Who do you support?
Monday, August 14th, 2017
Where you buy your clothes from matters
It’s not the first thing we think of when we’re shopping. We want to know what brand a piece of clothing is, but the questions ‘where do they source their materials’ or ‘do they pay their workers a living wage’ may never even cross our mind. But why shouldn’t we ask these questions?
“As a consumer, it’s your responsibility to become more informed, see where their products are made,
ask questions. Consumers need to be better informed, but businesses need to be more transparent.”
—Crystal
A couple of months ago I caught up with Crystal from Jagger Sleepwear to have a great cup of coffee and talk about sustainable and ethical fashion. Like me, Crystal has adopted the minimalist lifestyle: she’s got her wardrobe down to the basics in white, black, grey and denim with the occasional splash of colour. And, also like me, she doesn’t love fast fashion.
Did you know that Australians are throwing out six tonnes of clothing every 10 minutes? That’s a huge amount of clothes! And the reason for it? Fast fashion: low quality garments that are on trend and affordable. For some it’s hard to resist, but I like to look at it this way: if it’s so affordable that I don’t have to deliberate over purchasing it then I won’t get it. It’s simple really, but the temptation of walking away with 5 new pieces versus 1 can really win some people over. The idea of shopping sustainably is to reduce wastage and stop manufacturing processes that are harming the environment. And shopping ethically? Well it’s all about looking after the people at every stage of the supply chain and that’s something that Jagger Sleepwear does really, really well.
“The raw materials are grown organically in India and spun there too, then they are woven and
dyed in Melbourne and manufactured in Sydney.”
—Crystal
When Crystal noticed a gap in the market for ethical and sustainable sleepwear she created her own label.
So, what are you going to do?
The Clean Up
Take the clothes and shoes you never wear to your local charity shop. No excuses. I found a purple top that I had purchased years before and had never worn. And I don’t even remember the last time I wore purple.
Find Quality Ethical and Sustainable Fashion
And the more local the better! By boycotting some of those bigger brand names that exploit their workers, you are showing your support for ethical fashion and giving brands a much needed push to improve their processes, from farm to manufacturing.
Jagger Sleepwear
The best Adelaide has to offer for minimal basics. The label’s best selling tee, ‘Sleep Tee’ (pictured above) is super comfy and super breathable! It’s made from organic cotton bamboo and has the care label printed on the tee instead of having scratchy tags (because is there anything worse when you’re trying to get to sleep?) The sleeve is a continuous piece of material and has more of a cap sleeve, as it’s designed to fit all body shapes. Although sleepwear is in the name, the t-shirts can be worn for anything from yoga, to uni.
Shop From Brands Who Give A Shit
As a fashion blogger I know first hand that shopping ethically and sustainably 100% isn’t easier to say than do. And of course shopping this way isn’t going to happen overnight anyway, so the key is to shop from brands that are at least making an effort to be sustainable and ethical—and there are plenty out there!
Viktoria and Woods
An all time favourite of mine. I have three dresses and two tees from here so trust me when I say they are good. Most of their products are made in Australia and accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia.
What’s your favourite ethical/sustainable fashion label?
Wearing
Jagger Sleepwear
Nasty Gal cardigan
In collaboration with Jagger Sleepwear, thoughts and styling are my own.
The Best Face Masks For Winter
Saturday, August 5th, 2017
Mask it tonight, every night.
This Korean inspired beauty trend is making waves in the beauty world. If you’re not familiar with them, sheet masks are basically a cloth or paper saturated in ingredients that boost your skin. The treatment is left on for 15-20 minutes, it’s like a quick facial, leaving your skin hydrated, refreshed and radiant.
Unfortunately I can be quite lazy when it comes to skincare; I like a routine that I can repeat without having to think about it, but sometimes my skin calls for a little something extra. There are so many options when it comes to sheet masks that it can be hard to know what to get, so I’ve put together a list of my favourites for rehydrating your skin in winter.
Lips & Eye Masks
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Mask $18
Sephora – Lotus Eye Mask $5
The Face Shop – Cherry Lips Modeling Gel Patch $5
The Face Shop – Lip Mask $3
Sephora – Shea Lip Mask $4
Eye masks and lip masks, I feel, require less effort than a full face mask. I think it’s because I can do them while still going about my work! On a trip to Melbourne I picked up a lip and eye mask from both The Face Shop and Sephora. Really, the only one I could get in Adelaide is the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Mask. But I have found a similar one to The Face Shop Cherry Lips Modeling Gel Patch from a Korean beauty store in the Adelaide CBD.
Sephora Shea Lip Mask
Although impossible to talk with this on, I love it. It’s super hydrating and sits perfectly on the lips—it definitely won’t fall off. After using it, my lips feel plump and hydrated, I finish with my favourite Mecca Lip De-Luscious Treatment.
The Face Shop Lip Mask
I use this lip mask when my lips are flaking and chapped but I don’t have time to leave my desk (I keep my masks on my desk). It’s great because it’s not messy at all and it leaves my lips soft and hydrated.
Face Masks
Dr. Jart+ Soothing Hydra Solution $7
Garnier Hydra Bomb Tissue Mask $5
Sephora Green Tea Face Mask $6
Dr. Jart+ Deep Moist $7
Mecca Cosmetica Lit From Within Sheet Mask $15
Saturday Skin Quench Hydration Mask $30 (5 pack)
Dr. Jart+ Soothing Hydra Solution
I love a face mask with lots of liquid in the packet! This does everything that it promises. I feel fresh and my dry skin is hydrated and baby smooth. After 15-20 minutes (depending how much I’m keeping an eye on the time) I massage the remaining product into my skin. I love that it doesn’t leave a film of product on my skin, it soaks in perfectly and I finish with a touch of moisturiser.
Mecca Cosmetica Lit From Within Sheet Mask
I’m a sucker for all things Mecca, so it should come as no surprise that I’m recommending this! The package is obviously gorgeous, but I love that all things Mecca Cosmetica are crafted so perfectly. Firstly, although subtle, it smells amazing. The mask is thicker than others I’ve tried but it comes in two pieces so it sits on your face perfectly. Another thing I love about it is that the eye holes are quite large, meaning the delicate skin around my eyes aren’t irritated.
Garnier Hydra Bomb Tissue Mask
If you’re feeling like a face mask but can’t get to a Korean beauty store and don’t want to pay premium, this Garnier tissue mask is perfect. It has a fresh sweet scent, that’s not overpowering, and is packed with moisture. It’s suitable for sensitive skin and the tissue is thin, so it hugs my face well compared to other masks. After taking the mask off, I recommend wiping the excess product away with a damp cotton pad and applying your favourite moisturiser. If I had a choice though, I would still choose the other masks over this one.
What’s your favourite sheet mask?
