Is local always better? It’s not that simple

On the topic of international shipping and shopping sustainably, things can get complicated. If we are purchasing ethical fashion from the other side of the world, surely any positive impact gained is negated by a negative impact from carbon emissions?

Well, it’s not quite that simple. Every action has a reaction, so what choice has the least negative impact? We break it down for you below.

The journey of a piece of clothing

When understanding the impact of our individual purchases, we need to consider the entire journey the item has taken before it gets to us. Chances are, no matter how sustainable a fashion brand might be, that item of clothing has, at some point and in some form, travelled around the world. Bummer.

The standard life cycle of an item of clothing looks something like this:

Source: Common Objective

As the diagram indicates, the journey is complex and lengthy. It’s extremely rare for raw materials to be grown, processed, sewn, and sold all in one location. Each stage of the supply chain has some form of impact on the environment.

When we look at shipping specifically, the impact on the environment is considerable. Ships handle roughly 90% of global trade, transporting nearly 10 billion metric tons (11 billion tons) of goods per year. It has been estimated that shipping accounts for 2.5% of of the world’s total CO2 emissions and a 2015 report from the European parliament estimated that number could rise as high as 17% by 2050. Yikes.

Source: CNN

Despite this pretty major carbon impact, transport via boat is actually the cheapest and most carbon-efficient option we have right now. A big ship will emit about 10 grams (0.4 ounces) of carbon dioxide to transport 1 metric ton of cargo 1 kilometre (2 tons of cargo 1 mile). That’s roughly half as much as a train, one-fifth as much as a truck, and nearly a fiftieth of what an aeroplane would emit to accomplish the same task. This last point is important—we’ll come back to it shortly.

So, what’s better? Buying online, or buying locally?

The truth is, locally made isn’t always better. Regardless of whether we buy a piece of clothing online or on our local high street, that item has likely already travelled around the world in some form, and had a considerable impact on the environment up to that point in its journey.

Due to harmful time- and cost-cutting initiatives, a high street ‘fast fashion’ item will have a considerably higher carbon footprint overall than its ethical counterpart, even if the ethical item is coming from the other side of the world.

Fast fashion is often made out of cheap synthetic fibres such as polyester, which uses fossil fuels as its base, and requires a considerable amount of water and energy to produce in comparison to more sustainable options. It’s likely that the clothing has been coloured using synthetic dyes which can not only release chemicals when they come into contact with your skin (not cool), but can leak toxic waste into waterways, resulting in significant environmental and human damage.

The supply chain of a fast fashion brand is also incredibly inefficient with waste. It’s estimated that 35% of all materials will end up as waste sent to landfill. Then we must consider the carbon emissions from the shipping itself, as the item gets sent around the globe to utilise the cheapest labour at each stage of its production.

While the ethical t-shirt you buy online likely has a smaller footprint than the one you’d buy at your nearest H&M, it’s still important to be aware of greenwashing. Many brands, including small and local labels, now put “ethical” or “sustainable” on their Instagram bio or website, with no solid evidence to back up their claims. Don’t be afraid to ask brands where their clothes are made, and remember to use our app or directory to help you decide which brands to support.

There is no perfect solution. However, avoiding fast fashion, buying fewer, quality and second hand pieces is guaranteed to help shape a better future for all people, the planet, animals.

How to reduce your fashion’s carbon impact

So, how can we reduce our fashion’s carbon impact, even if we are already buying ethical and sustainable brands? Here are some recommendations:

Support ‘circular’ or zero-waste brands

The number one way to reduce your fashion carbon footprint when buying new is to support brands that have achieved a circular or zero-waste supply chain (where they offset all emissions and waste from their entire supply chain). They will have the lowest carbon footprint of any fashion brand. A completely circular supply chain is difficult to achieve, but there are a number of brands that are making great progress in this space. Look out for the Cradle2Cradle certification and double check the brand’s rating on the Good On You directory if you’re unsure.

