NO-SPEND NOVEMBER

This November is unlike any other. No, this isn’t going to be a heavily political post. For what is usually a chaotic and consumer-driven month, we’re shifting the focus to something deeper, giving back. From a sustainable fashion standpoint, we’re calling this No-Spend November, a challenge to focus only on the essential and necessary items during the holiday season. Because for many people, fun and fashion take a back seat to simply putting food on the table.

Traditionally, this is the time of year when many companies launch giving-back initiatives, donating to homeless shelters, women’s shelters, domestic violence centers, homeless outreach programs, minority-centric programs, and LGBTQ+ safe spaces. With so many people unemployed or facing the reality of not being able to care for their families during the holidays, it’s important to remember that even those who are used to giving may now be in need of receiving.

So, let’s shift the narrative. Let’s take inventory, not just of our wallets but of our closets. Break everything down into four categories: keep, sell, donate, and trash. I don’t often talk about that fourth category, trash, but it’s important. If your trash pile is larger than the other three, it’s a sign that you’ve been spending frivolously on cheap stuff, respectfully.

If your sell pile is the biggest, it might be time to face facts, you, my friend, are a reseller. And that’s not a bad thing, but it means your wardrobe should be more foundational. Whether or not you’re a good reseller depends on how fast you can move your now “product.” If it sells quickly, keep going. If not, maybe you’re investing in things that look nice but don’t serve you financially or personally.

If your donation pile is overflowing, you might be someone who holds on to clothes for too long, or buys on impulse. Either way, that pile tells a story. This November, make it a movement. Donate to shelters, churches, and humanitarian non-profits with real, local impact. Think winter coats, blankets, shoes, and toys.

And as you give, don’t take on survivor’s guilt for being the exception. Instead, make it a rule to take self-inventory, to give what and when you can, with a cheerful heart and without validation.

On another note, this No-Spend November sparked a diamond dialogue between a fashion friend and me. We were talking about thrift and vintage stores, and how in one trip, you can find everything from SHEIN to vintage CHANEL. It used to be all about location; thrift stores in nicer areas had nicer things. But over the past seven years, that wave has shifted. More people are asking, Where are my donations really going?

This conversation became louder when it was discovered that some thrift stores were selling designer goods out the back door, and pulling high-end items like electronics, jewelry, and designer pieces from the sales floor and reselling them online through sites like eBay or Etsy under ghost accounts. Think ghost kitchens during the pandemic, but for donated goods.

So now, where you donate matters. People are more intentional, they don’t mind driving across town to give to a cause they trust. Because giving back should always feel as good as the intention behind it.

Author’s Note

Written by Tempestt Harmon for FORWHY Memos, November 2025.
This reflection is part of our ongoing dialogue on sustainable fashion, mindful consumption, and community-centered giving.