formodernhumans

Violence against women

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A victim shares her story of abuse with us

Violence against women is gender-based violence, either physical, sexual or psychological. But economical too. In fact, it is a form of abuse very present in modern society in which patriarchy prevails.

Italy mourns the death of 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin, found stabbed and wrapped in plastic on the 18th of November, 2023. She had been staying with ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta at the time. And he had been on the run since November 11 when security cameras got him fighting with Giulia on tape. Now, he’s been picked up by police in Germany.

With the necessary rise in awareness of gender-based discrimination and in honour of the 25th of November – the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women, we are taking the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the prevalence of these violating acts by telling one from an anonymous victim.

An ordinary report of abuse

22 November, 2023- 9:22, morning
The sky was overcast, and the tram screeched on the tracks, forcing her to push her headphones closer to her ears to block out the sound. Stepping into the sea of people, she took a deep breath, finding a small space for her to stand by the door. It wasn’t unusual that the public transit was this crowded in the morning. But the stress from days prior had really taken a toll on her. She hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, and the previous day, she had experienced a panic attack from overwork and stress. So it was safe to say that she didn’t think anything else could go wrong.

The ride was smooth for a while, people bumping into one another as the tram car took sharp turns. As the tram halted at its next stop, more people crowded in behind her, packing the tram so unbelievably full that it didn’t seem possible for the vehicle to keep moving. With a shove to her back, she found herself pushed against the wall of the tram. Even if she tried to move, it was useless. It was then that she felt the breath of someone behind her, a little too close, even in the crowded car.

With the shoving and moving of the sea of people, she felt a hand slip to the upper part of her leg, just under her rear end. No, she was not going to deal with this today. The hand searched, groping and feeling, sending the woman into a frenzied panic. Still stressed from the days before, she screamed, but to no avail. People couldn’t move. It was too tightly packed, and it’s not like anyone else could see what was happening. The tram slammed its brakes to a stop, and the person behind shoved her into the opening doors, sending her body flying toward the wall, smashing her arm between her own body and the sharp corner by the door opening.

Stop gender-based violence

As horrifying as this incident may be to hear about, this is an occurrence that is all too common. Men consistently harass women this way, especially on public transportation. Here it is easier for harassers to victimize others since the space is small, tightly packed, and sealed.

When speaking to other women about this issue, the common theme between all of them was empathy, sadness, and the common phrase ‘I can relate.’

What kind of world are we living in when such a tragedy is commonplace? Enough that the majority of women can relate?

This story is only one of thousands, millions. Women from all over have stories of situations just like this, harassed just because of their gender. Despite the progress made as women in the hierarchy of society, we must keep pushing forward, this is unfair. Violence against women needs to stop!

#NOEXCUSE

Fashion, connection and micro communities

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How a niche fashion selection ties in with change

Fashion, connection and micro communities have something in common. Indeed, given our disaffection with social media, we promote opportunities to connect in smaller groups. That is to discuss fashion and lifestyle in the face of climate change.

Our new approach to fashion:

The starting point is our capsule selection of independent international brands and Japanese fashion. So, we begin picking out meaningful garments featuring a good design imprint and a timeless aesthetic. Clothes you won’t find everywhere.
Specifically, we assemble a fashion capsule selection intentionally limited. Do you know why?
It’s the only way we can offer uniqueness and a sustainable approach. Indeed, brands keep talking about how good they are with their sustainable practices. But, still, overproduction is their business pattern. Therefore, they flood the market with large quantities of clothes. Of course, that model isn’t sustainable at all! However, fashion greenwashing works pretty well.

From climate change to a new vision of fashion

We refuse the status quo. The climate emergency is tangible, and this topic is the heart of our radically different approach to fashion. So we send back to brands their overproduction pattern and try to conduct business our way.

In other words, the climate emergency led us to see fashion with different eyes. Through our capsule selection, we communicate our new attitude towards clothing and life. And we wish to engage with people who are on the same path. Or, at least, curious to know more about what’s going on and, most importantly, how we can reduce our impact on the planet with our daily actions.

