Labour Behind the Labels - Six Items Challenge - Part 3

There are only a few more days left of the Labour Behind the Label - Six Items Challenge 2020! In today's post we will take a look at the different styling combos, that I have worn over the past five weeks, using just six items of clothing; with a few tips, challenges and interactions that I have come across along the way. 

I have certainly had ups and downs, from thriving to the challenge, to getting a bit bored of the same six items, to feeling amazing that I have managed to completely cut down on the amount of clothes I wear and need; to thinking 'what's the point?' as the Coronavirus lock-down kicked in. It's been an emotional roller-coaster for sure!

The jumpsuit....

I introduced my sixth item (a Lucy & Yak jumpsuit) to the challenge on Day 8. 
Tip 5 - A jumpsuit can be worn on its own, with a top under or over it or even with the sleeves tied round your waist. 

Dressing like a man...

A week into the challenge I realised, I'd started dressing like a man. I don’t mean my style, I mean the way I get dressed....

I started putting on my under garments and socks first before collecting my outfit together! I seriously couldn’t understand why men (ie my husband ) did this so fluidly, until now.

Since my wardrobe is limited to six items, I have less choice to get overwhelmed about. I tend to pre-plan each day to make my limited outfits more varied.

I already know what I am going to wear, rather than thinking “What top am I wearing? Which bra goes best under it? Do I need tights or socks? Which socks?...This looks awful…I have nothing to wear…..waaaa!!!”

I envied men for getting up in the morning and just getting dressed, and mostly still looking good, with no effort or stress! Now, I get it and it’s been quite liberating, to not give a shit!





The bomber jacket...

"Separates make things a little more limited, there are not as many options as with dungarees or dresses. 
I'm also really appreciating being able to wear different coats, this changes up your look, keeping things fresh!" Day 7 

Support....

Please support the Labour Behind the Label Trust to support garments workers around the world in the fight against fast fashion.

Donate to Labour Behind the Label






The dungarees....

Tip 6 - Dungarees can provide many combos - wear tops over the top or underneath or wear the dungaree bib
 (or a single strap) down to create different style options. 

Keep it clean...

Two weeks in I started to struggle to keep my clothes washed/ in circulation, with an aim to keep things fresh (in both senses of the word!).I overcame this by throwing on whatever was clean or available, whenever I needed to. Trying to keep as much pressure off myself as possible to make the challenge more bearable. 

I'd agree that having to wash things more often doesn't have the greatest impact on the planet but since I have certainly reduced the amount of items I have to wash, it balances out. 




The Trousers....

"The challenge has become a way of life for me now, I'm shocked to say I am not looking at the rest of my wardrobe dreaming about when I can wear the rest of my clothes.
 I'm over it"  Day 17.

The accessories......

Keeping things bright, fun and unique in Emotional Waterfall prints & accessories

Engagement....

I have had lots of amazing encouragement, often from strangers, throughout the challenge which has been heartfelt, alongside a handful of nonchalant comments from people not understanding the importance of the challenge or even why it is called a challenge... 

The one thing all of the latter had in common was that they were not interested in fashion, so I understood their doubt, fast fashion is simply not something that enters their world, which in one way, is a good thing; however these people are not the ones I am trying to engage with. 

I really DO follow fashion and I AM part of the problem and I want others who ARE interested in fashion to SLOW DOWN on their consumption and to look into their existing wardrobe – rather than buying yet another new top – to see what new fashion combos they can create, in a bid to help save the planet and support garment workers.

I am doing this challenge and supporting slow fashion to end the fast fashion mindset, not to end fashion, style or creativity. 

Spreading the love of slow fashion is a challenge in itself. It’s really hard to get people to listen and even if they are listening….is it really going in?

All I can do is keep at it….



Thank you so much for your support, it means a great deal! xx

Labour Behind the Labels - Six Items Challenge - Part 2

Things have changed so much since I started the Labour Behind the Label - Six Items challenge only four weeks ago. We are now living in a different world that is alien to us all.

