sustainability part 1: my clothes
at this moment, a lot of life on Earth is in crisis. we are undeniably living in a vulnerable, deeply despairing yet unnervingly exciting time.
the time of cheap profit and selfish gains is at an end.
we each have the burden and the gift of living at such a moment, where every purchase we make creates new patterns of profound and powerful ‘trends’ that will, in effect, turn the tides. our consumer choices are the greatest stand we can make as guardians of the earth. more potent than our political choices, is the financial support we give to corporations who misrepresent our values. these are the veins of our systems and we are the blood. fate, is as much in our hands as it is in our pockets.
it is our sacred responsibility to create consciously, buy consciously and live consciously.
in these changing times, more than ever, we must learn from Nature’s time, immemorial intelligence. nature, after all, is the embodied wisdom of change. the wild earth is the most intelligent system designed to maintain the ecosystem for all life to be sustained upon our precious planet.
we must therefore, work with Nature, to remedy the ruin and reclaim (an interspecies) quality of life.
“…most of the damage we cause to the planet is the result of our own ignorance.”
toward the end of 2018 i had sorted through my wardrobe (something i have been passionate about doing for a few years but not done as consciously as i could as ‘things’ would keep accumulating) and had also been listening to podcasts and watching documentaries all about minimalism and fast fashion.
i would like to think i live the most minimally now than i ever have. as i donated bags and bags of clothing i had been holding onto, i also decided i would buy and consume more consciously and i educated myself across the effects fast fashion particularly has on the environment, as well as issues regarding the way workers are treated in other countries who are the ‘behind the scenes’ of these big, well-known stores.
online shopping has become a gate-way for people to completely over-consume. there is a toxic and peculiar thirst that can never be quenched of needing to buy new clothes too often because of sales, change of season, change of trends etc. as well as social media where if we see someone wearing something we like; we’ve ‘got to have it’.
the turnaround for people throwing out clothes (ending up in landfill) only to replace those clothes with more clothes made from unsustainable and unethical materials and practices is higher than ever. it is a lose-lose considering the amount of money people spend on buying new clothes and accumulating, all the while also often unknowingly supporting extremely unethical work practices for the human beings who made those same clothes.
i decided if i ever did buy again, it would be from smaller businesses run by families or individuals who truly value safe practices for workers, and who value quality, transparency, eco-consciousness and sustainable manufacturing practices.
as a consumer it became top priority for me to acknowledge what i had been feeding into in terms of online shopping, to educate myself and to change my ways. i made it my study project. (which isn’t even a difficult thing because by acknowledging even the privilege of being able to buy online or having so many articles of clothing to donate; it seemed as though only a blindfold was lifted from my eyes. i hadn’t linked the detrimental effects which was harming our environment through the production of these fast fashion companies nor did i ever truly wonder where the clothes were coming from and to who my money was really going.)
the unfortunate truth is that the majority of people aren’t aware of this privilege, or have the awareness. an even more unfortunate truth are those who do, but do not care.
well, it’s time we care.
i highly recommend watching these documentaries if you wish to become more aware and educated on fast fashion because it is relevant to all of us:
the true cost
riverblue
china blue
alex james’ slowing down fast fashion
the next black
i vowed to, through my own individual actions, to consume in a way which would reduce unnecessary impact on other beings and our planet while providing an alternative to mass production and fast fashion.
when i began to really delve into meditation and yoga, the first brand i found was indigo luna who makes beautiful, ethically made yoga wear, swim wear & linen basics. their garments are made in beautiful simple shapes, earthy colours and plant dyes from recycled or organic materials and their collections are purposely created in small, sustainable runs so their goal is actually to run out of stock and if a piece of clothing is ‘out’ of a particular size, they will take take to make that individual piece for you. it is mindful and intentional.
everything of theirs is cut, sewn and dyed by loving human hand, and every person involved in production works in comfortable, safe conditions on the island of Bali.
i have always loved wearing quite neutral, earthy colours and have inherited a couple pair of hemp and linen pants from my mama and the look of clothing that is ethically made with simplicity in mind such as indigo luna and other brands i will mention reminds me of thoughtful scandinavian style. the minimalism of it is really a philosophy across not just fashion but art, mindset and lifestyle.
