Happy L-O-V-E Day everyone <3 Hope you’re all being loved and showing yourself some love (self-love is 100% necessary, don’t skimp on it). I’m having a pretty hectic time at the moment as I’ve just started a new job and trying to get myself into a new routine – welp! But I love being busy and I’m very happy with the career progression I’m making so it’s all good.

This Valentines Day I’ve had a think about how we could use this day to show other people love, and my fashion-obsessed mind came up with the idea of spreading compassion through the clothes we wear. I mean, why not right? It’s an aspect of life that no one (except nudists) can escape, so why not use it as a way of showing the world you care – whilst looking fresh af.

Here are just some of my ideas for ways to achieve this concept – if you have any others, drop a comment at the bottom to let us know!

VEGAN MATERIAL

First and foremost, choosing vegan materials means you are choosing compassion over cruelty, something that is vital if you are interested in having a wardrobe that spreads the love. You really can’t justify wearing animal skin/fur/feathers etc anymore, it’s 2019 and there are plenty of alternatives now. Follow my blog posts for information and reviews on vegan clothing brands for all the inspiration you’ll ever need. Also check out Marta Canga, Love and Blossoms and Style with a Smile for major fashion inspo with no animals harmed in the process.

ETHICAL SUPPLY CHAINS

It’s super important to know where your clothes come from, and who made them. I’ve been reading “To Die For; Is fast fashion wearing out the world?” by Lucy Siegle, and I’ve learnt so many horrifying facts about the garment industry it’s a wonder I haven’t burned all my clothes and joined those nudists I mentioned earlier. I have hope that the fashion industry will change its ways, but it needs YOU (the consumer) to use your purse-power! Check out brands on apps like ‘Good on You’ to find out about their supply chain, ask questions and demand change if you think a company should be doing more. Look at how easily you can find out information like where they source their materials from, where the factories are and what their policies on transparency are, these will give you a good indication as to how ethical they are as a company.

SLOGAN TEES

Some say slogan tees are too corny, I say lighten up and enjoy the fun side of fashion more! Slogans are a great way of passively spread a message, sometimes this is the only way to do it. Just be careful to check out the brand first and see if they are practising what they preach. No one wants another Spice Girls/Comic Relief debacle again. I have a t-shirt from Veganized World that reads ‘Lentils’, with a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Levis brand. I also found a t-shirt at a clothes swap with ‘Animal Liberation’ printed on – great for going on an animal rights march.

ORGANIC FIBRES

Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaassssseeeeee try and buy organic clothing wherever possible! I used to think organic was just a ploy to charge more and further the divide between the rich and the not-so-rich. But I’ve really tried to educate myself on the environmental impacts of fast (especially fast fashion) and the damage being done is sometimes too much for me to comprehend. The chemicals from pesticides that pollute the soil, water and air are destroying our natural resources, killing animals and poisoning the humans that have to live near the crops. I know organic clothing can cost more money, but it’s a higher cost to the planet to not support it. Show Mother Earth some love this V-Day and go organic (peace sign for extra hippy emphasis)

SMALL BUSINESSES / GRADUATE DESIGNERS

This is an important one kids. These guys are the real grafters in the fashion industry: independent traders, small businesses, social enterprises, graduates, and any other small-scale operations trying to achieve positive change within the fashion world. Big chains don’t care about you, pure and simple. They want your money and nothing more. Why not give your money to people who really value your custom, people who have trained hard and put their souls into their work. As a fashion design graduate myself, I know how overwhelming it can be to finish university and feel like a tiny fish in a sea of other fashion grads. Take the time to check out Graduate Fashion Week and see what new talent is strutting out on the catwalks.