THE CURRENT STATE OF FASHION

Generally speaking, most would think of fashion as beautiful. We save to buy precious jewellery and handbags, or feel a million bucks when we’re wearing our favourite jeans or LBD. Furthermore, fashion has the power to reflect how we feel about ourselves and our bodies and can also be an extension of our personality. This is some power!

It’s such a shame and somewhat ironic then, that the very thing that can make us feel “beautiful” is having the opposite effect on our planet.

The fashion & the textiles industry is the second worst industry for polluting our planet and that’s behind oil... not the kind of accomplishment you’d want to brag about.

Every stage in a garment’s life threatens our planet and its resources. Did you know that it can take more than 20,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of cotton (which is the equivalent of a single t-shirt and pair of jeans)? Or that up to 8,000 different chemicals are used to turn raw materials into clothes? THEN to make things worse, when clothing doesn’t sell in store, it is likely to end up in giant landfills… craziness!

Now multiply the practices above with the fact that around the world, consumers are buying more clothing than ever before + discarding it quicker than ever before (yes even more landfill)… and I’m sure you can start to see why there’s a problem with this picture.

Clothes are cheaper = we buy more = we value them less = we dispose of them quicker.

It wasn’t that long ago, that people would buy one new coat and wear it for 10+ years. These days people replace their whole wardrobe with every season and generally for the same price as that one coat.

This is not a phenomenon, it’s a culture. A culture that has been cultivating since the late 1990’s with the help of globalization. This was the era when value and midprice brands started looking for new ways to increase their profit margins and started moving the bulk of their production to the developing world where where wages were cheaper and labour laws could be exploited. Being able to produce more for cheaper, meant consumers could buy more for less. Seems like a great result, however over time the demand has become so large that factory workers are working on minimal deadlines and for minimal pay, sometimes in excruciating conditions and being horribly exploited – even children!

Of course not all factories treat their staff like this, but there are many that do… it’s very sad and inhumane, which is why it’s important to consider who makes your clothes and appreciate exactly what goes into each item that you wear. Equally as important is demanding transparency from brands and supporting the good guys who ARE doing the right thing by our global communities and not taking advantage of desperate men, women and children for the sake of their profit margins.

Calling for sustainability in fashion is not just about reversing the damage it has on our environment, it’s about protecting others from being exploited and protecting their families too.

On April 24th 2013, 1134 innocent garment workers lost their lives and a further 2500 were injured, when an eight-story building collapsed in Dhaka three years ago. This tragedy was not caused by an earthquake or a terrorist attack, but rather by poor construction and the growing global desire for more cheap fashion. This shocking event shed light on the reality of the impact of fast fashion, consequently starting a global conversation about the social responsibility of clothing companies.

“Rana Plaza highlighted the thirst for profit at the expense of safety and fair pay in Bangladesh, it also started a conversation about the impacts of a global fashion industry with a long, complex and suspiciously secretive supply chain. Forced labour in Uzbek cotton fields, toxins in the tanning yards in Bangladesh, cancer from cotton pesticides in India and the millions of workers exploited at cheap wages working long hours – the developing world is wearing the weight of our clothing on its shoulders.” Goodonyou.org.au

SAVE THE DATE

Since the Rana Plaza collapse, a global organization called Fashion Revolution calls on thousands of people from all over the world to engage in their #WhoMakesMyClothes campaign. It’s a very simple and a great way to lend your voice to something that matters. It’s also a great initiative to encourage the conversation and call on transparency from our brands, ultimately encouraging change and preventing similar tragedies in the future. Check out their website for more details http://fashionrevolution.org

START YOUR SUSTAINABLE JOURNEY FROM TOP TO TOE

One of the easiest ways to start making a difference yourself, is to redirect your buying habits and cast your vote with your money. This is one of the most powerful tools that we (as the consumers) have. Buy from brands that take their social responsibility seriously and have our planet, our communities and ultimate YOU at the core of their value system. There are loads of great brands out there and loads of choice for you, so I’m going to start shedding some light on how you can buy sustainable brands from top to toe!

BODY: Weleda

Sustainable, genuinely natural, top quality ingredients are at the heart of Weleda and has been for over 9 decades. First founded in Switzerland in 1921, with a mission to be in harmony with nature and the human being, Waleda now provide an extensive range of natural and organic products for: face, body, oral, deodorants, toothpastes, bath & shower, mother and baby care and natural medicines. All are top quality and entirely free from synthetic ingredients – it’s the stuff you want have in the cupboard not only for yourself, but for your family.

FACE: AvantAge

Harnessing the power of nature, AvantAge uses naturally sourced ingredients such as hibiscus, plant based collagen, apple seed extract and grapeseed oil to protect against cell damage and enhance skin renewal without using invasive techniques. I am SO into the gentle and natural approach to skincare, especially after learning what kinds of nasties are in all the other stuff. This product is safe and kind to your health, as well as giving you fantastic results.

