sustainability

The Modern Migration

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From big cities to small villages


Modern migration from big cities to small villages is the key to sustainability and happiness.

Transformed by the pandemic wake-up call, we decided to spend our August holidays back at our roots. A tiny village in the Basilicata region of South Italy, immersed in nature and silence. The only sounds were cows mooing, dogs barking, or the wind.

Travelling in the middle of the night through the woods, we came across a family of porcupines crossing the road, their spines standing on end. What a marvel! We promptly stopped the car to savour the unique show that nature offered us. We let them cross, illuminated by the headlights. It’s a scene forever etched in our memory.

How different life is in small countryside villages! Healthier, for sure. You reclaim the value of time, space. You don’t feel trapped as you do in a city apartment. No matter how big it is, it’s still cement. So you come to realise that in exchange for fewer services, you might just be enjoying real life.

Reading the news, it seems that the migration from big cities to the countryside has already begun, a tangible effect of the pandemic. Indeed, the idea of a slow and sustainable lifestyle fits naturally into this context, accompanied by a different way of dressing–which we will explore further–and decorating our places. Undoubtedly, it is a way of living our life in tune with nature.

It has been proven that economic growth and environmental impact are directly linked. What we used to call climate change is now a climate emergency. Therefore, in order to reduce our impact on nature, we have no choice but to change our lifestyle.

To this end, modern migration to the countryside presents an opportunity. Our needs have changed, big cities are no longer the answer. What we need is more nature.

Therefore, we envision a future where people repopulate small villages, breathing new life into them. Intensive mass growth gives way to smaller communities, all interconnected so as to support one another.

Finally, progress and the web can be used not to dominate or exploit but to genuinely and deeply connect.

With this mindset, we can become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

That’s the lifestyle for modern humans.

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The Cultural Element

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Sustainability and the contradictions of contemporary culture


This is when you go to an event dedicated to sustainability, and one of the first things you hear is a journalist stating that we cannot consume less!

“During the pandemic, we saw what happened–everything came to a halt. It’s clear that we cannot consume less.”

We looked at each other perplexed: “Are we in the right place?” If this is the viewpoint of someone invited as a speaker to discuss sustainability, imagine the mindset of the average consumer.

We could not engage with those people over there, but we take the opportunity to explain our thoughts here. In fact, we do believe the opposite, it’s quite evident.

Consuming less is one of the most effective ways to save our planet.

Consumption and capitalism


It is necessary to find a new economic model to replace capitalism, which has been revealed to be outdated and unsuccessful. Exponential growth is absolutely inconceivable and even harmful now.

Although a new economic model is a fundamental step, we cannot wait, arms crossed, for something to happen. Sooner or later, the gods of economics and politics will come up with a brilliant idea, a valid substitute. At least, we hope they do.

But in the meantime, maintaining a sustainable level of consumption is crucial. Becoming aware of what we consume and how we consume must be at the core of our actions.

When it comes to changing the way we live, eat, travel, or shop, culture plays a central role.

Culture comes through education. In the past, we had the excuse that sources, books, and information weren’t accessible. Now we can find whatever we need.

Knowing more about environmental issues and climate change. Discovering more about ethical work and production modes. Understanding materials, craftsmanship, quality.

Educating ourselves to become conscious consumers is what we can actively do to enhance our lifestyle and change for the better.

It’s about improving our well-being rather than accumulating things and money with the outcome of waste and exploitation.

Learning more is free, and often it just takes a click!

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Sale Season! The Status Quo Never Dies

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Why we keep buying into it


We’ve entered the sale season and the entire industry–sustainability advocates included, has jumped into hard-discounting mode.

While it’s understandable that Covid impacted the market, leaving high inventories, it seems clear that the status quo wins.
The push to leave things as they are, sticking to the usual patterns of production and sales, is stronger than the will to change.

The interests of the industry players are intentionally focused on maintaining the status quo. And the game is well-known: massive overproduction that corresponds to an omnipresent, gigantic distribution.

In order to sustain this system, mark-ups have gotten higher and higher.

Even those who launched “Rewiring fashion” did it following an outdated pattern, simply postponing delivery dates or sale seasons. Is that the solution? Really?

Perhaps this means that nothing has to change. Covid was not a lesson to learn but just an obstacle along the path. Rather than learning the lesson and changing strategy, they would prefer to sell all the stocked goods to any alien species. And maybe exploit a whole galaxy too.

