Tailoring vs mass products

Valuing quality over novelties

Tailoring has nothing to do with mass products. Indeed, they are two worlds apart. Why make this point clear? Because what and how we buy, links to the change we want to make. In fact, it’s about promoting a cultural shift far from the novelty-obsessed fashion industry. To this end, changing the perspective of what we consider new is crucial.

Mass products: ready to wear and trendy items

With the term mass products, we identify the “production of large quantities of a standardised article by an automated mechanical process.” Specifically, in the fashion industry, we call it pret a porter or ready to wear. In other words, mass-produced clothing with an average price range. Both top brands and the “average market” garments are mass-produced.

You can call these garments new because they come from a new collection, a current season, or a new delivery. But that doesn’t imply specific quality standards. Nor anything significant in the context of climate change.

Ready to wear is trendy based, cheaper to manufacture and convenient for the consumer. But this business model has reached a tipping point. In fact, the impact it has on the planet is devastating and undeniable. Mass-produced clothing is the result of capitalism, an economic system based on the exploitation of people and the planet’s resources. Since this system believes in endless growth, it fosters overconsumption in the shape of trendy items pushing people towards novelty obsession.

Tailoring: quality over quantity

On another level, we find tailoring. Which means pieces manufactured by artisans, made by skilled hands. Therefore, clothing from ateliers or small realities. They would provide good quality in limited quantities reducing fashion waste.

While mass products change continuously, offering new items that last a breath of wind, tailored garments focus on quality and artisanal workings. In fact, their designs don’t change that much over time. You don’t buy them because they’re trendy, but because you’ll wear them for a lifetime.

Most importantly, tailoring brings an added value, mass products, instead, represent the perpetration of a destructive system.

What if what we consider new is wrong?

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The Fringe Maxi Shirt

Genderless fashion #formodernhumans

Today we introduce The Fringe Maxi Shirt by Meagratia.

The image of this long shirt, with fringed trimming decoration, is unique and elegant. But it’s easy to wear. Since the ribbon is tone-on-tone, it features a refined monochrome pattern, which adds beautiful detailing while being delicate.

The designer creates pieces with a soul: genderless, timeless, and wearable. In fact, Meagratia’s style is special and detailed but never excessive. And this vision perfectly reflects in his capsule collection. Indeed, the Meagratia collection shows a clear idea of fashion without making too many pieces, which would be pointless from a sustainable viewpoint. Plus an excellent artisanal quality.

Discover The Fringe Maxi Shirt

About the design
Band collar shirtdress with two side slits. A yoke on the shoulders defines a comfortable fit. The design point is a rich fringed tone-on-tone trimming which embellishes the shirt along the shoulders, top front and cuffs. Specifically, the knit fringes are original and made of a special material, cut into tapes and knitted. Meagratia uses typewriter fabric (Japanese poplin cotton) that is slightly thin, supple and has a firm texture.

The Fringe Maxi Shirt
The Fringe Maxi Shirt by Meagratia

About the material
100% cotton: Japanese poplin cotton.

About the colour
Off-white base mixed with tone-on-tone decoration. The colour arrangement is elegant.

Laundry
Hand wash
Do not Bleach – Do not tumble dry – Iron medium(Use press cloth)
Dry clean: any solvent except Trichloroethylene

Styling tips
The Fringe Maxi Shirt looks well over black, khaki trousers or jeans. Because of its richness, you can wear it for special occasions too. Indeed, it’s a meaningful garment you can wear throughout the year. During the summer season, wear it as a dress and pair it with flat sandals or heels, depending on the occasion.

How to purchase from us:

Drop us an email or WhatsApp for any further information. Also, you can book your private shopping experience – physical or via video call. 

International Shipping available! 

We are based in Milano but ship our niche fashion selection #formodernhumans everywhere.

In order to provide unicity and a sustainable approach, our selection offers a limited number of pieces.

Treat yourself today! ❤️

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Sustainable fashion: hemp for clothing

Are you familiar with its properties?

Checking out Spring-Summer 23 new arrivals, we had the chance to learn more about hemp, a natural material with excellent features.

Garments’ compositions show hemp among various materials. Every time we receive orders placed months before, we check the tailoring, fit and touch the fabrics to ensure our selection matches our expectations. As to provide you with good design and quality. 
Also, during Milano Design Week, we received an invitation to view “Prototipo” – a clothing brand supported by Lampoon Magazine. An accurate design for an entire collection made of hemp. Which we found interesting!

What is hemp used for?

This material is versatile. The wide range of use goes from eco-building to cosmetics to textiles – for fashion and furnishing, food and more. Considering the environmental impact, this material offers many advantages compared to other natural fibres. 

Richard Fagerlund, an expert who has over 40 years of experience in the management of plant pests, explained that: “Cotton cultivation is probably the biggest pollutant on the planet since, occupying only 3% of the agricultural land of the world, demands 25% of the pesticides used in total. The chemicals go into the groundwater, and the poison targets not just insects, but all organisms, including humans. Furthermore, the hemp fibre is longer, more absorbent, resistant and insulating than the cotton fibre”. Also, from a cultivation viewpoint, cotton requires about twice as much water to grow as hemp. (Source)

Why is hemp a sustainable material?

