Nicola Perring’s Post

Walking down Regent St last week the view was spectacular as always – twinkling lights and shop windows adorned with mannequins in dazzling sequinned party-wear. It's hard not to love the allure of sequins, I have to confess, I own and still wear them. However, there's an inconvenient truth about the environmental impact of conventional sequins that we all need to be conscious of. In December 2019, Oxfam revealed eye-opening statistics about the fate of sequins post-party season: 1.7 million sequinned items of clothing and accessories are destined for landfills, with 5% of individuals admitting to discarding their sequins once the festivities fade. Shockingly, party-goers only wear these outfits around five times before casting them aside. This year, the festive season in Britain will witness the purchase of a staggering 33 million sequinned garments and accessories, amounting to £415 million. The sad reality is that most sequins are made of plastic and do not biodegrade, leading to their lingering presence in landfills for years to come. So what should we all do? Oxfam ran a campaign in 2019 with celebrities like Alesha Dixon, Una Healy, and Alison Steadman , advocating for a shift in consumer behaviour. Their message was simple yet impactful - consider purchasing sequins second-hand. There are now specialist companies, Rachel Clowes Founder of The Sustainable Sequin Company, teamed up with the University of Leeds to develop the most gorgeous sustainable sequins. And designers like Paula Knorr and Stella McCartney use biodegradable sequins, so the industry is slowly changing. Another option which I would love to see is consumers changing their perceptions of where they can wear the sequins they already own. All to often they just wear them to parties and events, but why not wear your sequins to the supermarket? I'm quite sure Trinny Woodall would advocate this! The power to make a change lies in our choices. Together, we can turn twinkles into a sustainable sparkle! I would love to hear your solutions on how we can best address the sequin situation? #wearyoursequinstothesupermarket #SustainableFashion #SecondhandSequins #FashionResponsibility #OxfamInitiative

How cool and accessible is sustainability? The face of fashion is changing and not before time. Charities, like Pembrokeshire Fame, are working to dispel the myths around pre-worn clothing and have seen a 300% increase in profits since the start of the cost of living crisis. Resell sites like vinted and Depop showing people that buying 2nd hand isn't a bad thing. Getting the brands you want at a discount price is a win for everyone - You get a bargain - The seller gets some money back on the items they bought - The life cycle of a garment is extended - Less resources are used creating new clothes - Less items are required to be transported around the world - The fashion industry's carbon footprint is reduced Shein and Temu are delivering 600,000 packages to the US everyday, all by air cargo. Fast fashion is having a dramatic effect on our planet. Recycling is better than landfill but the circular economy is the only system that's going to enable us to reduce the effects of climate change. To make this happen we need a societal shift in attitudes. Pre-loved is not something to be ashamed of. It should be celebrated. Where is your favourite spot to find preloved items? #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #SustainableFashion #PreLoved #ChangingAttitudes https://lnkd.in/eJam2h7M

🌍 SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING 👖 Once you know what's behind fast fashion in terms of human rights violations and environmental costs, there's no going back. I can't buy anymore a 5 pounds T-shirt in a high street shop, just as I can't consume any dairy or meat products since I decided to become vegan. So, where do I shop? 🧥 Mostly, second-hand, on Vinted or in charity shops. But when I need to buy new for any reason, two companies won my heart (and wallet): 👕 Rapanui, where I buy colourful and super comfortable plain T-shirts, and 👗 Seasalt Cornwall, for beautiful dresses and warm waterproof jackets. It's more expensive than fast fashion but we know who pays the price that we don't pay. And you can make up the difference by buying very little, only when really needed, and favouring second-hand when possible. Any other sustainable brands you love and want to share with me? #LItranslators #environment #sustainability #circulareconomy #brands #fashion

What are you doing to reduce your waste? This year I pledged to myself, "I won't buy any new clothes" (I'd like to caveat this with pants and socks are excluded from this rule!) We're now into July, and ordinarily I'd have bought myself a new dress for weddings I was attending, or a new jumper when I grew tired of the old ones I've been wearing, a new pair of jeans as us millennials apparently aren't allowed to wear skinny jeans any longer. Instead I've tried to repurpose old clothes I have, finding different ways to wear them, falling back in love with them again. Buying second hand from charity shops or Vinted. My best find was a £125 dress I managed to bag for £30 which I didn't hesitate telling everyone who complimented me on it! Fast fashion brands such as Shein, Primark and H&M contribute to the 300,000 tonnes of clothing end up in household bins every year, with around 20% going to landfill and 80% incinerated, and only 12% of the textiles and clothes we send off for recycling are appropriate to re-use due to poor manufacturing and quality in the first instance. Not to mention nearly 10% of the microplastics found in the ocean are from textiles; the equivalent of more than 50 billion bottles. Is there more you could be doing? ♻ Try re-selling old clothes you are no longer wearing on platforms such as eBay, Vinted and Depop; one persons trash is another's treasure! 💎 Choose quality over quantity 👠 Fashion and trends are fast moving, opt for staple classic items 💰 Buy second hand, items are generally of very good quality and can be picked up at a fraction of their RRP. #wastemanagement #fastfashion #reducewaste #recycling #textilerecycling