• MUD Jeans (Great) uses a high proportion of eco-friendly materials including GOTS certified cotton and it creates high-quality, long-lasting products. It offsets carbon emissions through a valid carbon offset program. The use of eco-friendly materials limits the amount of chemicals, water and wastewater used in production.
• Reformation (Good) has been carbon neutral since 2015 through a mindful supply chain and the use of climate credits (for any greenhouse gases emitted, it pays for credits to offset its impact). The brand also offers customers the opportunity to purchase climate credits themselves when making purchases.
• Stella McCartney (Good) was the first brand to achieve a gold Cradle2Cradle certification on its wool yarn. It is also a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and uses a number of eco-friendly materials. It has ambitious waste-reduction strategies in place across the entire supply chain, and measures and reports on its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.
• Funky Kalakar (Good) is also working hard to achieve a circular supply-chain. They collect the old and worn-out accessories or shoes and upcycle or recycle them, to give them a new life.

Support brands who support environmental organisations

The next best thing is to support brands that donate money towards organisations that are helping to combat climate change. Look for brands that have environmental protection at the heart of their mission, and support organisations such as 1% for the planet or are B Corp certified.

• TAMGA Designs (Great) has made it their mission to fight deforestation. Through 1% for the planet, every sale donates 1% to the Sumatran Orangutan Society (S.O.S) and Orangutan Information Centre (OIC), both of which actively work to re-plant the Sumatran rainforest. The brand also uses forest-friendly, sustainable fibres in all of its clothing.
• Patagonia (Good) belongs to both the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and 1% For The Planet. It rejects fast fashion by creating high-quality, long-lasting products, and offers a repair and reuse program. It even goes so far as to discourage customers from purchasing too many of its products.

Don’t use fast shipping

Selecting the fast shipping option means that your item will be delivered to you via aeroplane instead of a cargo ship. As we mentioned earlier, transporting via aeroplane results in significantly more carbon emissions than via ship.

Use in store or centralised pick-up options

If you have the option, using these delivery options will reduce your personal carbon footprint as it will mean less courier van transport—couriers can deliver bulk deliveries to these locations instead of having to go door-to-door. Collect your items via public transport, by bike, or on foot for bonus points.

Try to reduce your consumption generally

Adopt a minimalist approach with a capsule wardrobe, and only purchase items that you really need, that are high-quality, and will last you a long time. Or try to find pre-loved items from your local vintage boutique. See our guide on how to build a capsule wardrobe, or the best spots for second hand shopping.

The single best thing we can do for the planet is to keep our gear in use longer and cut down on consumption.

Patagonia

Other downsides of international shipping

Of course the environmental impact of international shipping may not be your only concern. Many counties apply import taxes, so make sure you understand the additional cost before placing that overseas order or you may be in for a nasty surprise. Returns are also a hassle, so be aware of that risk if the sizing is wrong or there is another problem with your order.

The post Fashion’s Carbon Footprint: The Ins and Outs of International Shipping appeared first on Good On You.

With this as their philosophy, it’s no wonder that the Danes are ranked as some of the happiest people in the world. They are also ranked as some of the most fashionable people in the world! Channelling hygge into their way of dressing, the coveted Danish style is relaxed, minimalistic, and uncomplicated.

Given recent events, the timing couldn’t be better for us to embrace the Danish attitude of hygge, both in our way of living, and way of dressing. Here, we share how to dress like a Dane, sustainably.

Quality over quantity

The Danish are champions of the capsule wardrobe—having a small number of quality items that go well together, as opposed to a bulging, mismatched collection of clothing.

If you’re looking for quality basics, look no further than Copenhagen-based brand, Woron. They produce vegan underwear and fashion basics that are fully Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, such as this high neck top—a wardrobe essential.

The post Hygge or The Art of Coziness: How to Dress like a Dane appeared first on Good On You.

There’s more variety around than ever when it comes to shopping for an ethical wardrobe, and this extends to our work wear too. A quality, ethical work shirt can be adapted to wear with multiple outfits throughout the week, will last you through trends, and maybe even through multiple jobs.

