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The Pebble In The Pond

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Starting the ripple effect


Shifting the route towards a new path is complicated and exciting at the same time.

It’s complicated because starting something different makes people stare at you as if you are mad. It’s an experience we had in our first boutique, too. New ideas or independent viewpoints are not well accepted right away. Many do not understand the reasons or, even if they do, they don’t consider going out of their comfort zone. Yes, even for clothing.
Also, you place the seeds, but it takes time for them to grow. Instead, people want things they already are familiar with.

It’s exciting because starting something new gives that extra vibe, a mix of the joy of possibility in navigating the unknown and the risk of failure. Of course, the more you do something new, the higher the risk of failing.

Given that, when the system doesn’t suit you anymore, you either accept it as it is, contributing to the exploiting game or try to change it, committing to something better.

The ripple effect, suite123 favicon
The ripple effect


By offering a worthwhile selection built around deep meaning, we’ve changed our way of operating in the fashion business.

Less, much less. Good design and quality – only the essential. No overconsumption. That’s why we offer a capsule selection made of meaningful garments.

We aren’t here for convenience. We are here for worth.


Fashion is what we do. We like it to the point that we do not sell clothing we wouldn’t wear, or products we do not believe in.
Besides, we feel compelled to change because it’s time to do it.

Perhaps our alternative approach won’t change the world. But we can start by changing our habits—and then influence those around us.

Starting a new flow is possible. We’ve thrown the pebble in the pond, and hopefully, the ripples will follow.

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Fashion In The Metaverse

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The final frontier of business


While billionaires are busy conquering Mars and developing Space tourism, fashion moves the first steps into the metaverse.

Life on Mars?

We are boiling planet earth. Issues at hand are appalling: climate change, modern-day slavery, poverty. An impressive number of people have no access to water and food – which are basic needs. Plus, a pandemic. And what do they do? They plan to go to Mars!

Well, those billionaires could bring their contribution to solve problems here, in order to ensure a better life on planet earth. But instead of helping humans, they plan to move somewhere else. Develop space tourism and more pollution, consequently. Though, they are the same who advertise sustainable practices of their terrestrial businesses.

Mars doesn’t even seem a nice place to be. So it’s not understood what kind of alternative they are envisioning. These expeditions produce zero scientific value, just 100% business. To use Eckhart Tolle words: “I call it intelligence in service of madness.”

In parallel to Space colonization, what happens in the fashion field?

Fashion brands are launching clothing, handbags and accessories for the metaverse. What may seem unmissable for the early adopters, who would even jump off a cliff to parade their coolness, in truth, sends alarming messages. If capitalism enters into the metaverse, it’s hard not to imagine any social and environmental cost related to that.

The illusion of consumption


At least a couple of thoughts jump to our minds. This is what brands tell us: if you cannot afford our stuff in real life, you can buy them in a fake environment. An easy way to pretend to be rich! Also, there is a manipulation towards overconsumption. Since we don’t consume enough in real life, brands urge us to do so in an imaginary world, reinforcing the physical model.
The need to show off one’s status isn’t elegant and scarcely appreciable in real life. Doing it in a fake environment only doubles the illusion of status and consumption.

Is it the world we want?


Prof. Emilio Gentile, an Italian historian, said on tv at Passato e Presente:

“that is modernity, the horrendous can coexist with the marvellous.”

We believe that a conscious lifestyle on our marvellous planet earth is worth more than any Mars or fake universe.

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About Genderless Style

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Our viewpoint vs the mainstream


Why genderless style is portrayed as ridiculous?

The point with the genderless fashion trend is that the trespass into a clownesque style seems to be the only possible imagery. That is the clear general trend in fashion: excessive, absurd, and deliberately caricatural. So, in the same way, it has to be depicted in the case of genderless clothing. That goes hand in hand with the “please, look at me” social media-induced manner.

Although we embrace and promote the freedom of expression, we can’t see the link between this crucial prerogative and how they force it towards the excess.

About genderless style


Boundaries between sexes are becoming more blurred. Is that new?

