Sustainable fashion

What’s in Leather?

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

Is fake leather any good? Is it really better for the environment than animal leather? Does it even wear well? These are the questions I asked myself before purchasing this Nanushka skirt made from polyester and polyurethane. The material is as soft as butter and more beautiful than any leather I have touched in my life. But it does bring up an important debate: is vegan leather really better than animal leather?

Vegan leather imitates real leather but is created from plant products or artificial materials. For example, some vegan leather is made from apple peels, pineapple leaves and recycled plastic. With a rise in those adopting veganism and plant-based lifestyles, vegan leather has made leaps and bounds over recent years.

From a durability point of view, I suppose you can’t compare synthetic materials to animal leather. I have quite a few leather pieces from my mum that are still in perfect condition. However, like all things, it is dependant on the quality of the vegan material.

I was a bit concerned when realising that my skirt is made from plastic, albeit extremely well-made plastic. Nanushka is renowned for their high-quality and fashion-forward vegan leather garments. There garments are certainly not cheap, which was why I questioned whether it would be worth purchasing this fake leather skirt in the first place. Plastic-made clothing poses an environmental risk if it ends up in water or landfill, as it releases toxic chemicals into the environment while taking years to degrade. But after doing more research I discovered that despite the environmental issues associated with producing plastic clothing, the environmental impacts of producing animal leather is still far worse. This is due to the greenhouse gas emissions caused by animal agriculture and the substantial land use. And of course for ethical purposes, vegan leather is the preferred option.

When I found this skirt at David Jones while shopping with my mum in early May, we could not believe that it was fake leather. I tried it on and absolutely loved it. And after conducting my year free of buying fashion in 2019, I don’t fall in love so easily anymore. So after weighing up the pros and cons of plastic-based leather I decided to go for it. After all, I’m not in the business of tiring over my clothes and chucking them out to the ocean when I’m done.

Skirt: Nanushka

Top: Kookai

Shoes: Topshop

Bag: Zara

I wore the skirt with a black cropped tank and Topshop shoes with funky white block heels that I purchased years ago. Topshop used to make the best mules.

Speaking about Topshop, Topshop’s parent company Arcadia has just entered into voluntary administration. Australia’s Topshop stores closed a few years ago so we’ve been devoid of Topshop for a while. But given the declining popularity of high street retail over the last decade, Arcadia’s collapse is hardly surprising. It doesn’t help that the owner’s reputation is problematic. However, it’s extremely sad to hear that over 13,000 jobs are at risk and that a brand with such a strong heritage may disappear. I expect that we will see many brands entering into administration in the next 12 months thanks to the bleak retail landscape and economic effects of Covid.

Thanks for stopping by! x

We Need to Take Action this Earth Day

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

Today is Earth Day, which coincides perfectly with Fashion Revolution Week.

We know that the fashion industry breeds significant environmental impacts and is majorly responsible for marine pollution by textile dying and microplastics. Our love for synthetic clothing (which I’m guilty of as a purchaser of activewear) is causing our waterways to become filled with plastic fibres with every wash. This harms our wonderful marine biodiversity, but you may not be aware of the fact that it also affects human health as a result of microplastics ending up in our food. That’s why it is crucial to consider the materials your clothes are made from and what the potential environmental impacts are.

I was basically ignoring these impacts while on an activewear purchasing-spree during the beginning of the year. It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but I failed to consider what they were made from and who made them. Although I made sure that I needed the items and knew that I absolutely loved them prior to purchasing, I should have done better. It’s difficult to think consciously all the time, especially with the number of brands out there, the lure of greenwashing and hefty discounts. It used to be that we saw something, liked it and bought it. But we can’t be so ignorant anymore. I love the guide for choosing well from Every Woman’s Guide to Saving the Planet.¹ She recommends asking yourself the following before buying clothes:

  • Is it made well?
  • What’s it made form?
  • Who made it?
  • Do I love it?

Actively considering these four questions may be a longer process than usual, but it’s not going to hurt us. On the contrary, we really should be taking this time to make sure that our spending habits aren’t hurting people or the environment. This Earth Day, I’m going to find out from my favourite brands #whatsinmyclothes to learn about what materials are being used and whether their processes are environmentally friendly and kind to their garment workers. As consumers, we need to urge our favourite brands to be transparent and hold them to account if they are failing to implement environmentally friendly and safe manufacturing standards. Things need to change, and there’s no better time to use our voices than during Fashion Revolution Week.

To find out more about what you can do this Fashion Revolution Week, head to: https://www.fashionrevolution.org/about/get-involved/

If you’re interested in Australian activewear brands that use recycled materials – and even plastic waste! – to produce their garments, head to: https://www.brittslist.com.au/article/sustainable-activewear-brands-australia/

Thanks for stopping by! x

¹ Natalie Isaacs, Every Woman’s Guide to Saving the Planet (2018, HarperCollins) page 245.

We Got the Pink

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

It was clear to see that pink ruled the day on the 2019 Oscars red carpet, in possibly every bold and stimulating shade of pink there is. This sent a strong message there’s no better time than the present to be brave and splash on some of the divisive hue, as every celebrity who has sported pink this season has looked nothing less than glorious.

So, I have mentioned previously that the only exception to my pledge to not buy any clothes in 2019 is my uniform for work. And fortunately, Witchery decided to unleash a hot pink collection early in the year to which I squealed and exclaimed: “I NEED some pink in my life!”. Even though I haven’t worn any type of pink since the early days of galavanting in my fairy princess dresses, the fashion gods were sending a message that pink is strong, empowering and queenly. I decided that I wanted to be a part of this pink parade, so I bought this silky bright shirt (see pics below) and have been bombarded with compliments every time I have worn it to work. I matched it with my cream high-waisted shorts that I have worn all summer, and white Mimco sneakers which I LOVE due to the patterned detail. All round a vibrant and comfortable outfit for work – not to mention, on trend with the freshwater pearl hoops!

My modelling partner in crime, Sebastian.

Shirt: Witchery

Shorts: Witchery

Shoes: Mimco

Earrings: Witchery

After suggesting to some customers that they should try the pink shirt, they would hold their hands up and say, ‘Pink? No way, that is so not my colour!’ although I assured them it would most definitely become their colour. Maybe it’s the preconceptions of pink being associated with girlishness and children that makes it so divisive, though surely that’s no longer relevant. It may require some confidence to pull off, but there is no better time to seize the day and give it a try. And I am so delighted to finally have something hot pink inhabiting my wardrobe that’s not in the form of a Princess Aurora dress.

What’s your opinion on pink? Let me know in the comments below! x