  • it grows quickly
  • does not need any special care
  • the whole plant is used, therefore there is no waste.

Hemp properties

Thanks to its hollow fibre, hemp yarn with a high thermal insulating and breathable capacity, which behaves like wool: cool in summer and warm in winter. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties and can absorb moisture from the body, keeping it dry and absorbing infrared and UVA rays up to 95%. 
Furthermore, tear resistance is three times greater than that of cotton. In fact, among natural fibres, it is the most wear-resistant.

And so, hemp is a great fabric for clothing. Just an ironic note: do not try to promote a post on social media, the Meta’s algorithm doesn’t allow it! Are they afraid you get high by wearing clothes?

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Disability: life is not a cover page

Are magazine covers the means to make a change?

Put disability on a cover page, and the life of disabled people improves. But from fashion magazines’ glossy covers to real life, does anything change for those with disabilities? Is accessibility something they arrange when setting up locations, workplaces, or events?

Inclusivity in fashion

British Vogue is one of the most committed magazines on “Reframing Fashion.”

“We want to carry this on and for people to see Vogue is taking that step… We’re not perfect, but we have to create this welcoming space.”
Edward Ennigful – European editorial director of Vogue.

Indeed, considering the positive comments on covers featuring disabled models, it seems change is real and tangible.

Our experience on disability

Our viewpoint is a little different. We understand that a diverse representation may help people broaden their views. But we aren’t satisfied with it. Specifically, we would exchange cover pages with real accessibility on a daily basis to shops, events, locations and so on.

Allow us to explain. I, myself, Ro, writing this post, am a wheelchair user. A few weeks ago, Cri and I attended Milano Design Week. Apart from very few exceptions, most places weren’t accessible. Indeed, we had to exclude some venues a priori. In many other places, I had to stand up and climb one to three steps. Cri had to lift the wheelchair, carry it inside, and then I could sit again.

Thank goodness, I can do that. But what about those who cannot? Those who use electric wheelchairs?

Disability and real accessibility in fashion

Of course, it works the same in fashion showrooms. In the fashion industry, people love to discuss inclusion and diversity on social media, advertising or cover pages, but they do the opposite in everyday life.

I had a disgraceful experience with Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana a few years ago. “Because of Covid”, so they said, I couldn’t access an event they organized. The invitation was for one person, but being in a wheelchair, I needed plus one to help me. They said no. But Camera Moda proudly has a Diversity and Inclusion section! What do they not understand about disability? (You can read the full story here).

What’s the message? Disability is the subject of the cover pages, but please, don’t show up at events? Please, don’t go shopping? Don’t visit a museum or take a train?

What are we talking about showing disability on cover pages? Marketing? That’s what it is. In fact, diversity and inclusion are some of those magnificent fashion bullshit the industry loves!
Just don’t show up in real life!

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The Tate Dress

Niche fashion #formodernhumans

Today we introduce The Tate Dress by Un_namable.

The image is avant-garde but understated, refined and comfortable.

Indeed, the high-quality fabric, dyed by hand with natural colours, and the asymmetric shape make it a meaningful garment you can wear day to night just by changing the shoes.

New in this Spring-Summer season, Un_namable is an Italian brand that creates unique and timeless clothes which are, at the same time, experimental and innovative. Juxtaposing fabrics submitted to special processing and avant-garde techniques, they transform the pieces into unexpected volumes and silhouettes. The brand emphasises the value of exceptional craftsmanship and uniqueness.

Discover The Tate Dress

About the design
Sleeveless, round neckline, loose silhouette. Under-knee asymmetric length. Garment-dyed dress; its beautiful textured fabric highlights the unique design. Indeed, the hand-dyeing process provides a special hand feel and particular shape.

The Tate Dress
The Tate Dress by Un_Namable – Antenora Cross Strap Sandals

About the material
28% recycled linen, 20% hemp, and 52% recycled BCI cotton.
BCI is the acronym for Better Cotton Initiative, the world-leading sustainability initiative for cotton. Their mission is to help cotton communities survive and thrive while protecting and restoring the environment.
Also, hemp is a yarn with a high thermal insulating and breathable capacity, which behaves like wool: cool in summer and warm in winter.

About the colour
Double dark cacao, garment dyed.
All garments are dyed with pigments of natural origin. Specifically, the designer makes the colours starting from food ingredients.

Laundry
Easy-care product: wash by hand inside out in cold water. 
Reshape whilst damp.

Styling tips
The Tate dress stands out as one piece. Because of the rich texture, it works on special occasions too, just by changing the accessories. Pair it with Antenora cross strap sandals. However, to wear it for a large part of the year, layer it over leggings or underneath a sweater.

How to purchase from us:

Drop us an email or WhatsApp for any further information. Also, you can book your private shopping experience – physical or via video call. 

International Shipping available!
We are based in Milano but ship our niche fashion selection #formodernhumans everywhere.

In order to provide unicity and a sustainable approach, our selection offers a limited number of pieces.

Treat yourself today! ❤️

The Tate Dress Read More »