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Sustainability is ridiculous

Why playing this shell game should be banned


Sustainability is ridiculous. Not because the concept per se is stupid or does not make sense. But because it is too broad, too vague, and, therefore, deceptive. 

Sustainable fashion? This is greenwashing

Sometimes for ignorance or superficiality, yet in most cases, with intentionality, as those who play the sustainable game are perfectly aware of what they do. But, in the end, sustainability is just a new way to make money by showing a green facade. The industry, which goes from consultancy to fashion brand retail to NGOs, is flourishing. As a matter of fact, industry players spend time on “eco – green – conscious” labels, but it seems they are playing a shell game. The purpose is to hide and manipulate truths. 

In most cases, the effort is all about running after the latest eco-friendly label. But is it enough to achieve sustainability? It is the case of Chloé, for instance. Richemont hired Gabriela Hearst for her eco credentials, and now, three years later, the designer is exiting the company. Though they say revenue increased by 60%, their design is far away from the beauty of the past. 

Why sustainability is ridiculous

However, we have some doubts about the strategy Chloé has promoted so far. How can a luxury brand based on seasonal trends manage its business without damaging the planet? We wonder how fashion brands that shift to a purpose-driven business can be credible if they still run their activity on an overproduction pattern. Also, they attain the status of B-Corp. Most importantly, we wonder how B-Corp certification can combine with overproduction.
That seems contradictory. In fact, in this context, sustainability is ridiculous.

Specifically, we wonder if a drastic reduction of supply by offering only beautiful design garments made with “sustainable materials” and respecting the production chain would be an effective strategy.

But, of course, we understand that manipulating reality with the effect of fueling overconsumption is the most effective way to make money. So keep up promoting a green world!

The Double Essential Dress

Niche fashion #formodernhumans

Today we introduce The Double Essential Dress by Un_namable.

“Essential” – the minimal and timeless aesthetic inspires the name of this longuette dress in two layers of hand-dyed natural fabric, recycled cotton and linen. Indeed, it is a stylish addition to your spring-summer wardrobe.

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 Double Essential Dress

About the design
Sleeveless, round neckline maxi dress featuring a flared silhouette for two layers of fabric. Minimal design with two side slit pockets. Under knee length. A simple and sleek elegance defines the image of this dress.

The Double Essential Dress

About the material
55 cotton recycled, 45% recycled linen + 100% cotton – 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.

About the colour
Light marsala, garment dyed.
All Un_namable 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 flared line of The Double Essential Dress lends itself to multiple combinations, and it is perfect even in layered style. For your daytime looks, pair it with flat sandals. For special occasions, it works with a mannish blazer and heels. The beauty of meaningful pieces is that you can wear them in diverse situations just with different styling!

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 elephant in the room

Overproduction & why the fashion system ignores it

The elephant in the room is a bulky presence that fills every physical space. A dominant companion whose effect we can see in every corner of the planet. The thing is, everyone ignores it, hides it, or pretends not to see it. 

But can the fashion industry make change without addressing its elephant in the room? 

Fashion industry: what is the elephant in the room?

It’s overproduction! An enormous, visible, tangible and destructive elephant. Is the industry aware of it? Fashion insiders, CEOs, fashion designers? And the group of all the new “sustainable labels”? And what about those who promote corporate change? Of course, they are aware. But they still put profit first, not the planet. Even new companies born to spread sustainable messages do not renounce the overproduction/overconsumption pattern. In fact, some deemed changing that system would be too radical, and bosses wouldn’t accept it.

But is it plausible to talk about sustainability regardless of overproduction? No! Of course, not! 

To make it more clear: can brands overproducing goods be sustainable? No, they can’t! It seems obvious!

So, why does every single brand involved in this overproduction system promote its sustainable practices? Marketing is the answer: the purpose is, selling more, feeding the system and their pockets.
And marketing takes the shape of greenwashing or social washing in order to show a clean face engaging with people. 

Specifically, are top brands and new green companies bringing real innovation? Are they doing the right thing with their sustainable marketing strategies? No, they simply found a new way, an updated way, to make money!

And so, in the end, it all boils down to this point: can the fashion industry attempt to make a change without addressing the elephant in the room? No! Of course, not! Indeed, the industry is far from changing for the better.

Cultural change

Between utopia and feasibility

Are we ready for cultural change? The real one, we mean. When it comes to sustainability, do we believe in all the marketing bullshit that flooded communication lately? Or are we open to change for real? Ready to pick this opportunity up and make something better beyond the facades

People are bombarded with deceiving information: 
“We are sustainable because we recycle garments!”
“We use milk, coconut or whatever fibres.” 
“Hey, we have a conscious section in our store!”
“There’s a sustainable selection on our e-shop.”
“And we are the ones who do it best because we plant trees!”

Forget all that! Even the ‘plant a tree’ claim is proven misleading. Indeed, all these messages have the sole purpose of making people over-consume. As a matter of fact, not a single company has changed their overproduction pattern.

