Fashion & lifestyle

What Did You Wear During Your Summer Holidays?

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Rethinking fashion in a boiling world – evolved style in the context of climate change


A question many of us hear: What did you wear during your summer holidays? On the surface, it might seem trivial – a simple conversation starter. But in reality, the question touches on something deeper, reflecting our values and the state of our planet.

Indeed, fashion may seem naive, but it is not. We, humans, are social animals, so we dress for work, special occasions, time off or holidays. In fact, the fashion industry is huge and the effects are well known.

Despite growing awareness, the trend of consuming mass-produced, disposable fashion persists. This need to constantly showcase new looks comes at a steep price – one paid by our planet, which is literally heating up as a result of our choices.

This doesn’t work anymore.

Overconsumption, disposable fashion, and the ‘buy and toss’ mentality belong to a past that is wreaking havoc on our present. It’s time to shift our mindset, rethink these habits, and embrace a more sustainable approach to fashion.

What did you wear during your summer holidays?
Holidays in Basilicata – Summer style #formodernhumans

Meaningful pieces: evolved style #formodernhumans


So, what did we wear during our summer holidays? The answer is simple: the same meaningful garments that have been the staples in our urban wardrobes. This is the essence of meaningful pieces – they’re the only garments worth owning. When paired just right, they effortlessly take you from the city streets to the sandy beaches, offering a unique and timeless style. 

Meaningful garments are the result of thoughtful design: quality pieces with a timeless aesthetic – made to last. Our Spring/Summer 24 selection includes versatile shirts, dresses, t-shirts, and shorts, crafted from silk to cotton and lace, all adaptable for multiple occasions. In fact, thoughtful fashion in limited pieces is our focus.

The bottom line? We don’t need more. With waste piling up everywhere, it’s time to reject ‘garbage fashion.’ What we need is less – much less – but better. Fewer pieces, higher quality.

As climate change intensifies and our planet heats up, the urgency to act grows stronger. Now, more than ever, meaningful pieces are the only ones worth having. The true style alternative #formodernhumans

And you? What did you wear during your summer holidays?

We’re Back and Thrilled to Connect with You Again!

We’ve missed you! Dive into our latest post, and don’t hesitate to reach out – we’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, feedback, or just want to say hello, we’re all ears. Let’s start a conversation!

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A Pause in a Boiling World

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Confronting climate change during the hottest summer ever


After a brief pause from writing, we’re confronted with a stark reality: the world isn’t just metaphorically but literally boiling. This realisation resonates deeply with us, not only with our work in the fashion industry but also with our entire lives.

Over the past few weeks, we journeyed through Italy, from Milano to the tranquil landscapes of Basilicata. Along the way, we immersed ourselves in beautiful places, savouring the food, connecting with people, and even grappling with Wi-Fi issues that forced us to momentarily step back from blogging. But what left the most profound impression was the relentless heat. The scorching temperatures, the unnaturally boiling seawater, everywhere. This was an unprecedented experience that made the reality of climate change feel more tangible than ever.

The summer of 2024 is now officially the hottest on record.

A Pause in a Boiling World
Basilicata – Marina di Pisticci


This extreme weather is having a profound impact not only on production chains and labourers but also on consumer habits and retailers. Yet, the fashion industry remains largely indifferent to this urgent crisis. Instead of responding to these challenges, the slowdown in consumer spending and the resulting decline in brand revenues are driving the industry in the opposite direction.

According to Business Of Fashion “Sustainability teams at big brands have been hit with layoffs; some companies have watered down their climate targets; and others are deprioritising sustainability efforts to focus on growth amid market volatility.”

Faced with financial pressures, the fashion system is prioritising growth and profitability, relegating sustainability to the background. Even the industry’s outward commitment to sustainability is starting to crumble.
Are we about to witness the facade completely collapse?

And so, in this moment of pause in a boiling world, the harsh reality of climate change compelled us to question everything.

How can we ignore the effects of this climate crisis on our lives and our work? Can the fashion industry really continue with business as usual? Should we reopen our boutiques as if nothing has changed? Is it possible to approach the Spring/Summer 2025 buying season without acknowledging the profound shifts happening around us?

Moreover, should we rush into the new Fall/Winter 2024-25 season? Still clinging to the outdated practice of dividing collections by season?

These are questions we can no longer avoid. The reality of our boiling world demands a thoughtful and immediate response.

We’re Back and Thrilled to Connect with You Again!

We’ve missed you! Dive into our latest post, and don’t hesitate to reach out – we’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, feedback, or just want to say hello, we’re all ears. Let’s start a conversation!

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Earth Overshoot Day 2024 & Fashion

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Considerations for shopping, overconsumption and the imminent buying season


August 1st marked Earth Overshoot Day 2024, meaning that in just seven months, we have consumed all the resources the planet can regenerate in a year. What does this mean for the fashion industry and our lifestyle?

The fashion industry is characterised by overproduction and excessive shopping. While brands aggressively promote overconsumption, consumers are often caught up in the desire to buy more, driven by frivolous thoughts. Only a few people consider deeper, more sustainable practices. As we enter the eighth month of the year, we have already used up the natural resources the Earth can regenerate annually. This means that from now until December 31st, we will be depleting resources that the Earth cannot naturally replenish.