But more variety doesn’t necessarily make your choices easier! Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Here’s our selection of six ethical business shirts to help you look good and feel good at work. Wear a uniform? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered too!

The post 7 Ethical Shirts for Every Man appeared first on Good On You.

Last month, we announced Emma as an official supporter of Good On You. Here we share some of our favourite ethical fashion moments from Emma Watson, sporting brands rated either Good or Great by us.

Proving a press tour is the perfect opportunity to promote eco-fashion.

 

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Bonjour Paris! Coat is from @stellamccartney, the world’s first luxury brand that is committed to producing products that do not use leather, skins, feathers or fur. Instead, Stella has spent years developing ways of using materials such as regenerated cashmere, recycled fabrics, organic cotton and forest-friendly fabrics. Jumper is from @filippa_k, a Swedish brand committed to four Rs: reducing, repairing, reusing and recycling. Tee by @boodywear, a brand that produces basics made with certified organic bamboo, produced using computerised 3D knitting, so no fabric is wasted. Its factories are zero-waste and have a closed loop system to stop any water being wasted. Bespoke beret by @maisonmichel made with organic cotton. Shoes are @goodguysdontwearleather. The brand doesn’t use any animal products in its collections. Fashion info verified by @ecoage #ecoloves

A post shared by The Press Tour (@the_press_tour) on Feb 19, 2017 at 7:45am PST

Wearing jacket by Stella McCartney (Good), jumper by Filippa K (Good), tee by Boody (Good) and shoes by Good Guys (Good). Source: @The_Press_Tour

Bringing feminism to the Golden Globes red carpet.

 

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An amazing night at The Golden Globes with @jusmarai. Sustainable dress by @ronaldvanderkemp made from discarded fabrics and adorned with an @era50_50 pin (an organization out of the UK campaigning for equal representation for women on stage and on screen) Shoes @creaturesofcomfort, crafted in a small factory outside of Florence. Earring also by RVDK from upcycled materials and jewelry by @lilianvontrapp handcrafted from recycled gold and vintage diamonds. LVT also uses recycled materials for packaging and gives a percentage of each purchase to PACT. Skin prepped with @MUNskincare Aknari Brightening Serum, @Evolueskincare Day and Night Cream Normal + Sensitive Skin, and @TataHarperskincare Illuminating Eye Cream. My staple @rmsbeauty ‘Un’ Cover-Up as concealer & foundation. For Eyes & Brows, @alimapure Natural Definition Brow Pencil in Medium + @100percentpure Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder in Medium, @janeiredale Liquid Liner in Black and @kjaerweis Mascara. Lips – @100percentpure Lip Carmel in Scotch Kiss. Makeup sealed with @mvskincare Rose Hydrating Mist. All brands are cruelty-free and use natural and organic ingredients. Haircut and new fringe by Jenny Harling

A post shared by The Press Tour (@the_press_tour) on Jan 16, 2018 at 5:17pm PST

Wearing a gown made from discarded fabrics by RVDK (Good), with an @era50_50 pin – a campaign for equal gender representation on stage and screen. Source: @The_Press_Tour

Showing us that the perfect faux leather jacket does exist.

 

