October 7, 2010, and I'm 5 days into my first month of the HomeGrown Fashion Project. It's been a little difficult to adjust at first, but I think as time goes by, I'm really going to enjoy this.

Interested in participating? Register for an account here at HomeGrown Fashion and post a comment on this page with your start date. I recommend giving yourself a few weeks to plan, but if you're like, me, you can always jump right in.

I'll be hosting a forum here on HomeGrown Fashion soon too, so I'll edit this post when I get that up and running!

<3,
Megan

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