Six Items Challenge : Day 11 and 12

25 February 2018 | Conscious Fashion

On arrival in Brighton yesterday I was confronted by my ten year old self.  Two girls dressed almost identically were leaving the train station – one had a mini pink backpack (like the one I had from Tammy Girl) and both were wearing skater sneakers.  They linked arms as they disappeared into the crowd descending on the seaside city for the day and I smiled, excited to shortly be reunited with my Brightonian bestie.

I am on a journey to make my wardrobe ethical and more sustainable. However, ‘x’ marks the skate-shoe-wearing proof above that you can’t just decide you’re going to be a whole new you overnight.  Like when I was ten, I am still susceptible to sartorial peer pressure a.k.a fashion trends.

Despite having no desire to do a kickflip, I bought these Vans (preloved) from my local Mary’s Living & Giving Shop – which is arguably one step in the right direction.  The fashion fast I’m on is also progressing my journey through relentless practice of dressing with less.   And speaking of less, it’s laundry day…

©Ethical Consumer

Mountains of fast-fashion in landfill is just one side of the carbon footprint coin – the other side is how we wash our clothes.

The biggest environmental impact of a garment is most likely to come from how we care for it – wash it, dry it, dye it, iron it or dry clean it.

There is a fine balance between smelly clothes and a more sustainable washing cycle and (full disclosure) I have been getting away with washing less by airing clothes in the bathroom during a steamy shower. Before you write me off as a sandals and socks wearing eco-warrior, rest assured – socks and sandals are as fashion as skater shoes, so trust me and try the less is more rule on your laundry.

Dry cleaning is not always essential even if the label recommends it, but sometimes it is necessary.  One dress I chose for the Six Items Challenge recommends dry cleaning and I didn’t want to risk it, so I went to Blanc an eco-friendly dry cleaners.  They also stock a collection of natural detergents and organic soaps, so I picked-up this denim wash by TangentGC whilst I was there.

Like a cleanser for your jeans, it cleans without eating into the cotton fibres and doesn’t contain any corrosive alkalis.  This denim wash is even said to maintain the original cut and it smells like orange peel, which I like.

Reclaimed woman skater chic complete with hand knitted beanie.

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©Photographs Reclaimed Woman

 

 

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