Sustainability is certainly one of the most common "buzz words" in fashion today. In simplest terms, it's a movement towards fostering real change in the way that fashion is produced & the way garments are made that is mindful of ecological integrity & social justice. The need for a process of this kind truly comes into focus when you consider that the fashion industry accounts for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions & nearly 20% wastewater, having a serious impact on the environment. I'm sure that many of you who read this blog are probably already aware of the rather complex supply chains that make it difficult to truly quantify all of the emissions that come from the creation & purchase of a new pair of shoes or a new dress, not to mention the issues surrounding how clothing is shipped/transported & even how it is disposed of when it either doesn't sell or does sell but is no longer wanted by the consumer, all issues that are exacerbated by the frenetic pace of "all that is fashion" or the fashion industry as a whole... an industry that not only revels in this obsessive need for excess but encourages it with each passing "season" & the need to be "in."
The question then becomes: Can fashion ever truly be sustainable? It's a tough ask & one that I've given quite a lot of thought to over recent months. I suppose that the answer I've come up with is that it's an issue that is much too big for one person to tackle all on their own, so it's up to each of us to try & make better decisions when it comes to what we purchase & where/who we purchase from. Obviously, I'm guilty of making some dodgy purchases over the years from fast fashion brands & labels that are cheap to produce & poorly made, haven't always done my due diligence on whether brands are addressing issues such as waste disposal protocols & living wages for their workers, have made impulse buys that I didn't need to fill an already overflowing closet... & that's okay. We all make mistakes. Tomorrow's another day & I'll try to do better & make more sustainable sartorial choices, ones that will last season after season rather than just for a few wears, ones that are made from ecologically-friendly materials, ones from labels that actually care about the wellbeing of their garment workers both here & abroad. I'll also buy more vintage items that have enjoyed a lifetime with a previous owner, rather than something brand-spanking-new. Moreover, I'll continue to pass along garments that for whatever reason no longer work for me or work in my closet to others who will wear them or who need them by donating them to friends, family or a variety of different charities or even sell them on if necessary; I'll surround myself with likeminded individuals in this regard; I'll keep on championing labels with integrity such as Anthea Crawford, Lee Mathews, Gorman, Selkie & I'll "make do & mend" as much as possible, washing my clothes either by hand or on gentle cycles that extend their lifespan. Honestly, I believe that if we all did these simple things, we could certainly make the sustainable fashion movement far more than just people moving...
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Dress: Lee Mathews cotton poplin
Heels: Kitten D'Amour vegan leather
Bag: Kitten D'Amour woven straw, black vegan leather, beads
Scarf: Gift, vintage silk
Hinged Bangle: Precious Stones Jewellers silver
Cuff: Najo via Precious Stones Jewellers silver
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With the previous paragraphs in mind, I'm sharing pictures of the gorgeous ensemble that I styled up to attend & speak at a recent forum on sustainable fashion from a personal stylist's perspective, sharing some of the above information as well as a few more tips & tricks about becoming more environmentally-friendly without having to make too many seismic shifts in your current lifestyle. For the occasion, I wore an amazing white cotton poplin drop-waist shirtdress with ruffled hemline from Aussie designer Lee Mathews that can be re-worn in a variety of different ways to many different events & is so minimal & classic-with-a-twist that it will be an important part of my wardrobe for years to come, a pair of vintage-inspired vegan leather heels with white toe caps & matching natural woven straw, vegan leather & beaded handle from Kitten D'Amour (a label specialising in small releases & limited edition items, meaning less waste), a vintage Paris-souvenir-scene-printed silk scarf in shades of yellow, white & grey from the 1950s that a dear friend gifted me for my birthday to add a welcome "pop" of colour & finally, an art deco style hinged bangle in the shape of a wave on one arm & a silver tribal cuff by Najo on the other, both from the divine Precious Stones Jewellers, a shop specialising in vintage, antique & repurposed jewellery pieces that will last a lifetime.
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