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Sustainable Christmas, The News Says!

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Festive season: greenwashing is on


While people hunt for cheap gifts, TV is awash with stories about sustainable Christmas. And the narrative is getting awkward. You must have heard the news describing millions of led lights that decorate towns or giant Christmas trees. Recyclable but enormous. Of course, everything happens in the spirit of a sustainable Christmas.

Millions. Giant. Any doubts? Are you ok with this version of the story?

Sustainable Christmas?


“Millions” and “sustainable” in the same sentence don’t make sense. But also, giant and sustainable sounds weird. However, in the middle of an energy crisis, with people invited to save electricity consumption, we expected something different than lights everywhere! Even the idea: “Look, we change decorations every year, but we are sustainable!” is meaningless.

Greenwashing news is the practice of reporting nonsense to manipulate people. In the end, they talk about trillions of eco-friendly decorations to promote overconsumption and disposable gifts.

Overconsumption and cheap gifts


As the Christmas season approaches, disposable product supply grows enormously. Indeed, people want more, and retailers satisfy the request, triggering a vicious cycle that leaves no hope. During the festive season, all the resolutions about mindful consumption disappear. Christmas is about finding cheap gifts, little presents that will end up soon in the trash bin. Unfortunately, our waste will not disappear.

Low-impact Christmas


This Christmas, purchase your gifts with a purpose: buy only items that will not end up in the landfill. Check materials: are they made to last? Don’t go for fast fashion or disposable items, but choose quality. For instance, a book is always a great gift.

Also, limit the packaging. Since metallic paper isn’t recyclable, use magazines, brown paper or newspapers to make your creative wrappings. And reuse your Christmas decorations, no one will be offended! Most importantly, don’t waste food.

Sustainable Christmas does not exist unless we are ready to change our habits completely. Choose meaningful gifts and inspire the others around you to see things differently.

Change the narrative and your actions to make Christmas sustainable for real!

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The Sustainability Basics

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Sustainability or greenwashing? Download the checklist to know more!

Sustainability is a vague concept, overused and confusing. When we are lucky, it’s an inspirational reference. But, in general, more than an effective change of paradigm that brands implement in their policy, it is a buzzword hiding a misleading intent. In other words, it’s greenwashing.

You happen to read about sustainable fashion, sustainable brands, and eco-conscious clothing and accessories. Indeed, sustainable labelled products are a good business. But brands label their products by claiming something that goes under zero control.

So, is there a lack of ethics? Or a lack of common sense? The discussion is open. And the business too.

Sustainability basics & how to promote a conscious shift

We understand that it is very difficult to say which garment or brand is sustainable and which is not. And it’s tricky even for those who work in the fashion industry. Imagine for a consumer!

So we thought of providing a list to help you develop critical behaviour towards your fashion purchases. Some points to help you become aware of the fashion industry’s practice and make better choices.

We made this checklist for you, and it’s free.

Download “The Sustainability Basics” list

The sustainability basics
the-sustainability-basics-suite123Download

We encourage you to download “The Sustainability Basics”, read and share it with your friends. Also, start conversations. Most importantly, don’t wait for brands to become sustainable. Educating yourself to become a conscious consumer is what you can actively do to enhance your lifestyle and change for the better.

Less stuff, more meaning is the evolved ethos #formodernhumans

By the way, we just opened the comments section on this blog. So we invite you to hit the “leave a comment” button and let us know your viewpoint. Only registered accounts can leave a comment.

Small communities can make change possible!

One last note: thank you, Leyla Jackson for your collaboration on this project!

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The New Gods: Rise and Fall Of The Celebrities Phenomenon

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How popularity drives people’s choices in today’s world


The new gods are inhabitants of our present-day civilization, celebrated like geniuses. yet, all they truly offer is their popularity–nothing more. There’s no Van Gogh, no Mozart or David Bowie among them. And no Cristobal Balenciaga or Jean Paul Gaultier. Meaning, no real geniuses.

We could summarise the latest events as “the rise and fall of the celebrities” phenomenon. And it has a lot to do with fashion brands.

The new gods are famous individuals. For some reason–perhaps not understandable to us–people put them on a pedestal. But, sooner or later, something goes wrong. So those who put them in that venerable position wake up like they had a revelation and push them down again.

The new gods & latest events


Specifically, we are talking about a couple of events that caused strong reactions.

First, much acclaimed Demna Gvasalia–considered one of the gods of fashion designers by international crowds–ended up on the slippery ground. So far applauded, even if his uglified Balenciaga seemed pointless. But, after his disgraceful campaign featuring sexualized kids, negative comments on social media multiplied. Of course, the campaign was unacceptable. However, his work was just about provocation, and perhaps he has simply run out of ideas.

By the way, so many people asked him to step down. Did they wake up altogether? Did it seem reasonable to kill Balenciaga’s heritage so far?

