The Fashion Blender blog was created by sustainability and eco-friendly entrepreneur, Kiri Yanchenko, and posts intriguing musings on fashion, design, art, photography and lifestyle.
Kiri’s latest company, Amperna, produces probiotic skincare for sensitive skin and it is generating great word-of-mouth momentum and positive press with its environmentally-friendly purpose and the efficacy of its products.
Amperna is a proudly Australian-owned, ethical skincare label, that has helped many customers successfully deal with their skin concerns and debilitating problems with acne, rosacea, eczema, etc. The brand is committed to only testing on ‘real people in the real world’ and being ‘no nasties and vegan’.
We began regularly reading Kiri’s Fashion Blender blog a number of years ago after seeing her at the Sustainable High Tea event in October of 2015, organised by the Helm Fashion Agency and Fashion Revolution Australia.
The event was organised to highlight the importance of the Slow Fashion Movement in countering the unsustainable excesses of the global fashion industry and its impact on our environment, ecology and vulnerable communities.
We, at Sustainable Clothing, try to educate readers to make the right clothing choices and understand the importance of natural fibres.
We also write about about purchasing classic investment pieces that can be changed or accessorised so that they last a lifetime. That basic trench, a leather jacket, slacks and jeans, cashmere and wool, etc.
We’ve also written previously about Fashion Revolution Day. On 24th April, 2013 1133 people were killed and over 2500 were injured when the Rana Plaza factory complex collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Social and environmental catastrophes in our fashion supply chains continue and we never hear about them. Fashion Revolution Day now happens on the 24th April every year to mark the anniversary of Rana Plaza.
Fashion Revolution Day seeks to bring everyone in the fashion value chain together and help to raise awareness of the true cost of fashion, show the world that change is possible, and celebrate all those involved in creating a more sustainable future.
We highly recommend reading the book To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World by Lucy Siegle. It helped inspire our passion for sustainable fashion, ethical consumerism and knowing where your clothes come from.
We know now that not all cotton is made equal – the cotton harvesting technique requires attention. Appreciate your clothes, understand the supply chain and what it took to get them into your hands at this moment. Check the care label. Re-use, re-imagine and hand wash more often. Be good to the environment by putting your washing machine on a cold cycle.
See here for more on why buying organic cotton is better you both you and the environment.
Lucy Siegle’s book highlights the urgent changes that need to be made by both the industry and the end-user consumer to create a sustainable fashion future. Rather than push drab, ethical clothing, Siegle discusses that it is possible to be an ‘ethical fashionista’, simply by being aware of how and where (and by whom) clothing is manufactured.
Making yourself aware of this information will guide your choices when purchasing new clothing and you can be part of the solution rather than a contributor to the problem. A change is desperatedly needed and we, the ethical consumer, need to drive it as much as the fashion houses and manufacturers.
After reading To Die For, you may go through a period of not buying anything at all. The many problems and situations listed in the book can be overwhelming. How can one person make a difference? It can be intimidating and disheartening.
Somebody (I wish I knew who) coined the phrase “hanging TEN at the hanger” to help us consumers make the right clothing choices. TEN stands for:
- T – will you wear it thirty times or more?
- E – is the item ethically made?
- N – do you really need it
All of us can try to only purchase good quality items that can be worn for many seasons in order to cut down on our clothing wastage. If we all choose to do this, we can undoubtedly make a difference.
Thing about ‘hanging ten’ next time you’re out in the mall. Every little bit helps.
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