On the one hand, this is marketing, what brands need to say in order to show a clean face. But, on the other, we can find alternative reports and explorations that dig the truth out. Are we open to reading those reports? Understand how things really are? And, therefore, start questioning? 

Of course, sustainability is a path to pursue with conviction and self-commitment, despite all the difficulties, misleading messages, and smoke and mirrors. 

But is the effort worth it? Or, as many people with whom we exchange thoughts tell us, sustainability is just one of those beautiful utopias! To sell, one must think only of selling more. That is what companies have to do. And people, for their part, have to buy whatever product. 

So, in the context of trade, specifically in the fashion field, is sustainability a utopia or is it feasible? What’s your viewpoint on this?

Are you open to cultural change? We would love to hear your thoughts. 
Drop us an email, WhatsApp, or comment here below!

The Silk Slip Dress

Artisanal fashion excellence #formodernhumans

Today we introduce The Silk Slip Dress by Marc Le Bihan.

More than a 90’s comeback, it is a real timeless piece of artisanal couture. Its minimal design will make you stand out without screaming. Indeed, it’s the essence of elegance.

No one like Marc Le Bihan provides that sense of nonchalant elegance, which is understated, and never out of place. But also, his design makes you want to wear beautiful pieces in your everyday life. Because you build your wardrobe of meaningful garments over time with items you love to wear. Clothes you select with attention, privileging quality over quantity, choosing that special one rather than a shopping bag full of disposable fashion.

Discover The Silk Slip Dress

About the design
The design point is a sleek slip dress featuring thin shoulder straps, a draping front neckline and a v-cut along the back. Impeccable tailoring. Fluid straight line and a relaxed fit. Under knee length.
Understated, timeless, seasonless, artisanal couture.

The Silk Slip Dress
The Silk Slip Dress

About the material
100% silk. The fabric has a soft touch and a creased effect.

About the colour
This item is available in two colours:
Anthracite: an understated hue which is refined and elegant.
Anise: a vibrant light green that will boost your mood, but it lends to be combined with many colours.

Laundry
Dry clean.
However, you can wash it carefully by hand in cold water with soap for delicate fabrics and add white vinegar to prevent colour loss.

Styling tips
Wear The Silk Slip Dress as a versatile seasonless garment. In winter, complete it with a wool cardigan and boots. During the spring and summer seasons, underneath a sweatshirt or a mannish blazer and flat sandals, depending on the situation.
Also, for special occasions, pair it with heels. You don’t need anything else!

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! ❤️

Carbon neutral: plant a tree?

Offsetting carbon emissions: why it is misleading

The carbon neutral definition may induce people to think that a brand that claims this practice is sustainable. But, planting trees isn’t enough to solve the climate change issue.

Indeed, it’s always interesting to read how the fashion industry is involved in sustainable practices. Which, now, we can place under the umbrella of corporate change. We get itchy just thinking about it! There is no company that doesn’t talk about its eco-friendly policies. The bigger they are, the more they blurt out promises they cannot keep.

Sustainable brands

According to the Circular Fashion Index 2023, Gucci is the most sustainable among luxury brands. Kearny, a strategic consultancy company that analyses the impact of the circularity of brands, operates this ranking. They rank fast fashion brands, too! So, fast fashion has sustainable practices – really?

We feel a little disappointed when agencies release these rankings because of the misleading impact. In fact, we think industries use the word sustainable too much. After checking out those rankings, our question is: how can brands structured on an overproduction model be sustainable?

Carbon neutral or greenwashing?

But, while some magazines posted the list of the most sustainable brands or sustainable mega entities, The Guardian released an article that dampens enthusiasm. 

“Adverts that claim products are carbon neutral using offsets are to be banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog unless companies can prove they really work, the Guardian can reveal, as Gucci becomes the latest company to struggle with a high-profile environmental commitment based on offsetting.
Amid growing concern that firms are misleading consumers about the environmental impact of their products, the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) is to begin stricter enforcement around the use of terms such as “carbon neutral”, “net zero” and “nature positive” as part of a greenwashing crackdown later this year after a six-month review.”

The Guardian

Offset CO2 emissions: what does it mean? 

Offsetting CO2 emissions means balancing the amount of CO generated by any activity through reforestation, parks and natural reserves protection. These projects generate carbon credits.

“In January, a joint Guardian investigation found that many rainforest offsets certified by Verra, which operates the world’s leading carbon standard, had little impact despite being widely used by major companies for environmental claims, also finding evidence of forced evictions at a flagship project in Peru used by Disney and Apple.”

The Guardian

Specifically, The Guardian revealed that more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by the biggest certifier are worthless!
Therefore, planting trees isn’t helping with climate change.

When big brands, corporations and millionaires talk about sustainability and carbon emissions, always be careful. They are the problem. And if they want to be part of the solution, they must change their overproduction model and lifestyle first. 

Changing marketing isn’t enough. Carbon-neutral and sustainable claims are just smoke and mirrors.

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?

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! ❤️

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?

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! ❤️