Can we realistically shop more sustainably?

Since starting to think about writing my dissertation I've thought about a variety of topics and one that I have passion and interest for is sustainability in fashion. I've started my research - this has involved lots of library books and making notes on my phone whilst reading sed library books.

 Many of these books have gone way off topic and I would be honest by saying I've lost interest. But one that really had an impact was 'To Die For - Is fashion wearing out the world' by Lucy Siegel. 

This book covered so many interesting and thought provoking topics -  child labour and cotton picking in Kazakhstan, the hidden cost of cashmere and the impact faux fur is having on the globe. Some of these topics I'd touched on in the past but others were surprising and others rather upsetting. This got me thinking - if I didn't know about these issues (someone working and studying in the industry) then the consumer is even less aware. I began to research more by watching the powerful documentary film 'The True Cost' this and the book brought to my attention - can we as consumers realistically shop sustainably? Are there brands out there that offer ethical and stylish clothing at a good price? 

My Research found that even in 2016 there's still only a very small selection of ethical brands selling clothing both on line and on the high street (the high street offering even less options.)

Yes a small selection of high street brands offer some organic cotton pieces, Zara for instance (I own three t-shirts in various colours) and H&M offer the Conscious collection - but what do we really know about the methods of production these brands use. Yes I'm sure these brands work very hard to ensure code of conduct procedures are in place throughout the supply chain and encourage transparency, but could more be done? 

 Such little Ethical Clothing on the high street means it's very difficult to actually source sustainable clothing, especially at a reasonable price -  price is a definite factor when purchasing clothing along side style and fit. 

The why of the buy (2015) states 'In a buyers market, a market place situation in which there are more sellers than buyers, an excess of supply over demand results in lower prices for consumers. This means that buyers can be more selective of their purchases because there are many choices available to them'. 

Since watching 'The True cost' I have become aware of an ethical/fair trade brand that previously I had little or no knowledge of and that's People Tree. The documentary film followed their founder Safia Minney around many of their factories in the Far East.

People tree (2016) state 'The people we work with have some of the smallest environmental footprints in the world'.

Products are mostly made by hand and they promote organic cotton farming and avoid using harmful chemicals during production. This overall has less impact on the globe and also offers those working in the garment manufacturing industry less chance of developing unhealthy side effects caused by poisonous dyes. The People Tree website states which factories and individuals they work with which gives the consumer the opportunity to find out who is making the clothes they are wearing. 

This does have some side effects, not necessarily negative. For instance production is slower so less goods are made but the goods are better quality which does increases price points - Safia Minney calls this the slow fashion movement something People Tree support.

The customer is always looking for good quality at a good price so can sustainable fashion ever have a huge impact on the fashion industry? Is creating clothing in a sustainable way doable for the rest of the industry?  Or is slow fashion the way forward? 

Lucy Siegel author of To die For teaches us to purchase less clothing at a higher cost. This clothing will be of better quality and therefore last much longer. This would mean buying classic pieces that we will love forever instead of fashion fad pieces we may discard next season. I do love this idea of buying less as it would have less impact on the environment - but Fast fashion is loved by many and changing shopping habits could be difficult. I also worry about the consequences it could have on the economy. 

The fashion industry currently has a domestic market value of 66 billion and according to fashion United (2016) '555,000 people are employed in the fashion, textile and fashion retail industry in the United Kingdom'. This doesn't include fashion production workers in countries all around the world. 

I do however feel that things can and will change, but very slowly. This will hopefully impact those working in garment factories and have a positive lasting impact on the globe. Studying in the industry has given me an insight into what retailers want and that's requiring more information on where their products are being made, which I think can only be a positive. This will hopefully lead to more ethical fashion on the high street, therefore making it easier for us as customers to purchase sustainably. 

Photo source - studiokalumi.com via pinterest

On Instagram

Summer has finally arrived! YAY!
So far I've enjoyed camping, cocktails and trips to both the coast and country. I've also discovered Boomerang, but if you follow on Instagram you'll already know that.