It's hard to continue with daily life when so much has happened in such a small space of time, making other things you are doing seem so irrelevant!

Things that seemed like such a mammoth task a few weeks ago have really been put into perspective.

The six items challenge itself and what it stands for is still just as powerful and relevant as it was, and the importance of the message hasn't changed.

Covid-19 has made us all slow down whether we like it or not but the message to slow down on consumption hasn't been received. The panic buying and selfish hoarding of essential items has made this very clear. We have not learnt our lesson, we are not being kind to each other. Are you still consuming fashion the same way? Albeit, online...??

There is a plus side to all this...

Now that we (literally) have nowhere to go, we could all give the six items challenge a whirl...Find out how here...

I challenge you to get involved, share your six items and let us see how many outfits you can come up with! Let's do this together!

Find out the Top Six Items challenge Tips below...

No Debutante's Six items outfits

Soldiering on with the challenge, here's how I wore it and how I coped in the first week...

I started the challenge with my first items the (Lucy & Yak X Emotional Waterfall) dungarees -  I love these dungarees and everyone knows it - paired with the pink long sleeve top; a late comer to the six items party, replacing a t-shirt at the last minute when I realised I was gonna get cold and needed more warm layers. Outfit one complete!

Day two introduced the Kuccia bomber jacket, a stalwart in the No Debutante wardrobe, it was obviously in my six items, wore this sexy piece layered over the dungarees, long sleeve pink top worn underneath. One outfit three items...keep up!

Day three welcomed the cuddly pink hoodie and the polka-dot trousers to the game. Items four and five. I actually wore this outfit to the Greta Thunberg climate strike in Bristol. REPRESENT! The outfit was hidden away under waterproofs, so I wore the same outfit again the next day as nobody saw it! Boom!

.....Don't worry, I am not going to do a rundown of all the items every day like a charts countdown, from here on in there will be tips and new outfit combos only, plus we haven't even clapped eyes on Item Six yet....(unless you follow me on instagram that is!).




No Debutante's Six Items Tips

Tip 1  -  Get comfy and wear your PJ's in the evening, it gives your clothes a chance to air so you don't have to wash them so frequently.

Tip 2 - Hang your clothes up after wearing them for the same reasons as above and to keep the creases out of them.

Tip 3 - Accessories are your best friend during this challenge, they can continuously transform the same outfit! Get creative!

Tip 4 - Underwear as outerwear - only for the brave....I wore a sports bra top underneath my dungarees on a night out..Technically, it isn't cheating as underwear is not included as one of the six items! I was very pleased with myself and things seemed to be going well....until.....

Six Items Accident - Pink top one (right & centre) pink top two (right) 

The Six Items accident!

Just four days in and things start to go wrong...I seriously am one of the clumsiest people I know....Somehow I managed to get permanent marker splodged right in the middle of the pink top!? I have no idea how and when this happened! I tried to Vanish the stain away but that was an epic fail, just like my six items challenge was becoming...just four days in though???  Fuming!

I had worn the top for the rest of the day after getting the stain on it, thinking nobody would notice, but three people independently told me I had a stain on my top, that was the last straw!

I know I shouldn't care about such a small thing but I'm wearing just six items for six weeks (if I can manage not to ruin them all) for my sanity and my confidence I would rather not be wearing shabby, stained clothes for six weeks, so I 'fessed up and put the question out asking the insta community what I should do...

One suggestion was to applique something over the stain and another to dye the top, both good ideas but..I didn't want to ruin my top anymore with dodgy amendments  - which they would be - plus I will still wear this top, just not as a separate - so due to a lack of time and creativity at this point, and being so early on in the challenge, I decided to swap my pink top for another - very similar - pink top I found in my husbands wardrobe.

It looks pretty much identical (see photos above) just with slightly different print placements. This is not a new item and it will be the pink top that will be worn for the following six weeks of the challenge, I felt justified, I hadn't failed and, to be honest, I was over it pretty quickly....Item six to be revealed in the next post...