Connection and micro communities

But that kind of deeper connection hardly grows on social media. That’s why we favour interaction in smaller communities, whether in person or online. Though we show our selection on the web, we take care of all the buying, styling and blogging processes. We interact personally with anyone who gets in touch with us.

So, fashion, connection and micro communities tie in with the change. Connections are real. And, over time, they get deeper by developing trust and respect. Local or not, the quality of interactions and the garments selected make the difference! Above all, our loyal customers aren’t just customers. They support a different vision of the world.

Get in touch with us directly from here!

The Noel Shirt

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Contemporary fashion #formodernhumans

Today, we introduce The Noel Shirt by GoodNeighbors Shirts – from our Japanese fashion selection.

Music and art inspire the GoodNeighbors Shirts collections. Indeed, by playing with functional and stylish details, its 7-day shirt concept is contemporary and perfectly suitable to a modern lifestyle. 

Skilled hands of craftsmen take care of the tailoring process in downtown Tokyo. And a special attention on reducing the use of fossil fuels limits its environmental impact.

Garment values: timeless, seasonless, genderless, comfortable, easy-care.

Discover The Noel Shirt

About the design
Noel is a well-tailored regular collar shirt with a wide silhouette. In addition, one front open pocket and one side slip pocket. The shoulders are comfortable, and the trapeze line slightly widens towards the hem. Specifically, this unisex shirt is made with delicate stitch work using 90 and 20 stitches. Also, there’s a pocketable and portable band on the back with snap buttons, which is attachable or detachable to your liking. Takase shell button front closure. These shell buttons are the byproduct of the food manufacturing process, which otherwise would be wasted, making them sustainable.

The Noel Shirt

About the material
100% cotton. The firm, highly textured fabric is a comfortable, wide fabric that resembles hotel sheets. 

About the colour
Dark Gray, with a detachable yellow band on the back. 

Laundry
Easy care. Wash by hand.

Styling tips
The Noel Shirt is a refined addition to your workwear outfits. Pair it with black trousers for a formal occasion. Or dress it down with jeans for a casual one. Also, we like overlapping two shirts. By the way, seasonless clothes are a great sustainable choice, so match this shirt with your clothes and wear it all year round.

How to purchase our selection:

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

International Shipping available!
From Milano, our fashion selection #formodernhumans is available for international delivery.

Exclusive Fashion
Our selection intentionally offers limited pieces to ensure uniqueness and a sustainable approach 🖤

● Further details and prices via →WhatsApp

👉 Get yours directly from here!

Protests in Bangladesh

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How the fashion industry leads workers to starvation

Large protests are happening in Bangladesh, where garment workers demand higher wages. Following clashes with the police, who used tear gas and rubber bullets, four textile workers have died. Sadly, they paid with their own life the demand for better pay.

Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives, the dozens who ended up in hospitals and also those who still protest for a decent living.

The fashion industry & the poverty wage

Low wages made Bangladesh the second largest clothing exporter after China, developing a huge industry for the country. There are about four million garment workers, mostly women, whose wages are the lowest in the world. In addition, the inflation and the devaluation of the taka against the US dollar (30% from the beginning of 2023) created unsustainable conditions for workers.

According to the government, monthly pay would rise by 56,25% to 12,500 taka – 114 USD. Basically, they want to keep workers under the poverty line. But workers want more: “Prices are skyrocketing. We are just demanding decent pay. We will not return to work until our demands are met,” one of the protesters said. Isn’t it understandable? In fact, workers ask for 208 USD a month in pay.

Fashion and workers’ rights

Specifically, garment workers in Bangladesh make clothes for large groups such as H&M, Zara, Gap, and Levi’s. Brands like Next, Asos, New Look and Inditex (Zara) say they support workers. Which is good, but words aren’t enough; they must pay more! That’s how they can back workers for real.

About ten years after the Rana Plaza collapse, garment factories packed in a nine-story building, but nothing has changed. The fashion industry learned no lesson. Beyond the beautiful facades or (fake) ethical practices, exploitation is still the most convenient pattern for capitalism to make a high profit. And so famous brands make profits on the backs of workers.