Producing goods for the sale season


Producing goods to be sold during the sale season is the blind strategy of a sick market system. A short-term solution that offloads all the costs onto workers–creating new slaves–and exploiting the planet.

If sustainability includes ethical work–giving a proper wage to those who make our clothes, then sales, as they are, are not sustainable.

Prices are often inflated from the start to account for expected sale seasons. No sales means more realistic prices throughout the season, and therefore, more affordable items.

We hope to see industry players in the fashion field coming together  to find new strategies to avoid sales. By connecting and collaborating, they can add value to products and establish a viable, long-term strategy.

Furthermore, if they all claim to support sustainability, they should also take action to make it a reality.

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Awareness, Sustainability And Style

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Exploring the interconnection between conscious living, sustainable choices, and timeless style


Awareness, sustainability and style are deeply interconnected.

Creating awareness through style is the way we pursue sustainability and make a change. When you become self-aware, you dress in a specific way and pay attention to what you buy, and how you act. Indeed, through your style, you communicate a message.

Although we mainly refer to fashion, this concept applies to any field that involves design: technology, furniture, lighting, pottery, architecture, art and all aspects of our lifestyle.

You may have seen that sustainable brands are now blooming everywhere, so much that you have the impression of living in a wonderful world. A world of positive change. In fact, the attention to this topic is immense. The sense of caring stands out. But let’s dig deeper into what happens for real.

Awareness through style: understanding sustainability


The majority of sustainable brands launch their new projects simply to match the current marketing demands. Without that magic label, they wouldn’t sell or gain attention. But there’s no regulation governing this matter. And even if some certificates are provided by the suppliers, it’s easy to imagine how that could be exploited.

Anyhow, by selecting only one eco-friendly material, they enter the universe of sustainable brands. For sure, someone will applaud them. In fact, the game is so easy that it’s worth giving it a try.

The result is a brand labelled as sustainable that, to be honest, is anything but sustainable. It’s the umpteenth brand on a market that’s overcrowded, overpopulated, an almost exploding panorama.

And so, by creating awareness through style, we can gain a deeper understanding of sustainability.

Now let’s be clear: the best way for a brand with poor design, no meaningful concept, or added value to be sustainable is simply not to exist. That’s it.

Please, don’t do it. Please, don’t create another brand. We don’t need more brands; we need better ones.

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Conscious Buying: A Sustainable Choice

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Investing in quality, not quantity


Conscious buying is how we refuse to go back to normal–it’s our sustainable choice.

Among crowds of people eager to go back to normal, some individuals are deeply perplexed by what that really means. Whatever ‘normal’ was for you, consider linking it with all the struggles we endured this past year.

For those who have connected the dots, the picture is clear. Going back to that normal is not a possibility. In fact, we are showing up every day with the intent of reaching a higher level of consciousness and helping others to do so.

The intention is not to stop purchasing items altogether. For instance, we could go a year without buying new clothes. But, even though it makes sense, the side effect could be tragic. Consider all the people that work in manufacturing to bring food to their tables. Certainly, we need to find balance.

Promoting conscious buying is a byproduct of our evolved attitude. “Shop now!” is far away from our new vision. Above all, there is an urgency to think before we buy. As modern humans, we realise that even our shopping habits need to change. And once you start connecting the dots, making a different choice becomes a natural decision.

Conscious buying in fashion


In fashion, what are the bullet points for conscious buying?
The premise is that consciousness involves being aware of both the environment as well as one’s self. “Well-being” encompasses respect for the planet and honouring ourselves as individuals. It is about feeling better and striving to be the best humans we can be.

These are the actions we can take when we buy clothes:

• choose a good design, it stands out forever.
• look for quality fabrics, they are made to last.
• invest in well-made items.
• choose fit over size, a size number will not define you.
• support honest productions that take social responsibilities.
• packaging must be minimal.
• less marketing, more critical thinking and thoughtful consumption.

Some of those concepts can be applied as general shopping rules, not just for fashion items. However, maintaining a critical approach is fundamental. For instance, do we need tons of paper for packaging? No!

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others”

we like this quote from Jonathan Swift.

In conclusion, we believe that going back to normal is dangerous. And we may look around perplexed but, in the end, we know that we are not alone.

Small communities can make change possible!

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