Explorations

Ignoring Black Friday’s Impact

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Is overconsumption the only reason to live?


Despite the abundance of information available, people still ignore Black Friday’s impact.

Indeed, it’s essential to remember the truth behind it. This promotional event is a dangerous marketing trick. In fact, it leads to toxic, mass overconsumption and generates monstrous quantities of waste harmful to the environment. But our planet cannot sustain this economic and lifestyle system, so we need to stop.

As a retailer, if you participate in sales and promotions such as Black Friday, you contribute to a system that has failed.
This system does not offer a place for change and encourages you to foster the status quo by ignoring reality.

The fashion system, as well as any other industry, does not make reasonable or sustainable quantities. On the contrary, it produces large amounts in excess; the sole purpose is to maximise profits. Unfortunately, they do it at the expense of people and the planet.

Against Black Friday’s wastefulness #formodernhumans


We are unhappy with the current fashion system and choose not to participate in sales and promotions. That means no Black Friday for us.

We value consistency. So, we refuse to be part of something against our values and principles. And we take responsibility for our actions. That includes how we present our work and conduct ourselves while interacting with you. Though we understand that this might limit our audience, we believe it’s the right thing to do.

The big question is why people don’t see further than their noses. Why don’t they see the negative impact of this system? The results of Black Friday are crystal clear: mountains high of waste polluting the earth and waters are undeniable.

So, why do people ignore Black Friday’s impact? Why do most people not want to educate themselves? Do you think overconsumption is the only reason to live?

Do you know there’s a healthier alternative? Buy Nothing! Above all, stop buying pointless shit!

Share your thoughts here below or WhatsApp directly from this link!

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The Dropped Shoulder

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How shoulder construction defines the silhouette


Considering pattern design, the dropped shoulder is a construction we tend to favour.
Why? It doesn’t make you feel compressed. Moving the silhouette away from the body changes the proportion by giving a fresh, contemporary image. Moreover, this design provides a comfortable fit and an easy-to-wear versatile style. But unfortunately, some people think a drop-shoulder jacket is just a big size.

Inspiration comes from Miyake, a game-changer in fashion:

“From the beginning I thought about working with the body in movement, the space between the body and clothes. I wanted the clothes to move when people moved. The clothes are also for people to dance or laugh.”

Issey Miyake


The shape of the shoulder is an essential element as it defines the silhouette; its pattern intersects with the sleeve design, providing a functional imprint to a garment.

Dropped shoulder vs set-in sleeve: what is the difference?


The term set-in sleeve describes the armhole seam placed right on the shoulder point. On the contrary, the dropped shoulder describes sleeves where the armhole position falls on the top of the arm. But, those who don’t understand this design detail say the garment size is big.

Specifically, not sewing the sleeves of the garment at the highest point of the shoulder allows more room for movement and comfort. In fact, that pattern works particularly well for garments that require a lot of arm movement, such as coats, jackets, blousons, sweaters and t-shirts.

A set-in sleeve offers a more formal, professional look. However, it really depends on how you put together your clothes. In other words, it depends on the occasion, your usual style, and how curious you are to try something that makes your body feel less compressed.

The proportion of the drop-shoulder garment creates a modern balance of volume when paired with slim-fit trousers or skirts. But even a full boyfriend silhouette looks cool.

Drop shoulder pieces tend to be oversized, so they are way more comfortable and look good on everyone. Furthermore, they’re versatile, meaning you can dress them up or down, depending on the occasion.

On a last note, the dropped shoulder works well for the layering style, which offers the perfect solution in times of unstable weather (and climate change).

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Stop Killing Innocents!

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Nurturing seeds of peace in a polarised reality


Protesters march in the major cities to demand a cease-fire in Gaza: stop killing innocents! Even Jewish activist groups are demanding it. Tavi Gevinson is among the Jewish writers who signed an open letter: Critiquing the State of Israel is not antisemitic. These voices are like seeds of peace, attempting to overcome divisions.

On October 7, Hamas perpetrated a brutal attack on Israeli towns and kibbutzes, killing 1400 people – innocent civilians; an immense horror strongly condemned. But the consequent massacre of Palestinians by Israel is even worse. The revenge is genocide: Israelis killed thousands of people. In Gaza, about half the population is under 18. 

The matter of Palestine and Israel is complex. Also, it hides layers of prejudice, taking this or that political side and polarizing the debate, dumping the consequences on innocent people and children.

“During times of conflict and suffering, we can only hope that outsiders who are not immediately affected will nurture seeds of peace. The job of intellectuals, artists and scholars is to try and go deeper. To try and see the complexity of reality, especially in today’s climate of post-truth. It feels intellectually and emotionally lazy to just pick a side.” – Yuval Noah Harari (historian and author).

On both sides, there’s so much pain and grief. To understand what’s going on, we found illuminating Doctor Gabor Maté’s video. Gabor Maté is a Hungarian naturalised Canadian physician, best-selling author and speaker. Renowned addiction expert sought after for his expertise on trauma, addiction, stress and childhood development. Also, he is a Holocaust survivor.

Indeed, his personal life experience lived the brutality of the Nazis, and such a horrendous trauma impacted him as a child. So, we share his latest video here below.