A little heartfelt request.....


Please, in these mad times, don't let boredom take hold of you and start carelessly buying fast fashion online to cheer yourself up, lets fight fast fashion (and coronavirus) together & get equal rights for those garment workers around the world too. Why not put your time to better use and try out the six items challenge??

Please support & get involved.

Donate to Labour Behind the Label

#sixitemschallenge

Taking on Labour Behind the Labels - Six Items Challenge

Seriously?? How long can this fashionista cope with only six items of clothing for six weeks?

Well, it turns out nearly three weeks and counting...I know, I'm as shocked as you are!




What is The Six Items Challenge? 

For those of you who haven't been following my story on Instagram and Facebook, here's the lowdown...

The Six Items Challenge was started by Labour Behind the Label a campaign organisation working to improve working conditions for garment workers around the globe.

The six items challenge asks you to pledge to wear just six items of clothing for six weeks. 

The six items includes tops, jumpers, dresses, skirts, trousers, jumpsuits - basically any item that constructs your main outfit. 

There is however, a little piece of happiness included in the challenge that makes it a bit more bearable for any fashion lover to achieve....the challenge doesn't include underwear (the most frequently asked question and rightly so) sleepwear, gym clothes, uniforms, coats, shoes or accessories - and lucky for me, I love accessories, so that's a plus point! 

Why take part in the Six Items Challenge? 

Apart from helping to raise awareness and money for garment workers, the challenge makes you stop and look at your own wardrobe and your consuming habits. 

It limits the amount of clothing you can wear down to a small capsule wardrobe to hopefully help you see that you don't need to buy new clothes all the time, and that you can create lots of new and fresh looks using items already in your wardrobe. It could save you some money too! 

This challenge is aimed at fast fashion consumers and fashion lovers, if you already have a basic capsule wardrobe, good for you, please try and encourage others to get involved in the challenge! 

How did I get involved? 

I have been promoting sustainable fashion for a few years and in the past year I have slowed right down with my own shopping habits and tried to live more sustainably. 

However, I have so many clothes to choose from (I am also a hoarder) that this really is a big challenge for me personally, to limit my wardrobe down to just six items for six whole weeks seems completely impossible!!

Labour Behind the Label's director of fundraising Caroline Lewis suggested I give the challenge a go....

I pondered over it for a couple of weeks and came to the decision that I could, at least, try. 

What did I have to lose?  At the very least I could raise awareness for Labour Behind the Label and the work that they do and challenge myself to see how long I could last. I'll be honest, my hopes weren't high....

On the positive side, I am hoping to share styling tips, problems that I have overcome and info on how to cope with a capsule wardrobe for six weeks; to encourage others to slow down on their mass consuming and look at their existing wardrobe in a new way.

All photos are little snippets of the six items challenge garms & outfits I have worn. Find out more in the next blog post!  

The Challenge...

On the eve of the challenge, which started on Wednesday, February 26, I still had no idea what my six items would be (this isn't going too well so far, is it?) but last minute, I had the brainwave to look at my Instagram photo wall for inspirational purposes and see which items I wore the most....

I had also been given a few of pieces of advice from others who had tried (and some failed - which filled me with terror) to take part in the challenge....

Tip 1 - It's still the winter, you need warm clothes - check!
Tip 2 - Do not choose just separates (tops and bottoms) you will get bored very quickly - check!
Tip 3 - Choose items you can layer up in different combos - check!
Tip 4 - Dresses and jumpsuits are a single outfit in one - check!

Taking all this into consideration, and the fact that I was desperately running out of time, I choose my six items...all smothered in prints and fun colours, of course! 

My Six Items 

1. Bomber jacket 
2. Long sleeve t-shirt
3. Jumpsuit 
4. Dungarees
5. Oversized hoodie
6. Trousers 

Take a good look at these clothes...you're going to be seeing a lot of them....

And...I'm locked in to the challenge.....

Follow my daily updates on how to style up your six items with tips and problems I come across on Instagram, Facebook and here on the blog. 

