Circular Fashion Ecosystem

Source: Vogue Business

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Seems pretty simple, right? Let’s make it happen. If there is something that has set in my head as I devote myself to fashion day after day is that it can’t continue the way it is. Not from a consumer point of view and even less so from a business point of view.

Every day that goes by, climate change worsens. Our beautiful Earth is sick and drastic measures need to be put in place to improve this situation. The fashion industry is responsible for around 5% of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions, and that percentage is set to grow, so what can we do to tackle this massive problem?

REDUCE your consumption of clothes - Let’s go back to the good all days of slow fashion. What was so wrong about that? We’ve got into the habit of the “I want everything and I want it right now” but the reality is that our planet suffers big time from that behaviour. I love fashion, and if you love it as much as you do you will still want to play with your outfits, but perhaps it is worth investing in better garments that will last us longer than buying cheap quality (mostly synthetic fabric) outfits that will not only last very little but you will get tired of very quickly?

REUSE clothing that needs some loving - Instead of buying a new piece of clothing, why not renting it or buying second hand/ vintage? There’s vast amounts of clothing that is donated to charity shops and second hand stores and these are in fabulous condition. I guarantee you that you’ll find every single trend in one of these places and is certainly fun to think you are going back in time by putting somebody’s old clothes as brand new into your wardrobe. What’s the big deal about it? Not to mention that these garments are usually better quality fabric than those that you buy brand new and at a higher price. Think twice on your next purchase! And if you need some recommendations, we are big fans of Vestiaire Collective and our beloved Thanks God I’m a VIP second hand store for all things luxe and vintage and HURR for clothing rental.

RECYCLE those clothes that you no longer love - I am sure as a good fashion lover you will have many things that you either don’t love anymore or want to get rid of in favour of the latest trend. Whilst that is totally OK, be wise in how to dispose of your clothes. First of all, can you pass them on to somebody else? They would probably give it as much love as you did and it’s a great way of recycling and reusing clothes again. If that is not available to you, then of course looking for charity shops or clothing banks to dispose of these would be your best option. Some garments will be more difficult to recycle than others (the biggest problem of this whole process, types of fabric!) but nevertheless worth it.

Change is difficult, but together, we can make great things happen.

This gorj hand bag and skirt are both second hand from a charity shop down the road and i love them.

Vintage Clothing For The Win

Are you looking to have a sustainable relationship with fashion? Then look no further, VINTAGE is the solution to your queries.

I feel vintage has been a thing for me since I can remember. I recall after school dates with my friends in Carrer Tallers in Barcelona, looking for the perfect Levis 500 to take to the beach bar.

Looking for a designer bargain in one of the many vintage shops in Le Marais in Paris.

These days, vintage shopping feels must. It certainly is for millenials like myself. All big urban cities have access to incredibly curated pieces from the likes of YSL, Chanel, Versace and more. The quality that you will find in these garments is, in many ways, much more delicate than those that you will find in new high street shops like H&M and Zara.

More over, the pieces you are buying are part of history. An item that lived in experienced different eras and many stories and yet, is ready to take on board a new owner. When you shop vintage, you are buying uniqueness, quality, and on top of everything, a better, greener planet.

It is undeniable that the fashion industry is continuing to damage the planet. As thrifted mentioned in a recent article, the fashion industry generates more greenhouse gases than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. It is the second biggest consumer of water, and generates 20% of all wastewater. Evidence shows that as much as one third of all the clothes we buy, end up in landfill.

Big manufacturers claim better approaches to clothes making by 2030, but many are just using this as their new PR stunt. When you look at the small print, there is a lot of #greenwashing. In light of all this, why would one go for the new and worse quality outfit when you can get something unique to you?

Be part of the change whilst still loving fashion and choose vintage for the win. You will find anything and everything you wish for.

P.S.: The outfit you see on this post is entirely vintage, excluding the beads bag that i hand made during lockdown.

TCB x

Recycle and Upcycle, what else?

Hello careless readers, how are we doing?

It’s Sunday night and I must admit, I’m quite tired. It’s been a hell of a week and I could not be happier to be on my PJs right now. As I sip my cup of tea, I have started to think about what to wear this week (yup, I’m a big planner) and that made me wonder through my wardrobe.

As part of my new year resolutions, I’ve decided not only to get less clothes (less quantity and more quality is key) but also to re-use a lot more what I have. Don’t you feel you always end up wearing the same clothes despite having an entire wardrobe full of beautiful outfits?

It’s time to upcycle our game, and I speak for the both of us. If you pick up items that have been stuck in your closet for a long time and mix and match them, you’ll feel like you are wearing a brand new outfit. Not only that’s the cheapest way of getting yourself a new look, but also is free and good for the environment. Isn’t that amazing?

If you are feeling creative, you can actually get those unworn clothes and create a brand new piece. A bit of cutting here and a bit of sewing there and here you have a new piece. OK, that may require some crafty work and a sewing machine, but dreaming is believing! I’ve seen great creations coming this way. Repurposed clothing is the way to go guys.

I’ve become a great fun of second hand clothes. I’ve always been really, but recently I have found myself rummaging for good quality pieces on vintage shops and flea markets and I have managed to score a few good ones. One of my most recent gems was a red tartan tweed jacket. The details, the fabrics, the manufacturing (made in England!)… it screams quality out loud and yet it didn’t cost a fortune. Also the shirt I am wearing is second hand, a men’s GUESS shirt in perfect condition. Score!

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By re-using clothes or buying recycled clothes, not only you’ll get a one of a kind piece for yourself, but you’ll also be super Planet Friendly. The clothes that otherwise would have been discarded are now getting a new use, isn’t it lovely?

TCB x

Photography by Roz Alcazar