they also have a range of intimates which i love and wear myself. they are so soft and gentle against my skin, are so breathable and their eucalyptus intimates (just like their yoga wear & long sleeves) are dyed using 100% plant dyes (eucalyptus, turmeric, beetroot, dandelion etc.), creating natural colours directly from nature with all run-off and waste being organic or compostable.
i also find that all articles of clothing i have got from them simply stay clean. i have found in previous years wearing sports gear from big brands that after just one work out where i may not even have sweat that much or simply after a run, my tights or sports bras are smelly. this seemed normal so i would just wash them but i didn’t realise that by washing them more frequently, their quality was diminishing and as a sufferer of chronic eczema the material of them didn’t feel right on my skin. simply put i found that clothing especially tights that are made from organic cotton and do not hold any harmful chemicals and are plant-dyed, last much longer and always smell clean. of course i wash them, but i find i can wear the same yoga tights over three days in a row and they’re still good as new.
i find with the care taken to make these clothing pieces whether it be hemp, linen or these organic cotton pieces, i have adopted a more sustainable way of taking care of them too. it may sound silly but i truly honour them because i know they were made almost specifically for me, to order, by the hands of someone who took great care and consideration and were doing what they loved. i hand-wash all my clothing when i need to with organic, plant-based zero-waste soaps with no harmful chemicals and i allow them to dry in the natural sunlight and the wind rather than the dryer that uses so much electricity it’s ridiculous!
i eat plant-based and i like to nourish my body really from the inside out, but to take pride in my clothing and feel good in what i am wearing knowing that what i dress myself with is also in align with my values of sustainability, is ethical and cruelty-free in all ways; makes me so hopeful and proud to see this movement happening and awareness being raised because fashion is huge, but it’s clear that the world can do better in terms of how we all go about it as suppliers and consumers alike.
their yoga range is also made from GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, ensuing strict social and environmental standards are met in production.
and my personal favourite as i know materials used for making swimwear over the years are not sustainable and truly never leave the earth if they are thrown out - all of indigo luna’s nylon Leggings and swimwear are created from italian recycled econyl material harvested from discarded fishing nets or repreve recycled nylon from plastic bottles !! that is total magic to me.
by buying swimwear that is made from recycled nylon materials, harvested from ghost fishing nets and discarded carpets - i know i am directly helping to put a stop to the creation of plastic pollution by repurposing it and eliminating the process of creating new and potentially harmful materials.
and i am so grateful for this family run brand.
another brand which i have come to love is the hemp temple who also has incredibly insightful blog posts on their site across topics of self love, philosophy, politics, activism, spirituality and more.
you may know of hemp through knowing the amazing plant that is cannabis, but clothing made from hemp is a whole new ball game which if you aren’t aware of it and you love the planet and are all about sustainable clothing practices - let your heart rejoice.
hemp is a revolution in its own right
so, with wild potential, hemp crop grows in natural abundance and harbours an incredible diversity of pragmatic and widespread purpose in just about every industry. not only can hemp be used to create plastics, oils, housing, food, paper, medicine, personal hygiene and textiles (!!!!) - it is a crop that rejuvenates the soil. it is literally designed to be farmed and used in abundance; meaning we do not need to go backwards but forwards.
a handful of close knit/family owned businesses who strive to leave as little a footprint through their practices especially in making clothing i have noticed pride themselves (and so they should) in four mindful steps from the source of the clothing, right to how it is sent to your door if you choose to buy:
SEED
with hemp, the process begins in the seeds. THT’s hemp is grown in the himalayan soils of bihar, india and in northern nepal. with a timeless history of wild hemp farming, hemp has remained a staple crop for the communities in these regions for quite some time.
by having certification of the fibres being organic and fair trade, you’re also able to know that there is integrity in how your clothes are being made as no chemicals are used in the farming of hemp or cotton.
WEAVE
harvested, the stalk fibre is then sent to the local villages and hand woven into our fabric; an organic hemp and organic cotton blends. the organic cotton is grown in the same regions and in the same manner, preserves the traditional textiles and community farming as hemp.
