My First Slow Fashion Autumn Outfit - And Why We Don't Have To Shop Always New
It's been more than a month ago since I posted something from the fashion department. That’s why it’s time for a new outfit post.
So today I would like to share my first slow fashion autumn outfit. This time the outfit is a little bit different than all previous ones. Because it’s one of my first looks, which I created only from existing, second hand and rented items. I already mentioned in my previous post’s that I won't buy new clothes from the fast fashion industry anymore. Since the fashion industry has a strong impact to the environmental pollution, I decided to stop purchasing clothes from fast fashion labels. Because fast fashion hurts our planet through pollution and waste. I know when it comes to our clothe the impact is less obvious. Therefore I would like to mention some facts to show you how crazy the fashion world is and how grave the situation is today.
First of all today we buy much more clothes than some years ago. Worldwide the growing market for cheap items and new styles is taking a toll on the environment. On average, people bought 60% more garments in 2014 than they did in 2000. The fashion companies went from an average offering of two collections per year to five. Some brands offer even more. Zara puts out 24 collections per year, while H&M offers between 12 and 16.
For what..?
For the fact that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of humanity's carbon emissions (that's more emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined), dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams? What's more? Oh, and 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year, plus washing some types of clothes sends thousands of bits of plastic into the ocean?
I hope you understand why I started to combine my outfits only from existing, second hand, wardrobe rental clothes. And maybe my article will help you to think about to start, too!? ;-)
I’m honest with you. I actually love fashion and I especially love to create looks. That's why I started this blog long time ago. But in the process of time I changed my mind and my way of life. I realized that I don't want to be the kind of fashion blogger I used to be. I wanted to live a more sustainable life and therefore I would like to change my blog as well into a more sustainable one.
But what means “Sustainable” actually? “Sustainable" in general means: to be able to uphold a rate or a level for long-lasting effect. Or environment-related: not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance.
That's why I want to show you how to use our outfits and garments with care and efficiency over a longer period of time. There’s no need to buy always new clothe just because the fashion industry tells us. Don’t feel bad if you use your clothes as long as possible to extent the life circle of our garment. We'd better to feel bad that 85% of textiles go into landfills each year.
Why we have to wear only the newest pieces from the latest collections? Who tells us…?
Unfortunately, the fashion industry prefers to use us, the fashion bloggers to tell the people indirectly that they have to buy this or that garment from the newest collection of the most popular and fashionable brands.
Yes, I also wrote about the fashion "Must Haves" in the past. But this is over now.
Life is not about who you once were. It’s about who you are now and who you have the potential to be.
Actually I'm not a real fashion blogger because I don't do advertising and I don't earn money with my blog. But that's the good thing about it, because I don’t need to promote any label. I’m free to share with you what's cool in my eyes and I don't have to present any item I don't like.
Maybe my outfits aren't everyone's cup of tea, but that's fine. Because I know not everyone likes my way of dressing. And I know that my looks were never the most instagramable. Which at the moment I really appreciate. How often I have seen lately the same items being promoted on Instagram by several bloggers at the same time? Not so pleasant to see but at the same time interesting to recognize how individuality is missing more and more.
Right now I'm super happy to have the freedom to wear what I really like and not what the fashion industry dictates us what's trendy. So in the future my looks will be different and will stand out from the looks you see everywhere on Instagram. The good thing is that this is my true taste and way of style. That’s why I feel so comfortable wearing it.
I hope you have some fun to check out my looks. I definitely had a lot of fun creating them. I went repeatedly to the second hand shops for about several weeks and checked out their offer. It was worth it to be persistent, I found some little treasures at the second hand shops. Like among other things this shirt with my fav color combination. It fits perfectly and it's just the right shirt for our outdoor trip to New Zealand. Yes, it’s right. Next Thursday we gonna start our big journey to New Zealands South Island. We gonna fly around the half world to Christchurch and there we gonna rent a camper van. Luckily four entire weeks we can discover the South Island. We are really looking forward to that trip, since it was our wedding gift, which we will fulfill now with a lot of pleasure and joy. I know the CO2 emissions on these flights are immense but I will offset the flights, as well as the New York flight on the homepage of Atmosfair (more details will follow in my next post).
Ok back to the outfit…!
I created this outfit based on the shirt I found in a second hand shop. As I mentioned before I liked the color combination of that shirt, so I bought it although it was too large for me. But as I'm a little bit skilled in sewing, I decided to tighten it. Happy that it worked, I combined the shirt with a white body, blue denim shorts and sneakers.
I've had this pair of denim shorts for a long time. It’s a timeless and basic garment that can be combined to anything. The white body, which I rented from the “Canary Islands Wardrobe Rental” is as well a basic item and always useful to combine oversized pieces. Because it elongates your silhouette and balanced out wide shirts. I didn't close the shirt in order to see the body, because the body defines the shape of my torso and it even hides my flaps. The sneakers I already own and color-wise they fit perfectly to the shirt. As well I added this brown belt, which I wear almost every day and as jewelry I chose only some bracelets and anklets.
I hope you understand and welcome my decision not to buy any new clothes from the fast fashion industry. Maybe I'll even inspire you to be a little more careful when you go shopping and your wardrobe will also become a little more sustainable. That would make me really happy.
Remember, it's not about making everything perfect, but it’s about just to start and creating consciousness.
If you have any questions or need a little push to start, please let me know. Don’t hesitate to contact me anytime under the comments or by email. Besides I’m open to any constructive citric.
For sure, I will get back to you shortly before our departure and please understand that I won't write articles during our trip to New Zealand. This trip is a special one and must be enjoyed. But maybe I try to prepare only a few.
Thanks for passing by and have an awesome weekend!!!
Katy!
PS: If you really need new clothes, for an important cause or occasion, no one will judge you. Sometimes everyone needs something new, but make sure it’s fair fashion. There are now such great fair fashion labels on the market, which are trendy and also not so expensive. You will know more about it soon here on my blog.
Pics and styling by Look2 Ocean