Oh, one more thing....

Donate

It's not just a challenge for me, you can help too!

When I started the challenge I donated some money to the Labour Behind the Label Trust to help garment workers and have been asking others to donate too.

Here's that link again in case you missed it Donate to Labour Behind the Labour Trust

You can donate as little as a £1 or whatever you can afford, a one off payment! There's no sign up, you just pay and go! Instead of buying that new top why not donate? 

Just bought something new? If you donate some money to Labour Behind the Label too perhaps that money will go to help the right people that made the item in the first place rather than the fashion corporate's pockets.....It's something to think about.....


#sixitemschallenge 

The Future of Fashion - Supporting sustainable fashion in 2020

How can you support sustainable fashion?

It's not all about wearing eco-friendly clothing, neither does it mean the death of fashion, it's about making a change to the way you shop and bringing an end to fast fashion. 

It was overwhelming to see so many local, sustainable fashion supporters come along to the Future of Fashion event at Beyond Retro Bristol in December.

I was honoured to be involved in this very special project, collaborating with vintage fashion legends, Beyond Retro, representing both Bristol24/7 and the No Debutante blog; bringing local fashionistas, designers and makers together to share our knowledge and experiences on how to go sustainable in 2020.

The fashion panel included  Joh Rindom, founder of independent fashion store That Thing, local artist and jewellery maker, Sophie Filomena, upcycling fashion designer Emma White from Duvet Days, Amelia Twine from sustainable fashion platform Give Wear Love: and featured an inspiring talk from caped crusader Cat Jameson, founder of rainwear brand Carny Valley.

Sustainable fashion supporters attend the Future of Fashion event at Beyond Retro Bristol

It was inspiring to have these amazing women join us and really get involved with the subject of sustainability in fashion and the directions we need to take going forward. Each panel member had their own views, ideas and experiences on how we can all make a change, not just within the fashion industry but in our lifestyles too.

The main aim for the Future of Fashion event was to share knowledge on what is happening within the fast fashion industry and offer ideas on more sustainable alternatives.

 By supporting local and independent businesses, buying pre-worn clothes and pre-owned items (from fashion to furniture) from charity and vintage shops and generally slowing down our consumption, we can put an end to wasteful, mass production.

If we start to change our own mentalities towards shopping we could make a big impact on the way the fashion industry works. If you slow down, the fashion industry will have to follow...

Support sustainability events in your local area 

You can make a start by asking yourself whilst shopping....

Do I really need it? 
Do I really like it? 
Is it good quality and will it last? 

The more sustainably conscious among us will also ask:
How did it get here and why is it so cheap? 

One thing you can be sure of, if an item is being sold at a crazy low price, it didn't get where it is sustainably...

Although the Future of Fashion event was an extremely positive and knowledgeable experience that I hope to continue in future meet ups, it did make a few of us feel like we were preaching to the converted, as nearly everyone who had come along were already sustainability supporters.

So how do we get the knowledge out to the people who aren't actively looking for ways to change? How do we attract those fast fashion shoppers who shop til they drop and are, consciously or not, supporting mass production and the distruction of our planet?

Supporting sustainable fashion isn't just a movement or the latest fad, it's a serious change that every single one of us needs to get involved in, right now!

Organising more sustainable fashion events around the city is a good place to start but would the majority of the consumers we are trying to attract, actively seek out or attend these events? I'm not convinced...

If you can't make the people come to a sustainable fashion event, take the sustainable fashion event to the people!

The Future of Fashion event was a collaboration between Beyond Retro, Bristol 24/7 and the No Debutante blog

Holding sustainable fashion events right in the heart of the city centre has to be the way to go. We want to catch those fast fashion lovers in full shop, on their own turf  - their local shopping centre and high streets.

This has already been trialled and tested here in Bristol by Creative Youth Network who put on an upcycled fashion show in the Cabot Circus shopping centre at Christmas time, grabbing the attention of the high street lovers mid-shop, by telling them what is happening in the fashion industry and how they can make a change.  In my opinion, it was an ingenious idea from CYN! 

