The curse of fashion and its cure

Guest post by Hafsa Hussain

On every item we own from our phones to the sheets on our beds, in small writing on the label it states, ‘Made in __’. This is most likely to originate from China or developing countries. But what is the story behind where our items are from, most importantly the clothes which we wear? Founder of Fashion Tech Lab, Miroslava Duma told the August 2017 Marie Claire, the first ever sustainable issue: “The fashion industry is all about storytelling and craftsmanship. Sustainability adds value because it makes that backstory even more impactful”. In recent years, consumers have been demanding more social and environmental information about the origin of the clothes they buy. This shows that more than ever, we are interested in our clothing, as the truth about the origin has been exploited in tabloids and documentaries, changing consumer attitudes.

Did you know that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world after oil? With approximately 80 billion garments produced worldwide per year (Green Peace, 2016). This is due to the demand for new trends and styles increasing in recent years. According to the documentary, True Cost, rather than four seasons of collections per year, fast fashion has fabricated fifty-two seasons, creating new styles every week. Keeping in mind the lack of consideration for social and environmental consequences. Can the industry succeed by continuing with fast fashion and being ethical simultaneously?

Factory workers in Bangladesh  (Photo: Sustainable Clothing Production)

In the fashion industry momentarily, fast fashion has been speeding up trends and shortening seasons, whilst becoming old, dated and out of style. The average turnover period of designer brands from the catwalk to consumers is six months and has now been compressed from only a few weeks by companies such as Zara and H&M, whose profits are exceedingly high. Swift cycles make these fast fashion companies succeed: having fast designs, effective transportation and items prepared on hangers with price tags attached ready for the shop floor. As fast fashion replaces the luxury, authenticity and exclusivity with planned impulse, lasting for a limited time due to the poor-quality fabrics, manufacturers have gone out of fashion.

(Photo: Remake)

H&M, a mass fast fashion company, has focused on their ethical profiles for sales growth in the long-term. According to Corporate Knights magazine, H&M ranked 57th amongst the world’s most sustainable companies with an overall score of 65.10%; Whilst Kering ranked ten places above with a score of 66.80%. H&M launched a garment collecting service at their stores, recycling textiles to “give their garments a new life and helping to close the loop on fashion”, stating they have gathered more fabric in comparison to 250 million t-shirts. However, according to the Huffington Post, H&M continues to produce 600 million garments per year which is more than double the garments recycled and reused. As consumers, if we began re-using and recycling our items, rather than constantly buying new pieces and throwing others away, producers would have no choice but to change their strategies, and companies would consider evolving to a slow fashion movement

H&M’s garment collecting initiative. (Photo: H&M)
(Photo: Yelp)

SOLUTIONS!

It’s time to change! There needs to be inventive strategies implemented to move from fast fashion to slow fashion, for the mass market sector, including the extension the product’s life cycle due to designs of clothes which are not molecular. For example, a coat which contains zips, buttons and trim can be recycled efficiently leaving just the fabric to be shredded back to its thread level, this new thread can become a new fabric and finally a new item of clothing. To achieve this, the jacket would need to have a mainframe hidden and attached in the coat’s fabric to hold the zips, button and trim altogether, and when the coat is at the end of its life cycle, the wireframe can be removed easily from the bone. Additionally, materials could be labelled with expected lifetimes including repair kits and services, provided by retailers, if the design development of the garments can be easily updated for the look or size.

Vintage clothing is commonly classified as clothing that is 20 years or older and if the garment survives more than 50 years it can be proudly called an antique. Vintage clothes are not only used pieces of garments, but it’s also part of history and adventure of thoughts of who wore them and their story to tell. Vintage clothing is a simple way to reduce, reuse and recycle clothes. During the manufacturing process, quality was important and key hence the fact they often last longer than most of the clothing today. But why has vintage fashion become popular recently, maybe because they can’t be replicated effortlessly or perhaps due to celebrities such as Kate Moss and Kim Kardashian having worn vintage on the red carpet? What people don’t realise is that fashion trends always come back around. Instead of throwing your ‘old’ clothes away, be patient, wait a couple years, fashion is not as new as you would think it is.