David Bowie is one of the best examples of the gender-fluid style of all time. His elegant posture is unforgettable. An innate gift that many try to imitate just with a sad result. By the way, Bowie has never been ridiculous. We cannot say the same thing about the “characters in search of an author” who dominate the fashion and music scenes.

Of course, our viewpoint on genderless clothing has nothing to do with the mainstream trend.
We believe many items have no gender and can be worn by whoever wants to pick them up. Indeed, we have always selected clothing from men’s collections without feeling the need to specify it. We adore that oversized style or even the more rigorous mannish tailoring. Likewise, we have never had problems selling a woman’s coat or blouse to a man, for instance.

Clothing and accessories contribute to expressing your personality.
To that end, gendered labels do not represent a limit for us. In fact, we like to mix and play with them. But something is missing today. Good taste and elegance are the factors that provide the perfect balance. Where are they now?

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Gendered Labels

Reading Time: 3 minutes

A viewpoint on fashion and gender among young people


What makes someone more likely to ignore gendered labels on clothing?
As an American man living in Italy, I have been told by more shop owners than ever to stop looking in the women’s section for clothing. It has never been mean-spirited. But every person has been very insistent—the men’s section is there, this is the women’s section. I do wear more male presenting clothing and have masculine physical attributes. But I still like to look at every article because I can see myself wearing anything.

fashion and gender


The survey on gender and fashion

After surveying a good number of people my age (early 20s), all of which fashion-forward in their own ways, I was surprised to find the large discrepancies in how they would gender their wardrobe.

Individuals either said only 10-20% of their wardrobe could be worn by any gender. Or they said that 70% or more could be – no one in between these extremes. The two separate groups have nothing strikingly in common, given nationality, gender, sexuality, race, fashion style, or social progressivism. It did not even come down to what kind of brands or styles they shop. When asked what stores or designers make genderless clothing, both groups included a wide array of answers like Rick Owens, UNIQLO, and H&M.

So, the overall question remains. But by asking them how much of their closet could be worn by any gender, I could see if they believed anything is gender-neutral. Despite what items they might actually own.
For now, it still boils down to one’s personal taste and view in clothing. Something hard to qualify or analyze.

genderless style


For me, I would say 100% of my clothes are gender-neutral. Not due to how I dress but due to how I perceive clothing in general. Fashion is about the freedom of self-expression, despite whatever confines placed upon it.

I hope that whatever the reason is that we stay on one side of the department store aisle or the other can be addressed and removed. For the freedom of fashion to prevail.

✍️ This piece is written by an American student and intern working for suite123, Jackson Garske.

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NO SALES

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The ultimate sustainable strategy


It’s the second year of our NO SALES resolution. If you come across our activity by chance, you may discover now that we do not participate in sales or promotions anymore.

What is the reason?


The market is hyper-saturated. Full to the brim of disposable clothing. Heavy discounts and obsessive promotions are indicators of a sick system. In fact, they reflect an economy whose basic assumption is overproduction. And compel the unceasing construction of fake needs for blind consumers. In other words, people are manipulated and induced to buy any discounted item.

Therefore, sales are not a sustainable strategy. The selling price should take into account creativity, quality and labour. Which also means fair wages for the production chain. We already discussed the trick of modern-day slavery in our previous posts.

Once we have realised the whole economic system is corrupted, as a consequence, we have reduced the quantity we order. And by refining our selection, we opted for a capsule wardrobe focused only on meaningful items.

This is what:


1 – we no longer need quantity
2 – we choose quality and good design
3 – we select items made to last

NO SALES

Quantity is not the answer, so we invite you to buy less.
Indeed, we suggest you buy intentionally and choose only thoughtful products.

We are here to make something different. To change for the better. And educate ourselves for slower consumption.
If the status quo is what you still want to promote, just look around. It surrounds you everywhere. You don’t need us.
But if you have lost that frenzy and search for value instead, we are here for you.

NO SALES


It’s the ultimate sustainable economic model for a long-term approach. That supports creativity, quality, and fair wages.

No sales mean less stuff, more meaning. It’s a radical and conscious lifestyle choice #formodernhumans

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