Similarly, Extinction Rebellion took over a busy high street with their impromptu sustainable fashion show - Distrupt the Circus of Excess - in Bristol last summer. The fashion revolution has already begun, we just need more people behind it! 

To be clear, I am not trying to get all of these high street shops closed down, I just want the corporates to realise why they need to change. We want to save the planet and by joining us in making a change they could possibly save their businesses too....When the fast fashion backlash really kicks in, and it will, they'll need to be on the right side of it to survive.

The sad thing is the high street is also competing with the millions of fast fashion online shops. Pushed into dropping their prices to keep their customers, at the cost of the quality of their products and their reputation.

Who is to blame and how did we get to this point? Is it the corporate fast fashion pushers telling us to buy, buy,buy or the greedy consumers who are demanding new and cheap fashion items around the clock?  It's a bit of a chicken and the egg situation isn't it?

Local designers Sophie Filomena (left) and Carny Valley (right) pop-up at The Future of Fashion event

Back at the FOF event, Sophie Filomena expressed a big interest in encouraging indie markets into shopping malls after running a stall at the Cabot Circus shopping centre this year. 

"Instead of feeling alienated by this new group of potential customers I was positively elated by the praise and love the high street shoppers gave about my work. They told me they had never seen anything like it and loved the whole indie market idea!". Sophie Filomena - artist and maker

It's not that fast fashion shoppers prefer the high street (although those crazy low prices are bound to entice every shopper who is looking for a bargain) most shoppers just aren't exposed to indie makers work and there is no wonder..

"There is no way any indies could afford to sell on the high street as the rents are so ridiculously high. Why doesn't the council consider leasing out all those empty buildings to independents and supporting local?". Joh Rindom founder of That Thing

Joh certainly has a point, there are parts of the Bristol city centre (and every town and city in the UK) with empty buildings just standing dormant, rotting and waiting for another coffee shop chain to move in.

Local businesses and magazines like Bristol24/7 do what they can to support independents and startups but despite our thriving creativity, that is recognised worldwide, this city seems more interested in gentrifying and opening another corporate chain over keeping things local, independent and supporting our own economy.

How brilliant would it be to introduce independent designers and businesses to the high street and  throw a sustainable Bristol Fashion Week, all supported by the local council? It's food for thought...

Going sustainable in 2020 - The Future of Fashion event poster

With plans already in motion to hold an independently run Green Bristol Fashion Week, Give Wear Love founder Amelia Twine is big on changing the future of fashion as soon as possible.

Inspired to set up her own sustainable fashion platform after finding it hard to buy sustainably and ethically made fashions, Amelia's online store offers sustainable garms made by small, independent fashion brands who use ethical and slow fashion practises.

Feeling she could still do more, Amelia has now taken the bold step to only sell garments made from pre-loved and upcycled fabrics.

"Making any new garments from new fabrics, no matter how sustainable and organic they are, is still adding to the problem" Amelia Twine - Give Wear Love

As a designer myself, who has been struggling with sustainability focus over creativity and IS currently using new fabrics to create new garments, no matter how much I reuse many of my fabric scraps, organic fabrics and keep manufacturing local, I know, in the long run, Amelia is right!

Over time I have become inspired to introduce more sustainable practices into my design work and, I'm pleased to say, new ideas have since been formed!...But that's another story which I will discuss on the blog very soon....

Emma White from Duvet Days hit the upcycling nail on the head, by repurposing retro duvets into super cool new pieces.

"It's not that easy making new garments from clothing that already exists, the fabric samples are so small to work with and you are limited to what you can create. Upcycling duvets gives you more freedom as you have large pieces of fabric to work with, making new garments whilst remaining sustainable". Emma White - Duvet Days 

Cat Jameson from Carny Valley disusses running a fashion brand sustainably

Cat Jameson from Carny Valley Capes gave a short talk at the FOF event, introducing her innovative rain capes whilst sharing the problems she faces as a fashion designer and sustainability supporter.