Trying to reconcile fashion with sustainability has been a tough one for me, as it is for many of us. I've worked for lots of fashion brands who are making real efforts in the space, including Patagonia,the world's most trusted brand. So I thought long and hard about taking a role as an advisor and partner in Clade Apparel. The company is truly redefining what it means to wear your values. Every thread of this Clade jacket speaks of a commitment to respect and restore our Earth. In a world where choices define us, choosing brands that prioritize the planet is a powerful statement. Clade’s journey, is woven with purpose, sustainability, and a drive to make a difference. I must add that this is one of the finest leather jackets I've ever held or worn. Soft, durable, made by hand in New York City from the world's finest regenerative Wagyu leather. Here's to those that believe believe in the beauty of regeneration, including my good pal Phil Winters. Phil co-owns GoodLot Farm & GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co. a company whose value, and whose beer, I admire. Thanks Phil for moonlighting as one our first Clade models and brand friends. If you like what you're reading visit www.cladeapparel.com to learn about our commitment to the planet and support our start-up with a purchase. You will not be disappointed and you will be part of a fashion revolution. #RegenerativeFashion #SustainableLuxury #EcoConsciousLiving

🛍️ Fashion overconsumption: who's really responsible? Are shopaholics to blame for the fashion industry's overconsumption, or is it the retailers who exploit consumer psychology and flood the market with endless trends? 🤔 While some retailers are making strides in designing for longevity, the overwhelming production of new items often overshadows the pre-loved market. Shockingly, just 9% of textiles that make up the fashion market are from the second-hand market. 🌍 The sustainability conundrum: A significant challenge lies in our collective struggle to responsibly part with unwanted clothes. The belief that donating to charity equals sustainability is a common misconception. In reality, only 10-30% of donated clothes are resold, with the rest meeting fates like exportation to countries unable to utilise them or facing incineration and recycling. 🔄 The power of reselling: The most impactful way to deal with unwanted items is by reselling them directly. Yet, in the current cost of living crisis, many feel overwhelmed by life's demands to dive into the online listing process. 💡 Turning Reselling Into Fun: What if listing second-hand items could be a fun and community-driven activity? 🌈 Introducing Second-Hand Listing Parties: As a side project, I've started hosting in-person second-hand listing parties within our community. The success of the first event was beyond my expectations. Attendees, some new to online listings, others seeking a helping hand, joined forces to make the experience enjoyable, uplifting and community-driven. 🌐 Expanding to Corporate Workshops: Exciting news! I'm now gearing up to extend these workshops to corporate settings. The first one was a hit, proving that the value extends beyond the individual. It's a collaborative effort, an actual community event where everyone helps everyone. 💚 Join the Movement: Let's shift the narrative on fashion consumption together. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming workshops and events, and feel free to connect if you're as passionate about sustainable fashion as I am! 🌿👗 #sustainablefashion #secondhandrevolution #communitevents

As our planet hurtles toward a climate catastrophe, many of us are trying to figure out how to shop more sustainably. But when it comes time to buy a new article of clothing, it’s easy to feel sticker shock. We know clothes from eco-friendly brands like Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, and Reformation are better for the planet. But can we really afford to spend $289 on a puffer hoodie, $378 on a cashmere sweater, or $278 on a midi dress? And why are these clothes priced so high in the first place? What are we really paying for?

If you're anything like me, you're still working on your holiday shopping. So I'm going to dedicate this week to a few brands worthy of your attention. First up: Marine Layer, a San Francisco-based clothing brand dedicated to creating absurdly soft casual wear for men and women. The Marine Layer brand story: The day after his girlfriend threw out his favorite shirt, founder Michael Nathanson made it his mission to create a shirt that would feel like an old favorite from day 1. A decade on, the brand is known for its relaxed, confident, super-comfy style. 👀 Why Marine Layer got my attention: The brand's Re-Spun program, dedicated to upcycling your old T-shirts into freshly comfy recycled fabrics. You can either drop your used, bottom-of-your-drawer Ts into one of their 40+ retail stores or have them send you a prepaid recycling kit. They'll then give you a whopping $5 store credit — $5! — for every T you send in. Since 2018, Marine Layer has saved more than 475,000 T-shirts from landfills (and crowded closets, ignored and unworn) and turned them into fresh new fabrics. In the process, they've saved 2.6 billion gallons of water — and issued $2M in purchase credits to customers. 👀 I love a brand that makes great, highly differentiated products AND gives me a cherry-on-top feel-good, do-good reason to buy. Act now: They're offering 25% off everything (!). #branding #purposedriven #holiday2023 #brand #strategy

American retailer Patagonia's "𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁" campaign was a bold move that went viral. It strengthened the brand as a champion of sustainability. Sometimes, it's not about selling products; it's about building a brand with a purpose. By using Digital Marketing strategically, you can create a positive impact on the planet and connect with customers who share your values. Join the Masterclass on Digital Marketing to learn how you can build a brand for your business.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲? 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘁! They didn't just sell clothes; they sold a story. A story of protecting our planet. They used their digital platforms to be transparent about their production process, right from the source of their materials to the final product. Here's what we can learn from #Patagonia: •𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Patagonia shared real stories of farmers who grew organic cotton, highlighting the positive impact on the environment and the community.   •𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀: Instead of focusing on new products, they promoted repairing old clothes. Their 'Worn Wear' campaign was a hit!   •𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮: Platforms like Instagram were used to showcase their sustainable initiatives and engage with eco-conscious customers.     The result? A loyal customer base that not only loved their clothes but also believed in their mission. Patagonia proved that sustainability and style can go hand-in-hand, all thanks to smart digital marketing.  𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗰𝗼-𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀? 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘄: https://lnkd.in/g2DGsKN6 #sustainability #digitalmarketing #casestudy #fashion #ecofriendly #patagonia Vasudha Gupta Sharma Durgesh Sharma