Second, Kayne West: rapper, producer and fashion designer. He spoke in support of the Nazis, and Twitter suspended his account. Did it make sense to listen to him, at least in the fashion field? Can his fans understand they made him rich?
(We explored the connection fashion / music here).

Celebrities and social media


These characters and their social media “emptiness” attract the masses. It’s a matter of understanding why so many people blindly fall in love with them, to the point of accepting absurdities. To the point of purchasing their products for so long, making them rich. 

Demna, Kayne. There’s a fil rouge connecting these celebrities’ phenomena, even though there are many more to mention in the club. The new gods, there are many of them! Born thanks to a shallow system based on tricking algorithms and, therefore, people. Who, in the end, proudly elevate them to a higher status.

Why masses follow the new gods


Contemporary society gives people credit for their popularity and follower base. Based on what? Are they geniuses? Do they have any valuable ideas? Any particular skill? No, their fame is everything. And provocation is all they can do. Out of that, nothing arises.

But they can move a lot of money. Simply because so many people give them credit.

Marketing plays a huge role in hammering with advertising and social campaigns. If someone invests money, it’s not difficult to influence people and make more money. They will trust blindly!

Individuals lose connections with their brain activity and buy into any product or idea, even if they make no sense!

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Consumption Habits & Sustainability: Are We Missing The Point?

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Between consumerism and lifestyle choices


The conversation about having responsible consumption habits seems to get wider attention. Of course, not the central role it should have, becoming the heart of every serious discussion. But, at least, there is a growing interest in this matter.

The impact of consumerism  


More people acknowledge that our actions have an impact on the planet. Specifically, our mindless consumerist culture is causing irreversible climate and ecological breakdown. And irreversibility is a fact we cannot ignore.

However, what leaves us quite perplexed is the idea of splitting consumption habits into multiple areas. In fact, we see sustainable fashion, sustainable tourism, organic food, and so on. On the one hand, segmenting helps to tackle the issue field by field. But on the other hand, it brings along a certain inconsistency.

Sustainable consumption habits: are we missing the point?


First, communication tells us that green-labelled products consumption will solve the issue. Second, you can consume sustainable products in your favourite segment and get away with it. For instance, you can purchase sustainable fashion garments but care less about wasting food. There’s no logic in that!

Shifting our behaviour towards healthier consumption habits is a lifestyle choice. So, it regards every product we purchase and any experience.

Therefore, we can promote sustainable fashion, tourism, furniture, and food. Automobiles and technology. But to make our behaviour effective, sustainability must embrace all our individual choices. We need to develop a conscious behaviour towards life. 

The line that separates sustainability and greenwashing is very subtle. Our lifestyle doesn’t become sustainable because we buy more green products. We can make products with eco-friendly materials, but still, we will impact the environment. 

We can only reduce our impact on the planet by consuming less—much less. It’s a matter of lifestyle. Adopting a sustainable approach means stopping what we’ve been doing.

And so, are you ready to change your consumption habits?

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Mulesing Free: What Does It Mean?

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And why should fashion care about it?


Mulesing is a cruel practice used in merino sheep farms. Actually, it’s a word we weren’t familiar with. But we realise that addressing fashion that respects people, nature, and animals requires much attention.

While placing our Fall/Winter 22-23 orders, we looked through the Plantation 1982 line sheet to pick our favourite clothes. And so, we had the chance to read about this technique.

“The merino wool used for this pullover is mulesing-free, to help improve animal welfare” – so the line sheet said.
One of the reasons why we particularly appreciate Japanese brands like Plantation is that they provide detailed information not only about the design but the material, too. Indeed, they explain why the designing team selected a specific fabric highlighting all the characteristics.

After reading about this particular merino wool, we researched a bit and discovered a horrendous way of getting this material from sheep.

mulesing free merino wool


Mulesing: what is it?


Especially in Australia and Asia, sheep are bred to have wrinkly skin to get more wool per animal. But the wrinkles retain urine and moisture, attracting more parasites that can eat the sheep alive. To prevent this kind of parasitic infection, ranchers perform “mulesing.” They force the sheep onto their backs, block their legs and rip off the skin from the backsides without any painkiller.

This mutilating practice is brutal torture! So we must stop it and find other ways to get the wool.

What is the alternative?


The good news is that the solution already exists: mulesing-free wool. It is a careful shearing practice which respects animal welfare. Therefore the sheep do not undergo any mutilation or antiparasitic treatment harmful to the animal, operators and final customers who get in contact with the wool.

No mulesing: responsible fashion


Fashion designers are responsible for finding respectful ways of making their garments. They must hold themselves accountable for how they conceive and produce their clothing. And find alternative ethical approaches for the fashion industry.

Perhaps we cannot grant sustainability–no one really can! Even those who wave the eco/green buzzwords. But we do our best to select specific quality materials and meaningful garments. In other words, fashion in respect of people, the planet and animals.

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