Protests for a decent living

Now let’s also consider the millions of consumers who, every day, go shopping for brands whose manufacturing scheme is well-known. Perhaps they don’t mind workers’ rights since they aren’t directly affected. Do low prices attract your attention? Do you think before purchasing a new piece of clothing whose price is so cheap it couldn’t cover any manufacturing cost? And do you feel okay supporting a vision of the world based on forced labour?

Protests are going on in Bangladesh, demanding a decent living. People lost lives, and many others are starving. It seems that brands do not question their sourcing and manufacturing policy. But what about you: how can you close your eyes when shopping?

Ignoring Black Friday’s impact

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Is overconsumption the only reason to live?

Despite the abundance of information available, people still ignore Black Friday’s impact.

Indeed, it’s essential to remember the truth behind it. This promotional event is a dangerous marketing trick. In fact, it leads to toxic, mass overconsumption and generates monstrous quantities of waste harmful to the environment. But our planet cannot sustain this economic and lifestyle system, so we need to stop.

As a retailer, if you participate in sales and promotions such as Black Friday, you contribute to a system that has failed.
This system does not offer a place for change and encourages you to foster the status quo by ignoring reality.

The fashion system, as well as any other industry, does not make reasonable or sustainable quantities. On the contrary, it produces large amounts in excess; the sole purpose is to maximise profits. Unfortunately, they do it at the expense of people and the planet.

Against Black Friday’s wastefulness #formodernhumans

We are unhappy with the current fashion system and choose not to participate in sales and promotions. That means no Black Friday for us.

We value consistency. So, we refuse to be part of something against our values and principles. And we take responsibility for our actions. That includes how we present our work and conduct ourselves while interacting with you. Though we understand that this might limit our audience, we believe it’s the right thing to do.

The big question is why people don’t see further than their noses. Why don’t they see the negative impact of this system? The results of Black Friday are crystal clear: mountains high of waste polluting the earth and waters are undeniable.

So, why do people ignore Black Friday’s impact? Why do most people not want to educate themselves? Do you think overconsumption is the only reason to live?

Do you know there’s a healthier alternative? Buy Nothing! Above all, stop buying pointless shit!

Share your thoughts here below or WhatsApp directly from this link!

The Four Tuck Trousers

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Meaningful garments #formodernhumans

Today, we introduce The 4 Tuck trousers by Meagratia, a brand from Japan.

Season after season, we get familiar with its accurate dedication to each detail. The deep care involved in the Meagratia design, as well as the tailoring process, is impressive. By the way, isn’t attention love for what you do?

These details create such unique designs, adaptable to different body shapes. About fashion and meaningful garments, Meagratia is a Japanese independent brand offering 100% value.

Garment values: good design, quality, timeless, genderless, functionality, comfortable.

Discover The Four Tuck Trousers

About the design
Rich in details, the design of these trousers is flair and functional. Loose tapered silhouette detailed with four front tucks. Also, a drawstring at the waist. Specifically, a satin cord at the waist allows you to adjust the size without a belt. Front zip fastening plus two buttons. Two side pockets and two rear pockets, one buttoned and one with a tiny patch logo.

The Four Tuck Trousers


About the material
100% wool: it keeps you warm, but it doesn’t itch.

About the colour
Black: the colour makes it a classic in your wardrobe, the perfect go-with-everything pants.

Laundry
Dry clean.

Styling tips
The Four Tuck Trousers will be a classic in your wardrobe. For your office outfits, pair them with The Wavy Truck Jacket, a shirt underneath a sweater or just a shirt (depending on the weather). Also, wear them with The Wavy Jacket and put a silk top underneath so you’ll be ready for an evening out.

How to purchase our unique selection:

Drop us an email or WhatsApp for orders or 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.

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

Get yours directly from this link!

The dropped shoulder

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How shoulder construction defines the silhouette

Considering pattern design, the dropped shoulder is a construction we tend to favour.
Why? It doesn’t make you feel compressed. Moving the silhouette away from the body changes the proportion by giving a fresh, contemporary image. Moreover, this design provides a comfortable fit and an easy-to-wear versatile style. But unfortunately, some people think a drop-shoulder jacket is just a big size.

Inspiration comes from Miyake, a game-changer in fashion:

“From the beginning I thought about working with the body in movement, the space between the body and clothes. I wanted the clothes to move when people moved. The clothes are also for people to dance or laugh.”

