A Stitch for Sustainability: Simping for Slow Fashion

If an issue could be person of the year, sustainability would be the prima donna of our times. As the buzzword that launched a thousand think pieces, just what is sustainability really? And what does it say about a world that wants to be changed by it…Let’s dive in headfirst, shall we?

Put simply, sustainable fashion is all about extending the lifespan of your wardrobe. Yet, sustainability is more often than not defined by something that it isn’t – linear, harmful, wasteful and consumerist. Still, there are a number of ways that encapsulate what being sustainably fashionable really means – from ethical sourcing to clean raw materials, to fair labour to thrifting. Ultimately, all of these strategies converge at a point where the sartorial temperament meets environmental betterment.

Slay it Slowly: Some Tips

With the pandemic unleashing the kindness economy, there’s a lot to think about. When it comes to being a responsible shopper, it isn’t really as hard as you might think to curate a sustainable wardrobe.

An interesting rule of thumb is Livia Firth’s #30Wears rule. Question your purchase and ask if what you’re getting will last 30 wears or beyond.
When making a special purchase, you want to make sure you are buying from a brand that aligns with your values.
Choosing statement pieces that are multi-occasion and can be styled in different ways, rather than chasing trends is another great way to start.
Introduce a responsibility edit, based on materials, stance, process and final impact of the brands or items of your choosing.
Champion transparency. Choose brands that record and recognise their product impact.
Vintage has a huge role to play in making fashion more sustainable because unlike new items leaving a substantial carbon footprint attached to manufacturing, the amount of new energy needed to produce vintage pieces is zero.
Have a one-in, one-out policy which means that every time you buy something make sure that you are giving up and donating another item.
Look after your pieces properly. This will allow you to replace things less often.
Only buy items that you know are going to work for you all year round.
Invest in jewelry cleaning tools or clothing maintenance tools such as fabric shavers and steam irons to improve the longevity of your buys.
Learn how to repair your clothes and accessories – or pay local professionals to do the same.
Think twice before using fast fashion as an excuse for something new.
Buying just a few high-quality items a year, rather than lots of cheaper, less eco-friendly pieces, will dramatically reduce your carbon footprint; so why not save up, invest and buy less.

Stanning Sustainable Jewelry

A relatively newer concept, slow jewelry is all about buying traditional, high-quality pieces whose value will only increase over the years. The defining facets of the slow jewelry movement would curate unique talismans with the following features:

Good
Designs that are made to withstand and shine through whatever life throws your way. Pieces that are made to last a lifetime and tell a story or hold a memory that can be passed down with a human touch – retaining connection to the origins.

Clean
We should consider the consequences of buying jewelry made in a factory on the other side of the world at the expense of the environment, local economies and craftspeople. Instead, we need jewelry that has an air of honesty about it in addition to transparency.

Fair
Cheap labour and machines mass-produce jewelry so that it can be bought on a whim. Their production methods don’t often consider the human cost of their material and it’s so easy to lose track of the narrative in a quest for cheaper and faster due to which the jewelry loses its uniqueness.

What’s Inclusivity Got to Do with It?

The concept of inclusivity while obscure, is as important to the conversation about sustainability as the ethical impact of our choices. We need to look at supporting and becoming aware of narratives that prioritise people as well as the planet.

This means a world where sustainable fashion curates beautiful pieces that are not just cool and kind but also standardised for wearers without discriminating against size. A major challenge in terms of upping the ante when it comes to fashion is about the limited size-diverse, sustainable options – leading to a sort of size apartheid that ultimately drives so many of us to purchase disposable pieces whose only future lies in a landfill.

A great way to counter this is to invest in hackable pieces that can be worn regardless of size fluctuations. Features could include adjustable rings or detachable belts, interchangeable charms or extra fabric allowance.

Sustain Your Style

Sustainability lies beyond just parroting buzzwords while focusing on action that is socially driven. It must re-direct respect and dignity for workers, buyers AND the environment.

From design to production, we need to examine our choices and understand wages as well as working conditions in the quest for beautiful, timeless products.

If we are to meet future demand within planetary limits, we need to radically rethink the way we consume. This means reducing our dependence on virgin materials and in effect, transforming the way we produce, use and discard fashion – our greatest modern-day addiction.

Youlry

Thoughtfully designed in our studio, Youlry is made keeping your exceptional taste in mind. Crafted from pure gold and set in precious stones whose value never declines as time rolls by, our collections feature distinct pieces that are wearable years down the line.