Overshoot Day: Understanding calculation and global impact


Overshoot Day is calculated by determining the number of days Earth’s resources can sustain humanity’s ecological footprint. In simpler terms, we take the planet’s biocapacity – the amount of ecological resources the Earth can generate in a year – and divide it by our annual ecological footprint – the amount of natural resources humans consume in a year. This result is then multiplied by the 365 days of the year.

The ecological footprint varies by country because each nation has different amounts of resources and uses them in various ways, such as land for agriculture, water reserves, electricity, and marine areas. Therefore, each country has its own Overshoot Day.

This year, the first country to exceed its ecological capacity was Qatar (February 11), followed by Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. Italy wasn’t far behind, reaching its Overshoot Day on May 19. The last countries to exceed their ecological capacity this year will be Indonesia and Ecuador on November 24, 2024.

Conclusion: Earth Overshoot Day & Fashion


Given that in just seven months we have already consumed the natural resources the Earth can generate in a year, it begs the question: are sustainable brands planning to stop their production? On what basis can we begin the buying season for fashion stores? And how can people continue to consume, travel, and live excessively while ignoring this fundamental fact?

What the heck are we doing? Perhaps, a true understanding of it should make us stop everything and pause. It should compel us to reconsider not only the fashion industry but our lifestyle as a whole.

But you can sleep well; no one will move a finger.

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Fashion Reshuffling: The Game of Musical Chairs and its Impact on Consumers

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An industry lost in translation, struggling to grasp the change


These days, we are witnessing a fashion reshuffling, a game of musical chairs that mirrors the unserious behaviour of politics. Indeed, by hopping from chair to chair, trying not to lose visibility or power, fashion imitates politics.


The turbulence of fashion creative directors’ reshuffling


Recent news reports that Peter Hawkings is stepping down from his role at Tom Ford, Galliano will exit Margiela next autumn, and Virginie Viard has just left Chanel. Where are they headed next? Here and there, come and go. The industry is abuzz with speculation. In fashion, as in politics, enjoy the game!

This excessive mixing has significant effects: brands lose consistency, and consumer trust erodes. In fact, the original design codes and unique DNA that identified each Maison become blurred, making the brands look all the same. But egos are bigger than ever in the fashion industry. And so, keeping the chair – whatever it is – is the ultimate goal for designers.

Entering the era of creative directors frequent changes


It seems we are entering an era of frequent changes in fashion Maisons. This constant reshuffling and the game of musical chairs is becoming the norm. While a designer moving to a new brand might result in a short-term revenue boost, in the long run, brands lose consistency and integrity, risking their image. But for many designers, this game is the lifeblood of their egos.

However, the market for luxury goods is slowing down. Even strong brands and corporations struggle mainly because of the declining demand from Chinese and US clients. Additionally, a probe has linked brands such as Armani and Dior to sweatshops. Of course, they are not the only ones exploiting labour. Sadly, the practice is familiar to modern corporations. So talking about who goes where is the easiest way to avoid discussing these fundamental issues.

In light of this, we wonder: can the CEOs feel the deep change occurring in the fashion industry? Can they sense the earthquake shaking the foundation of a fashion system that has lost its way? Is it possible that consumers are realising luxury is no longer what it once was?

Conclusion


In conclusion, to combat the industry’s slowdown, fashion houses are increasingly relying on the vision of creative directors, leading to frequent rotations at the helm of major Maisons. However, this fashion reshuffling addresses only a symptom of a much deeper issue: the loss of luxury’s true essence and the collapse of an outdated and inflexible system. Ultimately, can the industry believe that this game of musical chairs will resurrect the fortunes of its once-glorious past?

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Fashion Devastation and Mindless Shopping

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Another example of people’s inaction in hunting for cheap clothing


Last week, we witnessed yet another TV program highlighting the immense devastation caused by the fashion industry and mindless shopping. This time, the focus was specifically on the fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion segments, although the issue pertains to the fashion system as a whole.

The program “Newsroom,” titled “Buy, Wear, and Toss,” covered aspects we’ve discussed repeatedly. Indeed, there was nothing new.

“Every year, 150 billion new pieces of clothing are produced worldwide, sold at rock-bottom prices, and of increasingly poor quality. They are worn only a few times, then end up at the back of the closet and are never used again. But what happens when we get rid of them? Where do all these clothes end up? The episode follows their long journeys to Ghana – where they pollute the beaches and the ocean – and the Atacama Desert in Chile, magnificent places that have become immense open-air dumps. Behind every t-shirt sold for a few euros, there is not only pollution but also the exploitation of low-cost labour and a huge business on which organised crime has also set its sights.”

Fashion devastation means overproduction, overconsumption, waste, pollution, exploited workers and modern-day slavery. We have explored these topics in detail in previous posts:

The land of waste
From fast to ultra-fast: a cultural regression
Fashion waste visible from space
Behind the Seams: Fashion Industry & Forced Labour


Conclusion


These are just a few examples, as we frequently share news, information, and thoughts on these crucial matters. Indeed, discussing style without setting priorities would be naive and utterly pointless.

In the end, no piece of clothing that costs just a few euros comes without the exploitation of a worker. However, one image powerfully captured the fashion devastation and mindless shopping: a man standing on heaps of garbage, mountains of clothing piling up, holding a tag from a certified green company. Sad irony! The consequences of mindless shopping in the Global North significantly impact the Global South. That conveys a clear idea of how fake the façade of sustainability in the fashion industry is.

While we are glad to see these issues gaining attention, as we have explored over the past five years of blogging, we feel a sense of bitterness in realising that nothing ever changes.

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