How far does Israel want to go with revenge? Furthermore, to what extent can the international community accept infringements on the Geneva Convention?

When we read about the Nazis, one of the questions is: how could people remain silent? Silence equals passive complicity, so we cannot make the same mistake now.

Above all, we need to overcome divisions by nurturing seeds of peace. So, we stand with those who demand to stop killing innocents!

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PFAS: An Invisible Enemy

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Environment, pollution and fashion


There’s a scary, invisible enemy: PFAS chemicals. Found in everything from your favourite outdoor jacket to the drinking water you consume, these chemicals pose a serious threat to both the environment and human health.

To better understand this threat, we attended a Greenpeace meeting at Arci Bellezza with Fashion Revolution, Mamme NO PFAS, CNR, IRSA, and Consorzio Italiano Detox.

We were familiar with the topic thanks to “Dark Waters” – a remarkable movie with Mark Ruffalo. Indeed, contamination is known worldwide: read more on Le Monde.

What are PFAS chemicals?


What are PFAS chemicals?
PFAS (poly and perfluoroalkyl compounds) are a large group of synthetic molecules (over 10 thousand) produced only by human activities. Also called forever chemicals, meaning once released into the environment, we’ll never get rid of them!

What are the health risks?
They are dangerous for health and associated with numerous pathologies, even serious ones, including some forms of cancer. Several European states asked to ban them.

Where are PFAS used for?
Industries have used PFAS since the 1950s to produce numerous commercial products: fabric waterproofers, carpets, leathers, insecticides, firefighting foams, paints, food container lining, non-stick pans, floor wax, detergents and beauty products.

Fashion industry and PFAS
From outdoor garments to water-repellent materials, raincoats, jeans, and undies. The fashion industry uses these chemicals throughout the manufacturing cycle.

The contamination in Lombardy


Greenpeace detected PFAS in the waters of many Lombardy municipalities, including Milan. Carried out on a sample of data – by an independent accredited laboratory – the analyses highlighted the presence of PFAS in 11 drinking water samples out of the 31 collected. In four cases, the PFAS concentration is higher than the limit of the European Directive 2020/2184. In seven cases, the results show variable total PFAS concentrations.

Among the speakers Greenpeace has invited, Michela’s words, a member of “Mamme NO PFAS” – was really powerful! A mother from the Veneto region, the most impacted area, found out her daughter’s blood contained a high quantity of these chemicals. So, she joined other mothers to make their voices heard by politicians, inspiring others to do so.

PFAS: An invisible enemy – How can we protect ourselves?


Being informed on contaminated areas, filter the tap water. However, some articles say to limit the use of products containing chemicals. Which sounds like “take your poison, but take it responsibly!”
But, given that PFAS are an invisible enemy, can we really protect ourselves from them?

We believe addressing single fields, such as fashion, agriculture or others, is relatively effective because there is a major cause we need to address. And this major cause is our economic system, capitalism, which sucks life out of the planet as well as out of humans.

Furthermore, how can we humans consider ourselves intelligent when we pour pollutants into the water, poisoning our own environment?

Donate to Greenpeace to support their investigations!

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Fashion and Books

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Can fashion be a vehicle of culture?


Last week, we attended an event at Nonostante Marras, Antonio Marras‘ store. It was an intimate gathering that connected the worlds of fashion and books.

Fashion: a set for books


With its eclectic mix of fashion, art, and interior design, the shop perfectly reflects the designer’s personality. Indeed, the internal courtyard, filled with plants, provided a serene and welcoming atmosphere. A lovely place for the book launch of “Ostaggio” (Hostage) by Maria Francesca Chiappe.

Lately, fashion doesn’t seem the place for cultural gatherings. Imagine books! According to the ISTAT (National Institute of Statistics), in 2022, 39.3% of the population aged six and over read at least one book a year.
However, we appreciate people who challenge massified trends by offering alternative views for those who still love reading.

The journalist, Giorgio Porrà, conducted a friendly interview with the writer, Maria Francesca Chiappe, who shared her experiences as a reporter in Sardinia and her inspiration for her latest crime novel. Over her career as a reporter, she witnessed so much blood that she doesn’t want to dig into that in her books. So, no blood, her genre is a pure crime.

Fashion and books


What is the book about?


The book is set in Cagliari, Sardinia, during Covid-19. A woman disappears from her home in Poetto. Her car is in the courtyard, car doors open, keys in the ignition, while her five-year-old daughter desperately cries in the yard.
There’s no English translation for now, but you can practise your Italian!

The writer explained the title “Hostage” reflects the many layers of meaning behind the word. And the challenge of distinguishing between good and evil, somehow tracing a line that perfectly separates them.

During the Q&A, someone asked her: “Who do you write for? Do you have someone in mind?” The author replied: “When I write, I do it for myself. I enter into my world, and it’s my moment of pleasure.”
As to say, writing is not just a matter of marketing! Which we loved!

The event ended with a delicious buffet of Sardinian food and an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. We adored meeting Maria Francesca Chiappe and the Marras family! But also Guido, a passionate independent bookseller and owner of “Libreria Popolare.”

Books in a fashion context showcase the importance of preserving a diverse perspective in a homologated society. Indeed, fashion needs to be a vehicle for culture.

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