There is always a tangible hum in the air during fashion week, which can only be affiliated with guests suited up in adventurous combinations that push the boundaries, the excitement of the uncharted designs that are about to expand our imaginations and suppress the bank accounts and the overall societal change looming in the background. Fashion has always been a reflection of the times in which we live in and caves the way for the future yet to come. So with everything currently in the news cycle it is only fitting that our societal issues and starkly prominent in the fashion environment presented to us.
It is an innate passion and determination to keep sustainability at the forefront of her mind which set up Lois Hazel, a brand upon whose foundation is all about providing clothes to a diverse range of woman that are made with care and consideration. Lois admits that she is not perfect but holds herself accountable and continuing to improve and get better with every capsule, something she is achieving with eminence. Some of the sustainable steps that she has already employed are: using hemp fabric (a very sustainable material) and converting to using a GOTS certified organic cotton knit that is made in Melbourne for her jerseys.
. The term ‘greenwashing’ was coined by an environmentalist in the 1980s, relating to misleading media produced by companies to appear more ethically and environmentally aware. Even all these years later, this scheme of profiting off ethical movements is still being conducted today. Not only that, but it is being utilised as a medium to better a brand’s overall image.
It is not a shock that fast fashion is one of the most popular retail experiences for consumers today, with revenue just in Australia expected to rise to 2.1 billion dollars. Obviously, affordable products in a mass produced cycle doesn’t scream ‘sustainable’, leading companies to use their resources to influence consumers to believe otherwise.
Last week a friend of mine announced, mere moments after I brought her up on putting her soft plastic rubbish in the wrong bin, that she doesn’t care because she doesn’t think global warming is an actual thing. Needless to say, I nearly fell off my chair. Aside from the fact that it made me seriously question our friendship when two people can hold such opposing opinions (well it’s really more than just an opinion for me, as climate change dictates how I live each day and seeps into my daily life decision making). It left me wondering how a great deal of people can be so convinced that climate change isn’t just a fictional narrative that most of humankind is currently conversing.
The wool vs synthetics debate has been frequenting in discourse world-wide and many are still unsure. Should we stay with a ‘natural’ fibre or risk all of the environmental havoic that chemically-ridden synthetic clothing may have. We have been entirely led astray by the consumerist shepherd to come to the false assumption that wool is a natural resource that impacts the environment positively, luckily for us we have Emma Håkansson who clarifies a few misconceptions up for us.
Emma also discusses alternative fibres to wool that we can invest in as well as enlightens us to the history of sheep, that made us question farm life as we know it.
Still undecided as to whether to wear wool? Arguments protest that wool is biodegradable, regulates body temperature and is totally ethical as the animal is not slaughtered, just sheared.
There is a common misconception, spread by the wool industry, that wool is a cruelty free material, so long as farmers obey animal welfare laws, and shear their animals carefully. This could not be farther from the truth. Consumers who care about animals have a right to understand the true cost of wool. Click to read how wool cruelty is still standard practice and what alternatives we have available.
Truth: Using recycled precious metals is admirable, but it doesn't solve the global crisis of toxic mercury emissions to our planet and humanity. There is no transparency in the 'dirty' $135 billion dollar gold industry. Consumers rarely have a clear sense of where their gold comes from and the harmful impact of traditional gold mining - both on the environment and the health of 15 million miners around the world (and us!)
What’s the scariest concept your mind could possibly elicit? I’m sure your mind could conjure up a few, going off European history alone. But I’m going to throw out ‘microplastics’ or just ‘plastic’ full stop as my blood-curdling fearful concept of choice. It also happens to be at the pinnacle of my climate change anxiety mind mountain.
Wanting to make a difference to the planet and get warm-fuzzy feelings spread all over? Or obtain the ammunition to gloat amongst a group of friends, to proclaim all the good in the world that you are doing all by your teeny-tiny self? Well rest assured sister, here is the ultimate power-pack of small sustainable tasks that you can incorporate seamlessly into your day, without a hassle or fuss.
Yes the clothes may give off a whiff of unidentifiable scents or more so scents that you’d rather not identify. But you can really find some incredible gems in op shops. Fashion is cyclical, trends pop up over and over again, so rather than splurging a cheeky $2,276 on an oversized Vetements Houndstooth jacket you can stroll over to the men’s department and I’m sure you can spot a similar variety.
The fact is, equality as a concept is so multi-layered and complex. If people are brave enough to contemplate climbing the equality tree it could lead even the toughest of hikers onto a wobbly branch that they wouldn’t feel secure placing their body weight on top of (and before you ask, that wasn’t a reference to consent).
