"Shopping is the elephant in the room"

Emma Gleeson is a decluttering expert and the bestselling author of the brilliant Stuff Happens! Manage you clutter, clear your head & discover what’s really important. Emma’s approach to decluttering is firmly rooted in sustainability and in this episode of The Intentional Mum I discuss with Emma all things decluttering sustainably and why it’s human nature to love stuff.

We talk a lot in this episode about fast fashion and the impact our wardrobes have on is as individuals as well as on people and the environment. Emma started out in theatre and costume design but soon found her interest lay in researching the psychology of shopping and fast fashion and she shares some fascinating insights into the history of PR and marketing.

Emma isn’t a minimalist and her approach isn’t about trying to live without stuff, instead Emma wants us to embrace our love of stuff but in a more conscious way.  Emma’s book is an absolutely brilliant read, and so much more than a guide to decluttering.  Emma gets into the psychology of stuff and why material culture is part of being human.

We chat about snobbery when it comes to sustainability chat and the judgment on parents for things like shopping at Primark during the pandemic. Emma has some brilliant advice about stepping away from the guilt about not being able to afford to buy sustainable items.  It’s more important to be mindful about how you shop and slow down your shopping habits.

I also ask Emma about her process for decluttering with clients and she shares some brilliant tips for making the decluttering process more manageable.

If you are interested in sustainable fashion or feeling anxious about your wardrobe then this episode is for you.

Mentioned in this episode of The Intentional Mum:

• Give Up Yer Aul Tings
• Stuff Happens
• The Environmental Justice Foundation
• Mindful materialism
• Clutter cycles
• Paradox of choice – the more choice you have the less satisfied you are
• Hedonic treadmill
• Edward Bernays
• Hibernating your clothes
• Leaving time in your decluttering for cleaning
• Greenwashing – Amazon and H&M
• UN sustainable development goals
• Recycling and the plastics industry
• Rights for garment workers
• Dealing with sentimental items

You can find Emma at www.emmagleeson.com on Instagram @stuffhappensemma and on Twitter @emgleesondub

Loved this episode? Head over to www.aminimalistmother.com for more intentional living inspiration

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