(Photo: TimeOut)

Recently we have seen a rise in 90s streetwear fashion on both our runways and on the streets. Big brands have dramatically increased their prices to offer ‘vintage’ pieces, but this could be saved if we as consumers actually visited vintage shops instead. Vintage can be advantageous in both ways, it allows you to differentiate yourself from the rest and it can also allow you to add to the current trends, so you look truly ahead of what the current runways have to offer.

Thank you!

Hafsa x

                                                                @hafsahussainphotography

Let’s change the fashion game

Fashion is fast becoming one of the biggest threats to the sustainability of our precious planet.

But that doesn’t mean we have to feel guilty about loving it so much, we just need to change the way we create it, use it, wear it and eventually ‘dispose’ of it.

Only buy something if you truly love it then you’ll happily wear it again and again. Get creative, upcycle tired old items and turn them into new ensembles. Buy vintage, rework old vintage and mend instead of trash.

 

granting wishes

So my latest commission was the sweetest sentiment, I was asked (by Justin) to paint his handwritten message onto this jacket for his girlfriend’s birthday. We decided to keep it in the style of his handwriting to add that extra personal touch! What an absolute pleasure helping out in the name of love! All done and on it’s way to NYC… Judy you’re one lucky lady, extra brownie points to you Justin 🙌🏼❤️👫
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Send me your requests and I’ll make your wish come true

Customise your jacket here

 

heroes + villains

I’m super excited to launch my new collection of reworked vintage jackets and customised t-shirts for freedom fighters and all night dancers.
Inspired by the colourful world of music + politics… one person’s Hero is another person’s Villain… which one are you?
Make your choice, hit the link and grab your favourite limited edition piece

shop now

Spring vintage 2018

Hey guys! We’re all looking forward to the summer here at The Stellar Boutique. We’ve got some great new vintage transitional pieces for you all in this changeable weather. For those times when you might need to throw on a jumper and those exciting times when you’re looking for festival wear. Planning on going to Glastonbury? We got you covered!

On our radar and new in the shop are great pieces such as this 70s vintage loop knit cardigan – throw it on over a rock n roll t-shirt and you’re good to go. Relive the 90s and be right on trend in our vintage lilac shell suit jacket. Embrace the Kate Moss look in our oversized boyfriend sweatshirt – it looks great with chunky boots. Howl at the moon with our beautiful 90s vintage wolf sweatshirt. Have you come over all Jackie Brown? Get your hands on our 70s vintage suede waistcoat with panelling and pockets. Wear our funky vintage knitted silver stripe gilet with shoulder lapels layered over pretty much anything and you’ll be the belle of the festival. Wear our cute 80s vintage cropped blouse with jeans or an 80s a-line skirt and dance into the night. If print is your thing, take a look at the 70s vintage scallop knit jumper. We love a good slogan here at The Stellar Boutique. If you do too, take a look at our 90s vintage ‘team purebred’ sweatshirt. And last but definitely not least, this 90s vintage Burberry-style corduroy bomber jacket.

This is an exciting time for us and there’s a lot more vintage clothing to come!

 

vintage lovers, this ones for you

ladies…. more vintage pieces have arrived!

as always it’s a delightfully eclectic mix of 80s denim jackets, 70s classics, 80s ‘girl boss’ shirts, cute t-shirts and an extra special vintage Fila throwback!

With one-off designer pieces by sergio valente and serra by torres you’ll have to be quick to claim your fave!

shop the collection now

 

take me there!

i do love a good rummage!

The only things that get me up early on a Sunday…    treasure hunting and hair of the dog!

Great vintage finds and hangover cured in the process,  winning 
@thevintagekilosale Chester

 

 

 

 

I carried a watermelon

Hard to believe it’s been 30 years since the ultimate holiday romance and coming of age story, Dirty Dancing, sent every teenage girl wild! With some serious swoon factor, major wardrobe envy and a killer 60s soundtrack Dirty Dancing never gets old!

To celebrate its awesomeness we’re giving you 30% off ALL vintage clothing & accessories!

So, get out of the corner, put down that watermelon and get your dancing shoes on…. Today is your last chance to get 30% off ALL vintage in honour of 30 years of Dirty Dancing!

Enter promo code ‘I carried a watermelon’ at the checkout, happy shopping xx