SEW
for the indian production, fabric is dyed and sewn in pushkar, india.
the fabric is then sewn into our designs by a family of five tailors. conditions are safe and clean with natural light. all extra fabrics, fixings, buttons and labels are sourced from small local shop owners.
for the nepali production, our fabric is dyed in a natural dye house in kathmandu. the organisation is fair-trade and is 100% women employed. the products are then sewn, depending on the scale of our order, in stemp (a local tailor space and hemp clothing shop) and in their larger factory on the outskirts of kathmandu.
SEND
the garments are then packaged in recycled silk sari bags, sourced from a local womens sewing organisation in pushkar. the places i have within the last six months supported in buying ethical clothing (indigo luna, hemp temple, wild harvest) all use biodegradable post bags. one of the hemp temple’s goals is to become 100% plastic free by 2020 - rock on !!
another family owned clothing studio i have come to love are yoli & otis (who if you have instagram, post dreamy photographs documenting their family life living the simple life in spain and who are in alignment with their values of sustainability not just across how they make their clothes & workers rights but their overall lifestyle and approach to mindful traveling)
their clothing includes womens’s and children’s wear (all herbal dyed organic), including baby carriers and accessories from collaborations they have with other sustainable businesses.
with their style of clothing it is definitely again scandi-inspired being simple, elegant but so effective and flattering.
made in india & bali where the workers are treated fairly, paid fairly and work in safe, comfortable conditions.
all about herbal & plant dyeing
the process of herbal dyeing was developed through extensive research on age-old dyeing methods practiced since the days of the indus valley civilisation. ayuvastra dyeing is famous for eco-friendly herbs being integrated in a fabric.
in this process, natural textiles are dyed with herbs like turmeric, henna, aloe vera and indigo.
in the whole process, no chemicals are used; the textiles are 100% safe and 100% chemical free.
to make the colours bright and fast, only natural mordants such as myrobalan, rhubarb leaves, oils, minerals, alum, iron vat are used. yoli & otis do not use heavy metal mordants like copper, chrome, zinc or tin.
due to the nature of the natural herbal dye in some instances, the lack of chemicals can result in small colour runs, or fading in areas where the natural mordant may not have taken to the fabric 100%.
by embracing this process rather than sacrificing it for a superficially perfect product, as supplier and consumer you are making a difference to our environment, and if you have children, their wellbeing.
living naturally & protecting the environments & local farmers
the textiles for their carriers and accessories are organic and grown with plants free of pesticides or genetic modification protecting the environment, our farmers and your children. y&o’s clothing is all 100% cotton.
the packaging is made from recycled product which uses less energy and water. and by using recycled product, we are also reducing landfill which creates methane gas and other nasty air pollutants.
scary fact:
the standard chemical dyeing process uses over 8000 different chemicals in its various stages. millions of children in the united states especially receive up to 35% of their estimated lifetime dose of some carcinogenic pesticides by age five through food, contaminated drinking water, household use, and pesticide drift.
with family run clothing studios such as the ones i have written about, the dye in their carrier and accessory fabrics uses only plants & herbs, renowned for their medicinal values. all waste water and solids are then recycled back into the production process.
the way their showrooms are set out is also so minimal, bright and wabi-sabi inspired. no blaring music, sale signs, coupons or an overwhelming choice of ‘stuff’.
their childrens clothing is what i dream of my babies (if i have them one day) wearing.
they also only making one-time collections until sold out so you could say it is exclusive in this way. they also sell organic soaps and hand-woven baskets which as an owner of a basket hand-bag…big love x a million
another mention has be wild harvest studio whose pieces are really another celebration of the Earth's bounty and a dedication to honour all the intricate diversity within our ecosystem.
each of their pieces, similar to indigo luna is made in a small batch, handmade, and one of a kind; crafted amongst the trees on an organic farm in the hudson valley.
their bottoms and tops are so comfortable and so soft and also dyed using plants and flowers. i don’t remember the last time i even bought a bra because the crops and yoga tops from these guys double as bralettes! i will never understand the wiring that is still in bras today which is so unhealthy to wear.
the smell of the clothing is so fresh and organic, it’s hard to describe but you can feel and smell that it was made from nature rather than having that artificial almost plastic smell i always found on clothes when i did buy online and the clothes came in plastic packaging.