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Merci beaucoup Paris for the wonderful start to the @beautyandthebeast tour! We felt like we were back in the heart of the film. Next stop – London. Did you know in the French version of the film, Cogsworth is called Big Ben? And Philippe is called Philbert?! Body by @woronstore, a slow fashion brand that focuses on everyday essentials. Each underwear garment is made from Lenzing Modal® fabric, a fibre made from beech wood sourced from sustainable forestry plantations in Europe. Socks by @boodywear, a brand that produces underwear made with certified organic bamboo, produced using computerised 3D knitting, so no fabric is wasted. Its factories are zero-waste and have a closed loop system to stop any water being wasted. Faux leather jacket and dress by @stellamccartney Boots by @goodguysdontwearleather. The brand doesn’t use any animal products in its collections, which are made in Porto, Portugal, helping preserve the traditional shoe making industry of the region. Jewellery by @allbluesofficial, who are based in Stockholm and handcraft every piece in their local, third-generation foundry. Fashion info verified by @ecoage #ecoloves Concealer by @rmsbeauty which is formulated with raw, food-grade and organic ingredients in their natural state. Red pomegranate cheek and lip stain by @thebodyshop, who campaign to ‘Enrich Not Exploit’ by protecting endangered habitats from intensive farming expansion, bronzer by @vitaliberata who have developed a collection of tanning products free from parabens, alcohol and that spray tan smell. Powder by @iliabeauty which is made from organic powdered corn and minerals instead of loose talc. Brown eye pencil by @honest_beauty who champion fair labour and human rights with their Health & Sustainability Standards. Lip balm from @tataharper who formulate and manufacture their natural and organic products from their farm in Vermont. Eyebrow gel by @janeiredale which is certified cruelty-free and eyebrow pencil by @alimapure who make their products in a diverse range of colours to suit all skin tones and offset 100% of their corporate carbon emissions. Beauty product info verified by @contentbeauty

A post shared by The Press Tour (@the_press_tour) on Feb 21, 2017 at 12:54pm PST

Wearing jacket and dress by Stella McCartney (Good), shoes by Good Guys (Good), socks by Boody (Good) and (underneath!) underwear by Woron (Good). Source: @The_Press_Tour

Rocking a pant-suit like a true boss.

 

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So nice to meet everybody at the first day of the Los Angeles @beautyandthebeast junket. The journalist who came dressed up as Lumiere was a particular delight! Jumpsuit by @roland_mouret, who was a producer for the film Ten Billion, which highlights the impact of our growing population on the earth’s resources and covers topics ranging from climate change, ecosystem loss, pollution, and resource depletion. Los Angeles­-based @susistudio design animal-free footwear using sustainable materials such as canvas, hemp, and faux leather produced from recycled plastic bottles. The focus of the brand is to inspire compassion towards humanity, animals, and the environment through creativity #30wears @article_22 upcycle Vietnam War-era bombs, planes, and other aluminium scrap to make Peacebomb jewellery. The more Peacebomb jewellery is worn, the more land is cleared and made safe for the surrounding communities #30wears Fashion info verified by @ecoage #ecoloves Skin prepped by combining Heritage Store Rosewater Glycerin Water with moisturiser and applying all over the face, neck and décolletage. @rmsbeauty “Un” Cover Up was used as foundation and concealer with “Un” Powder to set. RMS Beauty is free from nanotechnology and GMO ingredients. @tataharper Very Bronzing was used on eyes, along lower lash line in contour of eye and under cheekbones. Tata Harper runs her company in the belief that a company that makes products for women should be run by a woman. Eyes were accentuated with @janeiredale Liquid Eyeliner in Black/Brown which is vegan and certified cruelty-free by PETA. Lips are the Sweet & Safe Kiss Lipstick from Ecocert Greenlife-certified @absolution_cosmetics who collaborated with @christophedanchaud_makeup to create this line of lipsticks. Beauty brands verified by @contentbeauty

A post shared by The Press Tour (@the_press_tour) on Mar 5, 2017 at 11:36am PST

Wearing heels by Susi Studio (Good). Source: @The_Press_Tour

And last but not least, featuring ethical brands in her Vogue Australia feature.

Wearing Shirt by PYE (Good). Source: Vogue Australia

We can’t get enough of Emma’s effortless ethical style. Undoubtedly an inspiring woman for so many reasons, we just love how she uses fashion as an opportunity to communicate the values she believes in.

The post We Rate Emma Watson’s Sustainable Looks appeared first on Good On You.

