My thrifted, jumble sale wardrobe is no serious fashionista’s dream – but one thing I will say is there’s a story behind almost every piece (even my most ragged pyjama top, a find from Help Refugees’ warehouse in Calais). From the handbag made out of waste bouncy castle material, to the vintage ex-NHS uniform pencil skirt that I’ve turned into an A-line mini version of its former self, I love wearing something with a story – and even more than that, I love sharing that story. I made my manager feel the bouncy castle bag on my first day at Eco-Age, and forced the story of the NHS skirt on our head of sustainable fashion and textiles one morning before either of us had taken our first sip of coffee that day.
What do whirlwind trends mean when it comes to sustainability? Part of taking a slower approach to fashion means wearing the same pieces from your wardrobe time and time again – which, in turn, often means saying no to jumping on the latest fashion bandwagon. Once an item loses its initial appeal of newness, it needs to have staying power – which means investing more than a passing fancy in an item before deciding to take it home with you.
Now that the dress has created a minor fashion phenomenon, I wonder how many people will still be trying to find ways to style it for December holiday parties, Valentine’s city breaks or even into next spring and beyond…