 "I struggled and tried to be as sustainable and right as I could without it stopping my business from functioning". Cat Jameson - Carny Valley Capes

Cat and Amelia both spoke about creating circular economies, keeping resources in use for as long as possible, cutting down on our carbon footprint in distribution and creating less waste and pollution; in contrast to the make/use/dispose process that is currently happening within the fast fashion industry.

In contadiction, even with the best intentions, making changes may also have a knock on effect within the fashion industry. Research shows that ending certain practises within the fashion chain can actually make things worse in other areas!

If, for example, we stopped creating new fabrics and shut down all the factories, even for sustainable organic fabrics, it would be very good for the environment but in contrast, a whole town  - that for generations, have relied on these factories for work and income - could lose their industry, ruining their local economy. We need to get the balance right.....

Campaigns like Labour Behind The Label and Fashion Revolution are trying to support these circular economy's by making things work for everyone involved in the chain. These incredible campaigns cannot support these issues alone and need more help, funding and cooperation from the big businesses involved to make a significant change.

So, go support these campaigns AND make a change to the way you shop. If we all recognised that something needs to change then we can all make a difference together! 

I was asked an interesting question at the FOF event about the people who rely on low prices to be able to afford new clothes and how putting an end to fast fashion might affect them. 

Agreed, more sustainable processes would put the prices up but it isn't about making things more expensive, it's about changing your mind-set, we all need to shop less. 

If you are buying less and the prices have gone up a bit, things should balance out AND if the prices have gone up so will the quality, meaning your garments will last longer. 

We need to stop this throw away fashion mentality, choose wisely and keep items for longer.
The best thing I ever did was stop following fashion trends which is the worst culprit for encouraging throw away fashion. I buy clothes because I like them or need them, not to be seen in the next big thing for a wear once instagram post! 

Another good tip is to recreate favourite looks using your existing wardrobe rather than constantly updating your wardrobe to stay current. It's all about the styling, get creative!

As I've said before I am not telling you to stop following fashion or to stop buying new things, you can still get that fashion fix by putting this advice into practise.

• Buy less 
• Stop following trends
• Shop when you need to
• Buy good quality items that will last a lifetime
• Find local, independent fashion shops and designers
• Buy vintage and hunt for pre-loved charity shop gems
• Rework your existing wardrobe by upcycling and learning to sew and mend
• Create new looks using accessories
• Update your wardrobe by swapping clothes with friends or at clothes swap events

In conclusion, It is amazing that so many of us are getting involved in supporting slow fashion with an aim to encourage sustainability and change the way the current fashion industry runs. Events like the Future of Fashion bring people together, to share ideas and solve problems. We need to get this important message out there and the way to make a change is in numbers.We all want the same outcome, to save the planet.  Join us.


SUPPORT SLOW FASHION!



Read No Debutante's articles as fashion editor for Bristol24/7 

Follow No Debutante on Instagram 

Organic Basics: a sustainable alternative to activewear

As a big supporter of sustainable and ethical fashion I was happy to try out these activewear garms for Organic Basics.

Using carefully selected, environmentally friendly fabrics and factories that care about their impact on the planet, Organic Basics are so transparent at every step of production.  I like the way they have so much info on their website about the fabrics they use and the family-run factories they work with too. They really have put the effort and time in to be as sustainably conscious as they can. 

There are some great insights into the factories from using recycled nylon threads to create their SilverTech™ Activewear and one factory repurposing all of their fabric scraps as furniture upholstery, which is a rather good idea, isn't it? 

Organic Basics aim to create products that will last. Their range is minimal yet contemporary and graphic, with a softer more natural focus on activewear with less go-faster stripes and a more basic 90s Calvin Klein ad aesthetic, which isn't a bad thing.

Offering incredibly soft and comfortable fabrics (that are sustainably made remember!) on a range of underwear and activewear pieces in basic black, white and muted shades in taupe, burgundy and soft greys, there really is something for everyone, well adults!