So if you are a Kiwi, here are 5 amazing ethical and sustainable brands that are 100% ‘Made in New Zealand’. Good on You have rated these brands ‘Good’ and ‘Great’ based on their impact on people, the planet and animals. You can rest assured that when you buy from these brands, your dollars will boost support the growing movement towards a more ethical fashion industry.

The post 5 of New Zealand’s Best Ethical and Sustainable Fashion Labels appeared first on Good On You.

One small chance is all it takes to transform a life

Founders of The Fair Trader, John and Bronwyn, were both raised in families that were very much aware of global issues. John was born in Jiagung, a small town near Calcutta, India, and Bronwyn’s parents moved to South Korea soon after the Korean Civil War while she was still very young. They never had the luxury of being blind to poverty and economic injustice. And because of this, they both wanted to be involved in giving opportunities to people from challenged communities like the ones they saw as children.

Before founding The Fair Trader their daughter, Ashleigh, was involved with organisation Urban Neighbours of Hope, which helps neighbourhoods struggling with urban poverty. Through the work she was doing in Bangkok, John and Bronwyn witnessed the amazing transformation of entire communities. In one particular instance, they witnessed the organisation lend a helping hand to a young Thai mother struggling as a street vendor by supporting the publication of her cookbook. Her book was so successful, that she was able to open her own cooking school. She now employs 70 people from the community, has a 5-star rating on Trip Advisor and is able to sponsor other business ventures in her area. Such transformative change, and with giving so little! John and Bronwyn wanted to be involved in providing opportunities like this, and so The Fair Trader opened its doors.

Drop earrings, not bombs

The Fair Trader sells a wide range of products made by people, in Australia and overseas, who live in communities that struggle with economic disadvantage. Each product is carefully chosen by The Fair Trader team. They source beautiful and unique products of high-quality whose production has provided ethical work for people that need it most. Even their shopping bags are ethically made by Bengali artisans!

The people from these communities are just like us! They just need a break. The Fair Trader is an amazing team of people who have come together to make this possible.

Bronwyn

Take their latest find as an example, a beautiful jewellery range made by Small Projects Istanbul. The earrings are made by a group of women from Syria who have fled to Turkey to seek refuge. The project was set up to give the gift of income and inclusion, and together the team have designed the most amazing earrings called “Drop Earrings, Not Bombs”. You can find out more about the range here.

The Fair Trader give their customers the opportunity to purchase gorgeous one-of-a-kind products from all over the world, that bring positive change to poor communities. “We are so proud of the products in our store. We have worked hard seeking products that not only help communities work to build a future for themselves, but are beautiful and functional and suitable for the Melbourne market.”

Ethical at every turn

Everything they do at The Fair Trader they do with mindful attention to its greater impact. The team ensure that there are transparent and positive ethics for every product they stock in store. In most cases, as products are made by poor communities, the products are made with natural components that the community has on hand and can afford, such as jewellery made from recycled machine gun shells, carry bags made from recycled newspapers, toys made from cotton or wool that the community has grown themselves.

If you take the time to visit The Fair Trader you can be assured that the item you are purchasing is respectful and empowering to the people who produced it. “We are so proud of each product and the amazing people who produced them. We have so much fun. We have friends all over the world. If we find a new product for our shop we are filled with joy. We love this work and The Fair Trader,” says Bronwyn.

Moving forward, The Fair Trader team are working hard to build their business into something that is sustainable over the long-term. “It is not positive for the poor communities whom we purchase our products if we cannot continue to support them long term”, explains Bronwyn. They want to support each producer so that they can each generate enough income to empower their communities and help core community development.

The next step is to build a website that allows them to spread their vision wider, helping more and more people discover these beautiful products from around the world. If you too want to help empower communities with your purchases, take a trip to The Fair Trader at 18 Railway Avenue, Ringwood East in Melbourne and get lost in their stories as told through beautiful, hand-made products.

You can also follow their ethical adventures on Facebook and Instagram!

The post The Ethical Shop You Need to Visit Next Time You’re in Melbourne! appeared first on Good On You.