HAPPY SUMMER (and Sunday)!

Weekend Inspiration #12

CATCH

A couple of weekends ago the boyfriend and I ventured to our new local seafood restaurant- Catch. Located in the small village of West Vale, Halifax. I'd researched the menu prior to this visit and was pretty amendment I wanted the Oysters. 
We are pretty lucky actually as its only a 15 minute walk from home which meant we could indulge in both Oysters and wine. I have to say the oysters did not disappoint! I've had oysters at home before but apparently they 'are much more enjoyable when you don't have to prepare them yourself' quoted the boyfriend.
We opted for Cod and Chips for our main, which again was great. There's no photo due to devouring this as soon as my plate hit the table but trust me it looked as good as it tasted. The menu has a great variety of seafood take a peak here. Overall great food in a relaxed, modern and inviting setting.
Catch, we will definitely be back soon for more Oysters and wine - hopefully in the sun and in the lovely courtyard. 

What I learned at a Feminism lecture

Last Friday my sister and I headed to the opening night of the 2016 Bradford Literature Festival. ‘How to be a feminist?’ was the title of the lecture. The guest panel included Mona Eltahawy, Lennie Gooding’s, Sunny Hundal and Ralph Darted. 

I have to say I’ve never really heard of any of these people before but they all brought different opinions on the subject and discussed feminism from different viewpoints.

I’ve always quietly believed in what feminism stands for – equality, integration and an understanding of women’s rights. Friday’s lecture honed in on the phrase ‘Equality and Liberation of Women’. It discussed women from different cultures, religions, countries and cities and how their lives are effected in different ways by feminism.  The topic of the Internet and social media was debated at length. How it gives young individuals the opportunity to discuss feminism and meet like-minded individuals who want to learn about and contribute to one of the key gender political issues of our time. The panel touched on interesting, humorous and serious topics and taught me how feminism is addressed around the world – through both speech and word. 

Publisher Lennie Gooding’s has enriched my reading list with books about feminism and others by interesting and talented females. Columnist and international speaker Mona Eltahawy spoke her mind about religious feminist issues from around the globe. I loved how both men and women could easily analyze a subject that is sometimes hard to discuss, without fear or judgement. 

The lecture ended with audience questions, an interesting one was ‘does class and social background have an influence on your understanding of feminism?’ I often agree that different social classes are more likely to understand the meaning of feminism, due to educational advantages. However I do think that this doesn’t mean you can’t learn about feminism independently - by using sources such as the Internet, books and social media you can gain an understanding of this subject and contribute however you like no matter what social background.

Friday night’s lecture was interesting and insightful and left me wanting to learn more about a very modern and powerful topic.

City of Love

If you follow me on Instagram you will already know that I recently returned from 3 nights in Paris. This is my second visit to the city of love and I couldn't wait to explore Paris again - this time with with Boyfriend in tow.
We decided to stay airbnb on our trip - if you are not aware of airbnb its where local people rent out their home to us tourists. I was a little dubious at first, but staying airbnb was so reasonably priced and we got a 'living in Paris' experience and I would definitely recommend it. Our airbnb (cosy Parisian studio) was located in Buttes-Chaumont a beautiful area full of bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes and more.
With only three days in the city we wanted to see as much as possible, The Eiffel Tower, the lourve, Latin Quarter, Montmartre, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and so much more. Paris is huge and no matter how many times I visit I'm sure there will always be more to see. I love taking the metro which is so easy to navigate, great for getting to places quickly and excellent for people watching - Parisian people are so effortlessly elegant no matter what they wear.
What made my weekend in Paris even more amazing was my wonderful Boyfriend of 10 years PROPOSING!!!! 

Images from the top - The Eiffel Tower and views, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Père Lachaise Cemetery, the Lourve, Jourdain - our local metro stop, Montmartre Flea Market, amazing Snails and 2 kilo of Steak at L'Escargot, Buttes-Chaumont, outfit from my last night in Paris and views from our airbnb.