Issey Miyake


The shape of the shoulder is an essential element as it defines the silhouette; its pattern intersects with the sleeve design, providing a functional imprint to a garment.

Dropped shoulder vs set-in sleeve: what is the difference?

The term set-in sleeve describes the armhole seam placed right on the shoulder point. On the contrary, the dropped shoulder describes sleeves where the armhole position falls on the top of the arm. But, those who don’t understand this design detail say the garment size is big.

Specifically, not sewing the sleeves of the garment at the highest point of the shoulder allows more room for movement and comfort. In fact, that pattern works particularly well for garments that require a lot of arm movement, such as coats, jackets, blousons, sweaters and t-shirts.

A set-in sleeve offers a more formal, professional look. However, it really depends on how you put together your clothes. In other words, it depends on the occasion, your usual style, and how curious you are to try something that makes your body feel less compressed.

The proportion of the drop-shoulder garment creates a modern balance of volume when paired with slim-fit trousers or skirts. But even a full boyfriend silhouette looks cool.

Drop shoulder pieces tend to be oversized, so they are way more comfortable and look good on everyone. Furthermore, they’re versatile, meaning you can dress them up or down, depending on the occasion.

On a last note, the dropped shoulder works well for the layering style, which offers the perfect solution in times of unstable weather (and climate change).

PFAS: an invisible enemy

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Environment, pollution and fashion

There’s a scary, invisible enemy: PFAS chemicals. Found in everything from your favourite outdoor jacket to the drinking water you consume, these chemicals pose a serious threat to both the environment and human health.

To better understand this threat, we attended a Greenpeace meeting at Arci Bellezza with Fashion Revolution, Mamme NO PFAS, CNR, IRSA, and Consorzio Italiano Detox.

We were familiar with the topic thanks to “Dark Waters” – a remarkable movie with Mark Ruffalo. Indeed, contamination is known worldwide: read more on Le Monde.

What are PFAS chemicals?

What are PFAS chemicals?
PFAS (poly and perfluoroalkyl compounds) are a large group of synthetic molecules (over 10 thousand) produced only by human activities. Also called forever chemicals, meaning once released into the environment, we’ll never get rid of them!

What are the health risks?
They are dangerous for health and associated with numerous pathologies, even serious ones, including some forms of cancer. Several European states asked to ban them.

Where are PFAS used for?
Industries have used PFAS since the 1950s to produce numerous commercial products: fabric waterproofers, carpets, leathers, insecticides, firefighting foams, paints, food container lining, non-stick pans, floor wax, detergents and beauty products.

Fashion industry and PFAS
From outdoor garments to water-repellent materials, raincoats, jeans, and undies. The fashion industry uses these chemicals throughout the manufacturing cycle.

The contamination in Lombardy:

Greenpeace detected PFAS in the waters of many Lombardy municipalities, including Milan. Carried out on a sample of data – by an independent accredited laboratory – the analyses highlighted the presence of PFAS in 11 drinking water samples out of the 31 collected. In four cases, the PFAS concentration is higher than the limit of the European Directive 2020/2184. In seven cases, the results show variable total PFAS concentrations.

Among the speakers Greenpeace has invited, Michela’s words, a member of “Mamme NO PFAS” – was really powerful! A mother from the Veneto region, the most impacted area, found out her daughter’s blood contained a high quantity of these chemicals. So, she joined other mothers to make their voices heard by politicians, inspiring others to do so.

How can we protect ourselves?

Being informed on contaminated areas, filter the tap water. However, some articles say to limit the use of products containing chemicals. Which sounds like “take your poison, but take it responsibly!”
But, given that PFAS are an invisible enemy, can we really protect ourselves from them?

We believe addressing single fields, such as fashion, agriculture or others, is relatively effective because there is a major cause we need to address. And this major cause is our economic system, capitalism, which sucks life out of the planet as well as out of humans.

Furthermore, how can we humans consider ourselves intelligent when we pour pollutants into the water, poisoning our own environment?

Donate to Greenpeace to support their investigations!

Fashion and books

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Can fashion be a vehicle of culture?