The creation of a sustainable e-commerce platform was not the path that Ethi’s Founder, Jimmy Zhong originally had in mind for himself. Jimmy’s background was in psychology and information systems and he started out working in management consulting before diving into startups. It wasn’t until he founded Akagu in 2015, a reverse auction website that helped local independent fashion designers get a fairer price on their dead stock, that he started to truly understand the fashion industry, and see the cracks that plagued it.

“Fashion (clothing) is a basic need for everyone, yet it is also one of the highest forms of human self-expression. It gives us the ability to showcase our best and our worst, and it can also reflect the best and worst in humanity,” explains Jimmy. He became convinced that he wanted to change the fashion industry and in turn, make a difference on issues such as climate change, human rights abuse, and animal cruelty.

Right now, the fashion industry is showcasing its ‘worst’ side, and I am passionate about getting it back to the ‘best’ side, because its best can have such an immense effect on the world; enabling everyone to be happier, the environment to be cleaner, and its animals safer.

Jimmy Zhong – Ethi founder

And so, Ethi was born.

When you visit Ethi, you’ll find a beautiful range of brands and products, all of which meet at least one of Ethi’s EMPATHY values. These values stand for; Environment, Material Sustainability, People, Animal-free, Transparency, Handmade and Your Local. When you buy from Ethi you can feel good about supporting brands that are positively impacting the environment, people and animals.

Just as important as the products are the stories behind the brands. Ethi is a marketplace where brands can showcase their amazing stories and customers can be fully informed about what they are purchasing, and from who. They also donate $1 from every sale to your choice of three different causes focused on the environment, children, or refugees. To top it off, they are also in the process of applying to become a BCorp.

I can see the suffering of not only the vulnerable in third world countries, from the environment to women, children and animals, but also the suffering of those living in privileged first world countries. I think fashion is a great indicator of society and I hope to change this back to becoming a positive.

Ethi is an online shopping destination that is dreaming big – their mission is to be the first global marketplace for sustainable living, where consumers can find the largest range of ethical fashion and lifestyle products, anywhere in the world. “That would be magic. Sustainable and ethical should no longer be considered niche, it should be the norm, and we would love to help drive this.”

They also don’t want to stop at the consumer level, eventually wanting to help connect brands to manufacturers, producers and other innovations as well. “If we can do this then we all of a sudden have much more transparency across large aspects of the supply chain, which in turn could lead to higher standards of product for us, better lives for workers, and a safer environment for all of us to live in.”

A noble vision, from an inspiring brand.

The post Meet Ethi: Your New Sustainable Lifestyle Destination appeared first on Good On You.

TAMGA Designs was born out of genuine curiosity. Co-Founders Yana Barankin and Eric Dales moved to Bangladesh in 2013, arriving shortly after the infamous Rana Plaza garment factory collapse that claimed over a thousand lives. The injustice of this disaster led them to start asking questions, learning about the industry and visiting factories.

“We wanted to know why the human and environmental impact of fashion was not reaching Western consumers, even when lives were being lost and entire ecosystems destroyed. This curiosity is what drove us to gradually build our own brand that embodied the values we felt were lacking in fashion,” explains Barankin.

Part of TAMGA’s mission is to make sustainable fashion more exciting! They’re doing this through the creation of stunning designs, sharing the story behind how the clothing is made, and using innovative fabrics. They believe that if they can spread this excitement all over the world then it will help contribute to a brighter future in the fashion industry.

Inspired by a love of travel, TAMGA embodies the positive, laid-back and creative feeling you get when you’re exploring the world. Their unique prints evolve from a huge archive of travel photos that the team goes over with their print designer and come to life through tons of sketches that take all of these global elements and make them their own. TAMGA’s fabrics are soft, flowy and breathable – proving that eco-friendly fabrics don’t have to be rough or scratchy.

Their sustainable ethos starts at the very beginning of their supply chain and travels right through to the finished product. “We built the TAMGA Designs supply chain from the bottom up so that we could be accountable for every step along the way,” says Dales. “Ultimately we’re ethical consumers ourselves, so we’re constantly learning and improving.”