From triangle shaped soft bras, seamless bodysuits, vest tops, sports crop tops (my fave) and pants...

Oh my gosh, I just cannot bear the word briefs, I know, I know that's what most retailers call them but I just can't do it or knickers! That's even worse...! If I say pants that's what I mean. If you are American then pants means a totally different thing again.....I digress.

There are also t-shirts, active leggings, cycle shorts and sports socks. The latter making frequent appearances here at No Debutante over the years and I still love them! They were a no-brainer for my selection of the Organic Basics range.

My chosen item after the sports socks was the SilverTech™ Active Workout Bra. 

The first reason is that I love crop top shaped vests and the second is I need a new sports bra to wear running and for yoga (and hopefully encourage me to do more of this active stuff!).  This super soft but durable work out bra, which it made from 89% recycled nylon, is also breathable and doesn't need washing as often either! It's proper comfy too! 

Thanks to Organic Basics for reaching out to a fellow sustainable fashion supporter and if you lovely lot want a piece of Organic Basics goodness add EMMAGOB to your order for a sweet 10% discount*


Together we can keep spreading the sustainable fashion word, to slow fashion right down and help save the planet. Right on sistas and bruvvas!

*the Organic Basics X No Debutante code is valid until 17 Dec 2019

The death of fashion....as we know it

Pioneering fashion designer Vivienne Westwood - Photograph by Justin Sutcliffe

What is a fashion designer?

"a person who designs high-fashion clothing."

Fashion has always been about the latest trends or the next big thing..... then we got greedy.

The more that was on offer, the more we wanted until we ended up where we are now. Up to our necks in fast fashion waste!

Until about 10 years ago, it was all about following the corporate fashion designers seasonal trends. This was a big enough problem as we were encouraged to update our wardrobes to meet the current seasons colours, shapes and must have items.

Now, we now have mid season and pre-collections with some brands dropping weekly limited edition pieces at extortionate prices. This in turn influences the high street and the smaller brands.

Every day the high street fills itself up with more fast fashion products competing with online stores to have the latest items available, (often the same sort of turfed out fast fashion is seen from shop to shop), all made super quickly and sold mega cheap, on a buy now and throw away later ethos! It is complete madness!

Shocking fast Fashion waste - istock image/justhavealook

How can supporting independent designers help slow fashion?

Despite the big, and rightly so, fast fashion backlash, we should still all be free to create.
There should be no stigma attached to somebody wanting to become a fashion designer or run their own fashion brand.

Most independent fashion designers and makers are not in it to make lots of money. They want to create and aspire to be able to become successful enough to start up their own small business, instead of working the 9 to 5, only creating in their spare time.

Independent fashion designers and makers work super hard to achieve their ambitions with a passion to create beautiful things!

An independent designer will make small capsule collections, often by hand, collections of limited editions on a tiny scale, reducing the amount of waste used and if you buy independent, you are supporting slow fashion too!

There are many amazing independent fashion designers and makers out there but we also have the independent brands, which is slightly different and could be seen as a problem.

The extremely hardworking , Bristol fashion designer Joh Rindom from independent streetwear brand & shop - That Thing  who also support other sustainable & independent UK Brands. 

What is a brand?

"a product or item made by a famous maker or manufacturer, as opposed to by a generic manufacturer."

The name brand is thrown around and used quite differently nowadays, it's not about making it in the fashion world until you have a recognisable logo.

The word brand can be used if you are creating a range of products, often starting with a logo or signature motif, whether you are a collective of designers or a single designer. Sometimes fashion design doesn't even come into it and it's all about the graphical content.

The worrying thing is that many independent fashion brands are influenced by the big corporates, with a drive to be very successful, even famous. Is it such a great thing to aspire to being just like the fast fashion corporate brands? Everyone is influenced by something right? It's a fine line....

There are many new brands that go straight for the marketing angle, creativity barely comes into it and a background in business is the top priority. By designing basic logos and graphics, many of these forward-thinking brands print them onto ready made tshirts and streetwear items.