one last mention off the top of my head would be boody eco wear who have a wonderful collection of bamboo basics and underwear that i also wear! their bamboo t-shirts i love to sleep in because it is so soft and learning of their practices and values in sustainability made me fall in love even more.
why you must love bamboo
grown organically
no pesticides. no insecticides. no fertilisers.
grown without artificial irrigation
producing commercial harvests of bamboo requires only rainwater - and all water used in the production process is recycled and re-used.
improving air quality
bamboo plantations produce 30% more oxygen than an equivalent area of trees and absorb more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases.
fast growing, regenerating
the fastest growing woody plant in the world, some species of bamboo shoot up as much as one metre a day! new stems are able to be harvested again and again. high five for bamboo!!
why you’d want to wear bamboo on your boody
anti-bacterial & anti-fungal
bamboo contains an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal bio-agent which is retained through the process of fabrication and after washing many, many times. this property also makes doody garments odour-resistant. sounds good and smells good!
hypoallergenic
bamboo eco clothes are particularly suitable for eczema sufferers and those with extra sensitive skin
breathable & moisture-wicking
the structure of the bamboo fibres contains micro-gaps, which provide ventilation and pull moisture away from the body, allowing the skin to breathe.
UPF50+ Sun protection
fun fact! all boody garments are made from a UPF50+ rated fabric to protect yourself from ultraviolet damage. feel free to layer up!
Silky soft
bamboo is so silky soft, and while we’re hyping it up - it is also thermo regulating which means it’s cosy in the winter (easy layering), and cool to wear in the summer! i also love wearing my basic black t shirt from boody to work out in or go for a run even in the summer because it’s so light-weight and when i sweat it doesn’t cling to me because the material is naturally anti-static! bamboo socks with this one is such a win! i love bamboo, and you should too.
i believe in treading softly and leaving behind the smallest footprint as we all carry out our journeys on this planet.
i do not support fast fashion any longer and my first instinct now is always to thrift before i do consider buying but i don’t even buy that often anymore. it has been over a year to carefully curate my wardrobe and what i have bought from the places and people mentioned in this blog has been no more than two pieces from each place because less has truly become more.
online spaces and apps such as depop, etsy, vintage market place etc. are great places to go to find real second-hand treasures. thrifting and buying second-hand from your local markets is a more fulfilling experience to meet like-minded people, support locals and it makes if you’re looking for something specific even more fun because you really have to get out and search, making finding that unique one-a-kind piece extra special.
another thing i can recommend is to visit unroll.me which is a free online tool that helps you clear out all unwanted subscriptions from your email. nearly every online site you buy from asks for your email and they know how to entice you by sending email alerts when sales are happening or with discount codes. i have heard from friends that by going online to ‘browse’ can become addicting and you always end up buying more than what you wanted in the first place.
with buying and consuming overall especially in the clothing department, to take a pause and really consider the distinction between ‘want’ and ‘need’ is a vital one because i guarantee 95% of the time you may want something, but never need it. get creative and style your already loved pieces in new and fun ways rather than thinking of them as ‘boring’ or ‘old’ - if you’ve had a piece of clothing for less than five years, it’s not old, and even that’s a stretch!
always take time first to think about if you ‘need’ to buy something. sleep on it, go through your closet and treat every purchase as an investment. don’t just buy the dress or those shoes for an event that’s coming up only for them to collect dust in your closet. what’s more, if you have 4 pairs of jeans for example, you don’t ‘need’ another pair. buying multiples of clothes also because it is ‘cheap’ from online stores that sell swimwear or basics for 5-10$ aren’t made sustainably and trick you into buying more than you need.
quality over quantity and thinking first and foremost about how the clothes were made, by who and from what materials should be your first stream of thought. the second is considering for what you will use it for, why you feel you want to buy it, and how often will you wear it!
treat buying clothes as a luxury because it is, especially when it comes to online shopping.
i am in the process of creating a capsule wardrobe which i will write a blog post on and perhaps make a video of as i know visually it will be nicer to see and understand. capsule wardrobes may seem extreme to some but you can curate your closet in a really positive and unique way to what and how it suits you.