BEAUTY: Lisa Franklin Luminescent Base

Respected London-based skincare specialist Lisa Franklin knows that everyone can have beautiful, radiant skin. With that in mind, the worlds of worlds of skincare, science and makeup have been blended seamlessly to introduce Lisa Franklin’s Pro-Effect Luminescent Base, the first in a range of skincare and cosmetic products creating flawless complexion and transforming skin quality instantly. Scientific research combined with impeccably sourced sustainable ingredients lies at the heart of the brand ethos and extends to the smart bio-degradable packaging. If you’re in London, treat yourself to a facial with Lisa also – she’s brilliant, knowledgeable, gets results and also LOVELY. My only warning with this product is... it’s addictive!

WEAR: Bon Label

Bon is an Australian label which exists to provide women with luxury everyday pieces which are casual, effortless and elegant and brought to life in the most ethical way. All bon garments are ethically made in Australia in a well-equipped, comfortable environment where all employees are safe, happy and paid commensurately for their considerable dress-making skills and attention to detail. As a result, the entire bon production process is ethical and sustainable, including -

100% GOTS certified organic cotton
Fully ACO certified (Australian Certified Organic) knitters, dye-house and factory
100% Australian made and ECA accredited (Ethical Clothing Australia)

Additionally, the bon studio uses 100% renewable energy, local printing and recycled and/or sustainable Australian paper and recyclable packaging wherever possible. Additional measures include recycling and/or donating samples and seconds to charity and recycling all other studio materials. I LOVE these guys! Not only are their collections unbelievably soft & cosy, they look great and wash well too.

SCENT: Miller Harris

Candle: Tangerine Vert, Eau De Parfum: Vetiver Insolent. Both by Miller Harris

Miller Harris breathes colour and life into the classic perfumer’s art, with complex couture fragrances designed to tell vivid urban stories. Such a classy brand with beautiful bottles and honours nature by sourcing the finest raw materials and preserving the delicacy of their ingredients, to create perfumes that combine Parisian elegance with London’s eclectic street styles. More than 60% of sourcing is done with local independent suppliers and products are sold in environmentally friendly packaging. Furthermore, Miller Harris ensure all employees are paid fairly; that up to 20% of energy they used is renewable; and all products are free from nasties. My fav scent – Vetiver Insolent – has been taken hostage by my husband, who also can’t get enough of it. I love a unisex fragrance…it’s like buying 2 for one!

BAG: Abury

Abury is pioneering fashion by combining traditional, old world crafts with avant garde design to create a new luxury with an exciting 21st century twist. Inspired by the intricate craftsmanship of Morocco, Abury creates beautifully handmade products whilst supporting local village communities by facilitating access to education. For every product bought, consumers are involved in Abury's journey towards making a positive change. A listed member of the Ethical Fashion Forum, Abury protects the environment in areas of their production; pay their employees fair wages; have no animal cruelty; recycle 50% of their waste; and have environmentally friendly packaging.

ACCESSORIES: Pembe Club

Imagine a piece of jewellery that could prolong life… Pembe aims to do just that with each piece of jewellery holding that exact message. True to their motto “designed to make a difference” Pembe Club is committed to the conservation of African wildlife, the inspiration behind their design codes. Devastated by the wide spread poaching of wildlife across the African plains, Pembe club hopes to slowly replace the natural forms of tusks, tooths and horns with their hand carved designs. A percentage of all sales is donated to key organisations with a mission to preserve African wildlife.

SHADES: Karmoie

Karmoie is a Norwegian independent eyewear brand born from the desire to combine the world of fashion with a meaningful and life-altering contribution. For every pair of frames sold, a pair of corrective glasses is given to a person in need. Karmoie seeks to excel in every aspect of business, from the quality and unique aesthetic of their frames, to the use of sustainable and animal friendly materials. Integrity is at the heart of the company’s culture. The name Karmoie is drawn from the Sanskrit word karma meaning “action” or “deed” and the French word joie or “joy”. To Karmoie, it is the joy of doing good for others.

REMEMBER: NO ONE IS PERFECT

It’s really important to remember that no one is perfect (I’m certainly not, nor am I pretending to be) and that’s NOT what I’m advocating because it's unrealistic. If I were to ask people to be completely carbon footprint free, I would be isolating the troops before we even go to battle… you can't expect everyone to turn their entire lifestyles (and their families’ lifestyles) upside down on a quest to be perfectly sustainable because that's never going to happen. I would rather give people achievable goals so they don't quit before they start, that way everyone can get involved and help promote change.

I believe that lots of small change on mass, can equate to one BIG change overall.

By engaging the mass public (ultimately the 2.5 billion consumers) to start making small and easy changes to their lifestyle… changes that ARE achievable… we will have a much greater chance of making a difference.

There was a comment on my last post which asked about my own carbon footprint, because I fly all over the world regularly for mine and my husbands work… I hope the above begins to answer this question. Like many other working families, if my husband and I don’t travel for work, we don’t work and subsequently we can’t make money to support our family. We do however make numerous other modifications to our lifestyle (the things that we CAN change) to try and compensate for the things that we can’t. Some of our changes are large and some of them are small but they all count when combined together. Which is my very point:

Do what you can, when you can and I promise this will all help in the big scheme of things… especially if we all unite and make these changes together. It’s much better than being ignorant and not doing anything at all.

Sx

Suit by BALLY - a Positive Luxury Brand #BrandsYouCanTrust www.BALLY.com

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