Apart from the fact that it doesn’t suit me, I’ve always been more attracted to the ‘luxury’ end of dressing and I just don’t see tie-dye as a luxury item.
The reason I am attracted to luxury is that I love craftsmanship – in all things, not just clothes. I love the simple beauty of Fifties bakelite objects, Bauhaus, Brioni.
The precision and skill in Japanese art inspires me too – I just watched the BBC program ‘The Art of Japanese Life’ and just swooned at the exquisite design and workmanship of ancient objects and art. I love ‘The Repair Shop’ on BBC in the UK because it showcases the wonderful skills of talented craftspeople who have spent their lives honing their considerable skills to renovate loved items.
There is a beauty in watching a craftsperson work, the item they create and the tools they use seem to have a particular presence and clear energy of their own.
A craftsperson will have a tool they have owed for years, or which was handed down to them by a grandparent, which is absolutely perfect for that particular task. It’s usually a tool that is moulded to their hand and beautifully crafted in of itself. Sometimes though it’s just the right piece of random metal or wooden shape which fits a purpose.
Of late, I have been aware, as many of us have, of the tremendous cost to the planet by the fashion industry and the amount of clothing we produce.
A search for “How much waste is created by the fashion industry?” tells us that
an average consumer throws away 70 pounds (31.75 kilograms) of clothing per year. Globally we produce 13 million tons of textile waste each year 95% of which could be reused or recycled. Sustainability though is not just about the finished item – it must be considered from inception to the end of its life.
This is another reason why I will always choose Style, not Fashion – because it allows us to maintain our clothing over many years with the right care. If we choose what suits our style, not just going with fashion, we can personally contribute to conserving the natural resources of our planet in a very positive and enjoyable way.
Recycling and upcycling have become buzzwords for something which some have been doing for many years, especially the Baby Boomers who grew up with their parents making do and mending. Just Google search for ‘sustainable clothing’ to see the many, many great initiatives which are now running.
Goodwood Revival has a ‘Make Do and Mend’ enclosure for the first time this year which showcases restoration projects and how you can apply these methods to your everyday life. This change in attitude and move towards mass thinking in this way is to be applauded and encouraged without a doubt.
Designers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers are recognising that we have to change our processes and embrace the effort to reduce the impact on our planet caused by our desire to purchase and wear clothing. Clothing is a necessity – but do we ‘need’ so much? I am a latecomer to Mari Kondo and have only just read her book about tidying, but I have discovered that many of the strategies she suggests, I already employ and much of that comes from my being a Baby Boomer and having a re-use and recycle attitude from an early age.
Partly choosing and buying clothes is seeking pleasure, but it is also a key part of our self-expression, which has an impact on how we feel (enclothed cognition) and also how others perceive us (personal branding). It is important that we get it right. It supports our mental health, our confidence and our relationships.
So how do we square the circle of wanting ‘luxury’ and being mindful of our planet? This would seem to be a juxtaposition. This is a major part of why I wanted to write a blog and share my observations.
I’m going to be writing about what we think of as ‘luxury’, why Style Not Fashion works, how what we wear affects how we feel along with how we can dress well and consider our carbon footprint as consumers.
As well as recycling and upcycling we can make great choices in buying new items. Many brands have created innovative recycled fabrics and garments or have refurbishment services and I’ll be talking about them too.
I’d like to connect with others who are passionate about style, sustainable dressing and cherishing what we already have. Hopefully, I can impart some helpful information, direct my readers to great resources and learn more along the way.
If it means I need to revisit tie-dye, maybe you can show me some tie-dye style, I’m sure it must be out there somewhere and it is a way of reusing and recycling after all.
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