Last week, we attended an event at Nonostante Marras, Antonio Marras‘ store. It was an intimate gathering that connected the worlds of fashion and books.

Fashion: a set for books

With its eclectic mix of fashion, art, and interior design, the shop perfectly reflects the designer’s personality. Indeed, the internal courtyard, filled with plants, provided a serene and welcoming atmosphere. A lovely place for the book launch of “Ostaggio” (Hostage) by Maria Francesca Chiappe.

Lately, fashion doesn’t seem the place for cultural gatherings. Imagine books! According to the ISTAT (National Institute of Statistics), in 2022, 39.3% of the population aged six and over read at least one book a year.
However, we appreciate people who challenge massified trends by offering alternative views for those who still love reading.

The journalist, Giorgio Porrà, conducted a friendly interview with the writer, Maria Francesca Chiappe, who shared her experiences as a reporter in Sardinia and her inspiration for her latest crime novel. Over her career as a reporter, she witnessed so much blood that she doesn’t want to dig into that in her books. So, no blood, her genre is a pure crime.

Fashion and books


What is the book about?

The book is set in Cagliari, Sardinia, during Covid-19. A woman disappears from her home in Poetto. Her car is in the courtyard, car doors open, keys in the ignition, while her five-year-old daughter desperately cries in the yard.
There’s no English translation for now, but you can practise your Italian!

The writer explained the title “Hostage” reflects the many layers of meaning behind the word. And the challenge of distinguishing between good and evil, somehow tracing a line that perfectly separates them.

During the Q&A, someone asked her: “Who do you write for? Do you have someone in mind?” The author replied: “When I write, I do it for myself. I enter into my world, and it’s my moment of pleasure.”
As to say, writing is not just a matter of marketing! Which we loved!

The event ended with a delicious buffet of Sardinian food and an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. We adored meeting Maria Francesca Chiappe and the Marras family! But also Guido, a passionate independent bookseller and owner of “Libreria Popolare.”

Books in a fashion context showcase the importance of preserving a diverse perspective in a homologated society. Indeed, fashion needs to be a vehicle for culture.

Clay Dye: fashion & nature

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YWGS: “Green is good medicine”

Clay Dye is a natural dyeing technique launched by YWGS: GoodNeighbors Shirts in collaboration with Yard Works, both from Japan. A new label with a nature-inspired philosophy behind it. Close to the soil, and one with the soil.

In search of a reconnection to nature and overcoming a dualistic viewpoint that sees us separate from it, we found this project perfectly on point. Indeed, humans are nature, and this project celebrates it.

About Japanese style

We are Japanese design lovers! In particular, we appreciate the idea of quintessential simpleness, careful attention to every single detail, the atemporal design and sense of comfort. Also, we value that delicate expression that doesn’t need to scream to be seen. Of course, we know we are not alone, as there are many other estimators of the Japanese style. So, it’s for you that we selected some valuable garments from Japan. (Contact us to know more).

clay dye


YWGS: a new nature-inspired brand

YWGS is the project we introduce today: a collaboration label, GoodNeighbors Shirts with Yard Works.

Kei Amano, a planting expert based in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Yard Works is his landscape and architecture studio.
Akira Aoki, passionate about music and art, is a fashion designer based in Tokyo. GoodNeighbors Shirt is his brand, a 7-day shirt project. In other words, its style concept is about shirts you can wear comfortably every day.

Therefore, the project joins a planting professional and a shirt professional. A borderless thought, functionality and urbanity from the garden to the city. Specifically, it is a new workwear line that unites gardening and urban style with a comfortable, timeless and genderless aesthetic #formodernhumans

YWGS conveys the concept of “GREEN IS GOOD MEDICINE.” And the nature imprint gets revealed in the clay dye technique.

Clay Dye

Clay Dye: What is it?

Clay Dye is a special dyeing technique: garments are immersed in clay by using high-quality clay from the parents’ farmer home – in Gunma prefecture for 400 years. Akira Aoki majored in dyeing and weaving design at art University. Also, the designer himself dyes shirts by hand.

This tactile experience makes nice shirts with just the right amount of unevenness and beautiful colours. Ultimately, caring for nature and being nature is one thing.

WhatsApp us directly from here to know more!