They have already considered their marketing plan before designing a single product. Sharing images of bright young things and influencers wearing their (often quite basic) collection of products, promoting themselves on Instagram or Depop as the next big thing.

Many of these brands have an entrepreneurial focus, they haven't come from fashion school and neither do they have a degree in graphic design, they've just decided to do it.

As a fashion journalist, I see so much of this and I often think to myself, but where's the creativity?

You'd have to agree their aspiration (to conquer the fast fashion world!) isn't quite where it should be but they have considered their marketing strategies, it's impressive. In comparison, I've seen amazingly creative and unique designers fall flat as they just haven't considered any marketing plan at all, which means that not enough consumers are getting to see their amazing creations!

There is still some work needed to convince the new independent fashion brands to consider using more sustainable and slow fashion alternatives but at least they've tried to go out there and create something for themselves.

Cat Jameson from sustainable raincape business Carny Valley

There is no harm in starting up a new fashion brand if you are producing a slow fashion product, on small runs. I would support an independent brand over a fast fashion corporate any day!

The only problem is there are so many new brands starting all the time, with Instagram and Depop having a big influence. These days if you are pretty savvy on social media you could end up making a living out of it. This is the dream...

However, this is very different from the way an independent fashion designer works.

Looking at this practically and not strategically, a fashion brand is likely to print and embroider onto ready made sourced items like t-shirts and sweatshirts, they will have a logo and basic graphics and after choosing colourways and print placements, they use their amazing marketing skills to sell their products.

A fashion designer creates their own garments from scratch and often hand makes a whole collection using a selection of fabrics. They are very hands on and understand how to construct a garment and make limited small runs of each collection, with a few one off pieces added ad-hoc. The marketing side often comes in second place but is still extra work on top of all that making and creating. 

A fairly new term that has made it onto the fashion circuit is Cut and Sew. Often used by a brand that has started experimenting with creating their own garments and patterns, bringing a bit more personality and variation, even more creativity into their collections. Again, a Cut and Sew brand will probably still get these ranges made up for them after the initial sample patterns are decided.

Lulu Harrison from Balulu in Bristol upcycles fun garments from vintage Indian bedsheets

There is no right or wrong here...

After establishing what type or designer or brand you are, the big main focus needs to be to make sure you are not contributing to fast fashion. This is a hard one to swallow as anyone creating more fashion products is instantly contributing to the over-flowing fashion mess.

Even if you are the most sustainable and ethical t-shirt brand out there, that's one more t-shirt being created and put out. How can we justify this?

We can't as such, but we can change the mind of the consumers themselves and this is where all independent fashion designers and brands need to start.

Fashion doesn't need to stop, it needs to change. We still need clothes and sometimes we need to buy new clothes!

Helen Brown (left) from Kecks Clothing & No Debutante at a fashion salvage event at BTR in 2015 - Image courtesy of BTR

If you are a fashion brand, don't aim to be the next big thing, by mass producing and contributing to fast fashion, slow things down! Make sure your products are good quality and are built to last. Use ethically and sustainably made t-shirts, print very small, slow fashion runs, promote sustainability and slow fashion.

Too often I have seen a new brand get up to 100 t-shirts printed up only to sell about 10 of them, often to friends. I dread to think what happened to the rest! Start small....

If you are an ethical fashion brand, you have already considered most of the above (well done you!) but make sure your print designs are interesting and unique, as printing a logo onto a sustainably made t-shirt isn't really that much better than fast fashion, you are not contributing anything new.

It is a great thing that you are supporting sustainable and ethical fashion but don't wear it as a badge. Keeping things creative and fresh is key.

A selection of independent Bristol designers and brands at The Island Christmas shop 2018

If you are reading this as a consumer consider the following....

Support slow fashion. Support sustainable. Support independent. Support local.

Watch this space to read my next blog post to find out more on how to be more sustainable as both a designer, a brand and a consumer! 

Read more:  How I became a slow fashion blogger