sustainability

Evolution vs Revolution

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Exposing the flaws of a broken system


Exposing the flaws of contemporary economic systems raises a crucial question: do we need evolution or revolution? The Italian economist Guido Maria Brera released an interview to a daily newspaper which provided another piece, a fundamental block, that perfectly completes the picture of a broken system.

“With globalization, the weaker classes gave in to the masochistic exchange of their rights for cheap goods. Fashion, household appliances, mobile phones became affordable and gave the illusion of well-being. In the meantime, homes, education and healthcare are becoming less accessible. The result is dramatic: rights, hardly won, bartered for goods.”
– Guido Maria Brera said.

In short, cheap goods have distorted the economy. But the issues aren’t confined to one industry only, they extend far beyond. In fact, the entire system is corrupted.

By the way, reflecting on Brera’s words, the need for a change stands out. However, we thought it was just a matter of evolving, considering evolution that natural process which is part of human beings’ growth. In other words, we believed we simply needed to move to the next level of improvements.

But a system that is collapsing, a system that is completely broken, perhaps doesn’t need to be revised. Mere revision or adjustments here and there, wouldn’t work. If we just put a patch on it, we will not find a good solution. Because of common sense, we are feeding dinosaurs that have lost their purpose. Most importantly, it’s impossible to find new ways if we follow old patterns. Once we understand this, the next step to take gets more clear. Now it is time to challenge what we take for granted.

And, to achieve this, we do not need evolution–we need a revolution.
Reset and reinvent everything from scratch: education – economy – work – fashion – lifestyle.
Everything!

Evolution vs Revolution Read More »

The Wake-up Call

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Lifestyle is constantly evolving.
It’s not about hectic fashion anymore, that time is over.
We learned the lesson, so we are evolving towards a new era based on consciousness.
The pandemic is our wake-up call. Pollution, climate change, social issues, racism, our behaviour of the past led us here. Now, we must think about what kind of world we want.

Fashion as a reflection of who we are must be involved in the lifestyle evolution process. It’s about understanding the core values, so, as a consequence, we search for a design that fits our new vision.
Creativity takes time to express itself, manufacturing quality items takes time. Trust takes time too.
No need to hurry, not anymore. Slow is ok. Indeed, the process of consciousness takes time.

So, after the wake-up call, what we are doing is working toward change for the better.
But don’t underestimate small changes. Even modest changes in our lifestyle can have a significant impact.

Every choice we make, from what we wear to how we consume, contributes to this transformation. Awareness is the first step, but action is what truly drives change. Both collective effort and individual responsibility shape our future.

2021 is our blank page. Reset and restart with us.

The Wake-up Call Read More »

Who Has A Voice

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Exploring power dynamics in the fashion industry and the role of sustainability advocates


Who has a voice in the fashion industry? And who do you think has a say on sustainable matters in fashion?
One of the many problems with sustainable fashion is that those who have a voice in discussing the topic are exactly the same ones who created the toxic environment. Same faces, same brands, and same interests. That is the trick, unfortunately.

The dynamics behind those who have a voice


Brands’ owners set up a system based on massive overproduction, to be disposed of through inflated budgets to retailers. Off-price malls packed with discounted items. Plus, there was a parallel market to reach those retailers who wanted to buy certain brands but could not officially do so. As a result, all the maisons realised they could increase the budget to retailers, knowing that retailers, in turn, would resell through a parallel network, feeding that toxic system.
All the operators knew how it worked, but since they were making a lot of money, it was fine. No complaints! As it was acceptable to do the worst things in the name of god-money. Now that the industry collapsed, they’ve started questioning it.

So, the industry operated through mono brand retail, department stores, parallel market, off-price stores–creating an over-saturated market. But how many fashion items those enlightened CEOs and managers did believe people could buy? Is the fact that they are no longer making money as they did enough for us believe in their redemption? We could invite Hannibal Lecter to the table, but perhaps, serving only vegetables will not be enough to change his tastes in food.

Who has a voice and influence on the sustainability discussion are exactly those who created the problem.

Ultimately, if we believe we can search for the value of sustainability among the same old faces, listening to their voice, we are wrong.

Who Has A Voice Read More »

The Dark Side Of Modern Society

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Exposing a system based on modern-day slavery


Scanning the dark side of fashion, we came across a document released by ASPI – Australian Strategic Policy Institute – “Uyghurs for sale”. This detailed paper leads to a sad reflection on modern society and its economic system, capitalism. A system that can thrive only by exploiting people and the planet.

The Uyghur minority


Uyghur is an Islamic minority from the far west region of Xinjiang. The Chinese government has facilitated Uyghur and other ethnic minority citizens’ mass transfers from Xinjiang to factories that operate in the supply chains of about 83 well-known brands.


In China, 80,000 human beings live in segregated dormitories subject to constant surveillance. Put through ideological training outside working hours.

Fast-fashion brands are made in China, Bangladesh, India, Vietnam. Well, not only fast fashion brands! Therefore, we naively thought it was mainly a fashion-related issue. But learning about that horrific condition, we had to change our mind, as often happens.
Going through the pages, ASPI named various global brands, not only from the fashion field but technology and automobile too, and, of course, we know them all pretty well.

Fashion or a dark system that shapes modern society as a whole?


The dark side of fashion, that was supposed to be the point. At least we initially believed it was a matter that identified one industry only. But, in the end, we acknowledged that there is a common thread that links all manufacturing, the whole economic system. Capitalism, indeed.

Although we believe it is crucial to uncover fashion issues to move towards a better society, it is clear that exploitation, environmental impact, disposable goods, and lack of inclusivity, are issues that regard our modern society in full.
Perhaps, it is not about fashion but human behaviour, the greed that characterizes and dominates our economic system.

The truth is that contemporary society needs new slaves to flourish.
This must stop.

The Dark Side Of Modern Society Read More »

Fashion Is Culture

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Exploring the intersection of style, identity, and society


Fashion is culture. With the word fashion, we mean the appearance and behaviour of a social community according to a particular taste of the moment. It refers to all the style and life elements that identify a society during a specific era.

Fashion is just another way to scan our society and culture. Another lens through which we can investigate human behaviour.

We can use clothes to hide aspects of our personality or, instead, to show and express our identity. As an overall concept, we can use clothes to analyze different cultures.

How culture and fashion have evolved


Fashion is the result of a creative process that talks about our culture. The reason it became mistreated and demeaned as a vain or silly field, lies in the system itself and some external factors. Since finance took over the industry, during the 80s and 90s, the creative process has been forcibly accelerated, pushed to an extremely fast-paced model. Very little space was left for creativity.

Later on, when the internet and social media entered the scene, the creative side of fashion became completely distorted.
Fashion has undergone such strong pressure that valuable designers, like Martin Margiela, one of the greatest innovators and game-changers, decided to leave. Too much pressure, a continuous request for something new, too many products to put out in a short time. And then also, an obsessive hunger for information, in the form of silly poses and clownesque outfits.

Rather than a place for creativity, fashion became all about budgets, money and clowns. Pure business without a soul. Tangible examples are the rise of fast fashion and fashion bloggers.

But all that fast-paced overproduction, overconsumption, massive show-off was just a bubble, a system that couldn’t sustain itself in the long run. In fact, during the pandemic, it exploded.

Now that the world is re-awakening, we need to bring a new level of consciousness that puts creativity and ethical work at the heart. Slow fashion and smaller-scale production are the basis on which we can build truly sustainable models.

Fashion is culture–reflecting the values and spirit of our times.

Fashion Is Culture Read More »