With campaigns and protests for changes in environmental policy and striving to raise awareness around climate change, Fashion Revolution week has never felt so relevant. It is a movement we feel passionately about here at Frontiers. But what is it – what the hell is it?
Fashion Revolution believes in a fashion industry that values people, planet, creativity and profit in equal measure and that positive change starts with transparency, traceability and openness.
With a culture that now demands fast fashion and unrealistically low prices, society now purchases 400% more clothing than 20 years ago and spends less than a fifth of our income on food and clothes. A century ago we spent more than half of our income on these items. Maybe read that again and let it sink in.
We need to change this for so many reasons, as to achieve this demand we are jeopardising the well-being and working conditions of the people who make our clothes and the well-being of the environment. Often the countries our clothes are made in have lesser regulations on both human rights and environmental policy, which is having a devastating effect.
But there is so much we can do to make positive steps away from this cycle.
1. Review your wardrobe before hitting the shops. Figure out what you really need, so you don’t end up buying clothes you will never wear.
2. Support brands who are kind in there manufacturing methods.
3. Spend a little bit more per item, make sure it ‘sparks joy’ (thank you Marie Kondo), you are more likely to cherish it and wear it more this way.
4. Support local businesses. This is beneficial for too many reasons to list but includes creating community, supporting emerging designers, having a greater ability to trace the source of you clothes and keeping your money in the local economy.
So, that is what you can do but what are we doing for the cause? Well, we are stocking many great ethical and sustainable brands including:
Ace and Jig
Ace and Jigs sustainability aims are to be:
No waste: Fashion is one of the most resource-intensive industries in the world, both in terms of natural resources and human resources.
Slow Fashion: Items are only available for purchase when they arrive at stockists and are physically in their hands. They believe in buying items that can be touched, felt, and tried on.
Lifespan: They are committed to helping extend the life of our clothing by repairing, hosting swap events, encouraging reselling of styles no longer being used, and upcycling.
Ecology: Their manufacturer ensures not a drop of water goes to waste in their facility. All the water comes from their own natural resource and is processed in their own water softening plant.
Giving Back: Each year they partner with organizations and charities that are doing crucial work worldwide to promote human rights, sustainability, and earth conservation.
Community: An all-inclusive ace&jig community attracts a diverse intelligent bunch who connect on social media and face to face, swapping ace&jig clothing and stories from their lives!
Ace and Jig available in-store only.
L.F.Markey
With a focus on high quality manufacturing, innovative cuts, bold colours, and fine fabrics, L.F.Markey’s utilitarian foundation is elevated into elegant casual wear.
They pride themselves in ethical and sustainable practices, prioritising ethical manufacturing, fair working conditions and living wages, and slow, sustainable fashion.
Each boutique-sized factory in Vietnam and China, as well as their off-site units, are meticulously and consistently monitored by our agents based out there. They also conduct regular visits to make sure all workers are paid good living wages and are working in happy and safe conditions.
L.F.Markey available in-store only.
Sealand
Sealand was born with a conviction of keeping the environment front and centre alongside inspired functional designs and longevity. Smart material selection, compelling functionality and product durability are all palpable features of what they make.
View the Sealand range >>
Stutterheim
Stutterheim creates beautiful yet functional rainwear in the highest quality. All coats are handmade using the finest craftsmanship and are characterised by simplicity, functionality and timeless design.
Sandqvist
Sandqvist's ambition is to make long-lasting and sustainable products. They pride themselves on only using organic cotton and synthetic fabrics containing recycled fibres. These changes have been important steps towards there goal of becoming a world-leading example in sustainable fashion."
Sandqvist available in-store only.
Sideline
Sideline are committed to reducing our impact on the earth. The foundation of Sideline has always been to make clothes that last as a reaction to the industry of throw-away fashion.
All denim and casual cottons are treated with innovative laser technology and water-less ozone washing. Packaging is 100% water soluble and marine-safe made from only hydrogen, oxygen and carbon meaning they have eliminated single use plastic from the process completely.
Each season they strive to become more sustainable and in 2019 they are looking to replace our cotton and denim fabrics with organic fibres.
Sideline available in-store only.
Monokel
Monokel Eyewear is a sustainable unisex sunglass label based in Stockholm, Sweden. The main material in there frames is a premium plant based acetate, and all black frames are made with recycled acetate. The lenses are made by Carl Zeiss Vision®. Each frame is handcrafted with tremendous attention to detail in a process taking well over three months. The brand philosophy stems from a mix of simplicity and functionalism, paired with an endless curiosity for the human mind and its need for creative expression.
We are also very conscious in our buying, making sure we don’t over order and have items that go to waste. We are also into our recycling and try where possible to go paper-free. We support local businesses and people from makers to gardeners. Lastly, we also give back to local charities yearly. However, we feel there is always room to improve and grow on this front. So, 2019 let it be the year to be more sustainable and conscious!!
Photo credits:
https://aceandjig.com
https://sideline-clothing.com
https://stutterheim.com
https://sealandgear.com
https://lfmarkey.com