sustainability

Sustainable music events: a new trend

Here’s what to know and how it ties in with fashion

Sustainable music events are trending everywhere. And it seems this has been a sustainable summer from every viewpoint: fashion, food and music.

Music events & fashion

The relationship between fashion and music is deep and intricate. Indeed, both fields represent the same culture, expressing contemporary values with different means. But, they tend to intersect more, as they need each other to promote themselves.

Now, not only do fashion events wave the sustainability flag, even music events are marketed as sustainable. Therefore, you can attend a concert, on a beach or in a park, believing you will save the planet!

Greenwashing took over communication.
And, it looks like the saying: “don’t make a promise you can’t keep” doesn’t apply to marketing.
By attending those music festivals or purchasing eco-friendly clothing, people think they are doing something good for the planet, but, on the contrary, nothing changes. Or worse, they damage it.

In some cases, it’s a matter of common sense. For instance, you don’t need a degree to understand that large crowds threaten nature. And reusable cups or collecting garbage during the event will not pay back the damage.

Sustainability or greenwashing?

Mario Tozzi, an influential voice when it comes to environmental matters, highlighted the point that many seem to miss completely:

“50 thousand people attending a concert aren’t sustainable by any natural environment, even more from our already compromised beaches.”

Mario Tozzi

Also, he reported a study from the C.N.R. (National Council of Research) on the National Park “La Maddalena” (Sardinia): every bather takes away from 50 to 100 grams of sand per day.

Music events or fashion: what separates sustainability and greenwashing

The point is made clear: numbers and quantities make the difference. A large number of people, likewise tons of quantities produced and consumed, aren’t sustainable, even if made with the best intentions.

And so, mass concerts in natural environments aren’t sustainable. That’s why it makes sense to use appropriate locations. Likewise, mass productions aren’t sustainable – whether fast fashion or luxury mass productions. Mass travels and flights aren’t sustainable, and so on.

That is the dividing line between sustainability and greenwashing. Anyone who wants to address sustainability matters seriously must start from that point. The rest is nonsense. Human beings are so many that it’s impossible to erase their impact on the planet.

But, whether misguided or due to a lack of understanding, the confusion that marketing creates is larger than the crowds attending music events!

Sustainable music events: a new trend Read More »

Why clothes?

And can we drive change through fashion?

Some people may wonder why clothes. And also if clothes can be a tool to promote change. We can find a brilliant response in Virginia Woolf’s words. Here is a quote from Orlando:

“Vain trifles as they seem, clothes have, they say, more important offices than to merely keep us warm. They change our view of the world and the world’s view of us.”

Virginia Woolf

Some authors are like anchors we can hold onto as they offer tremendously beautiful insights. Their significant perspectives help us better understand ourselves and life.

About clothes

Clothes change people’s perceptions of us. Indeed, they are part of our non-verbal language. So through them, we express our personality and our worldview.

At the same time, clothes change our view of the world. The influence is mutual. So, by making specific choices, we can have an impact. And not only on our style and image, meaning on what people can see of us at first glance. But also regarding our consciousness, so on a more profound level affirming who we are and what kind of world we want.

In that sense, we can do a lot to change. Indeed, we aren’t passive consumers but active thinkers. And by making better choices, we change the world.

So, do you wonder why clothes? And if clothes can be a tool of change?
Yes! We believe so because we do not just dress to have a better image and gain self-confidence. But by making thoughtful choices about the garments we choose to wear, we reveal that we care for people and the planet. Therefore, our thoughts, words and style correspond to our actions.

In other words, through style we bring in our contribution to change for the better.

Why clothes? Read More »

The conscious people movement

The conscious people movement, under the hashtag #formodernhumans, joins and inspires people who want to make a change. It starts from fashion but it goes beyond that. Because style tells who we are, and so does our lifestyle.

One way or the other

It’s about making a choice: one way or the other.
Our thoughtless and short-sighted actions provoked climate change. And now extreme weather is a serious threat. Therefore, the idea that everything is fine and we can take whatever the industries try to sell is dead. Fashion, food, technology, lifestyle, everything needs to be revised.

In fact, old-time patterns, economic models and human behaviours aren’t sustainable anymore.

The choice: niche vs mass market

And so, the choice is niche or mass market. Quality or quantity. Unique fashion and good design vs fast fashion. Timeless and reusable vs disposable. Conscious consumption vs overconsumption. Circularity vs waste. Also, ethical business in order to put an end to modern-day slavery. In other words, Doughnut Economics (which is a groundbreaking book by the economist Kate Raworth, a must-read!) vs capitalism and infinite growth.

The conscious people movement #formodernhumans

Conscious people make a clear and radical choice: less but better is the starting point.

We really care about this matter, so we made our choice.
Now make yours.

It’s one way or the other!

The conscious people movement Read More »

A sustainable summer!

What are we missing?

It seems summer 2022 has been a sustainable summer.

From sustainable food, to sustainable fashion, and now sustainable events. Of course, not only fashion events. In fact, the news is even music festivals are marketed as sustainable.
Did you notice?

By the way, we wonder if reusable cups or collecting garbage after big parties are enough to define an event as sustainable. Indeed we are afraid a crucial point is missing from those who plan the events. Either for ignorance or for intentional marketing purposes, that is another story.

How do you feel about it?
Is everything fine for you? Or do you have any doubts?

Drop us an email! And please, tell us what you think about this sustainable summer and the new music events trend.

We value your views, so we’d love to hear from you!

A sustainable summer! Read More »

Enslaving workers: has anything changed?

It seems clear that our economic system is based on enslaving workers. That’s how it thrives.

Here we quote an excerpt of Li Edelkoort’s talk from the Voices stage – via Business of Fashion. Edelkoort is one of the most respected trend forecasters. This talk is from 2015, definitely not something new. 

So, why it’s worth sharing again? Because nothing has changed over time!

Enslaving workers and cheap deals

Low prices are enslaving workers and destroying cultural value. 
“The manufacturing of clothes has gone through a rapid and sordid restructuring process, which has seen production leave the western world to profit from and exploit low-income countries,” said Edelkoort. “How can a product that needs to be sown, grown, harvested, combed, spun, knitted, cut and stitched, finished, printed, labelled, packaged and transported cost a couple of Euros?” she asked, comparing fashion’s supply chain to slavery.

“On the hunt for cheaper deals, volume companies, but also some luxury brands, have trusted the making of their wages to underpaid workers living in dire conditions,” she continued. “What’s more, these prices imply the clothes are to be thrown away, discarded like a condom before being loved and savoured, teaching young consumers that fashion has no value. We should make legislation to have minimum prices.”

Has anything changed so far? 

No. That’s why it makes sense to touch on this issue again.

No one planned to find solutions. Brands and governments will never do it! A spontaneous act of understanding is not part of their plans. But the pandemic has contributed to exacerbating the situation. Many people lost their job, and the working conditions are even worse now.

Seven years later, we are still just talking. And talking about change when nothing ever changes can be frustrating. We like words, but actions must follow or change won’t happen.

So we signed the “Good clothes fair pay” petition, which demands a living wage for the people who make our clothes. They need 1 million EU citizen signatures. 

Let’s help them!

Enslaving workers: has anything changed? Read More »