One example of this continuous improvement is the new tool on their website, called The Good Stuff. It shows the water, energy and emissions impact of every one of their pieces compared to a traditional viscose garment. They worked with a Toronto start-up, Green Story, to research the exact environmental impact of all of their fabrics. When discussing the information to come out of this research, one of TAMGA’s team members proclaimed “that’s the good stuff” – and it stuck.

We built the TAMGA Designs supply chain from the bottom up so that we could be accountable for every step along the way.

Eric Dales – TAMGA Co-founder

This leads us back to the issue of deforestation, which sits close to the hearts of TAMGA’s Founders. They initially came across the problem during trips to Leuser National Park in Sumatra. According to UNESCO, this region’s biodiversity is “exceptional in terms of both species numbers and uniqueness“. Sadly, it is also experiencing an astounding rate of deforestation due in part to mass-production of viscose-rayon fabric. This precious area is home to the world’s critically endangered Sumatran Orangutans and their valuable ecosystem is quickly disappearing.

Just as you can choose sustainable palm oil (another big driver of deforestation), you can also choose sustainable viscose-rayon fabrics. TAMGA’s fabrics are sourced exclusively from eucalyptus and beechwood forests that are certified by FSC and PEFC to be sustainably managed. Beyond this, their fabrics are also free of the toxic chemicals used to create standard viscose and use a fraction of the water and energy.

To help them raise awareness about this problem, TAMGA has partnered with Canopy – a Canadian charity that is pushing brands to be accountable for their wood-based fabrics. TAMGA has taken the CanopyStyle Pledge – a formal commitment to protect the world’s remaining ancient and endangered forests and endangered species habitats through their fabric sourcing. Dales explains, “Wood-based fabrics are the fastest growing material in fashion, with production expected to double by 2050. This spells trouble for our planet’s forests if we don’t act now.”

And they don’t show any signs of stopping in their quest to save the forests! TAMGA has partnered with Sumatran Orangutan Society (S.O.S) to bring you a new Forest-Friendly Friday campaign – an anti-Black Friday so to speak – to raise awareness of the deforestation caused by fashion and help consumers support forest conservation directly. So stay tuned to their social channels for that one!

The TAMGA team are excited about what the future holds for sustainable and eco-friendly production. “We’re really excited about the innovations that are happening in materials at the moment, especially fabrics and dyes”, says Barankin. They’re also continuing to work on the development of new and improved supply chain transparency tools to enable the monitoring of real-time labour conditions. No matter which way you look at it, TAMGA Designs are doing right by the planet, their people, and animals which is why we happily rate them as ‘Good’ in the Good On You app.

Better fashion, for a brighter future.

The post TAMGA Designs Brings You Fierce, Forest-Friendly Fashion appeared first on Good On You.

It’s not the clutter itself that causes issues, but the mindset that comes along with having a space filled with stuff. When we live in a society that is obsessed with the collection of things, it’s no surprise that Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has become a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Her method of organising, called the KonMari Method, has revolutionised how people declutter and organise their spaces (and in turn, their minds).

The KonMari method revolves around the idea that the items you own should bring you joy, and if they no longer serve this purpose, they should be discarded from your life. Belongings are acknowledged for their service and thanked before being sent on their merry way. People are drawn to this philosophy not only due to its effectiveness, but also because it places great importance on being mindful, introspective and optimistic.

Particularly when it comes to buying clothing and the tempting fast fashion industry, it can be easy to end up with a wardrobe overflowing with items you once thought you ‘had to have’ but haven’t worn for years.

So if your wardrobe is causing you angst, let’s “Kondo” it into shape!

1. Firstly take everything out of your wardrobe and organise into categories. Work through your clothing systematically – start with all of your tops, then sort your pants, then dresses, etc.

2. You need to decide what you want to keep, and what you want to discard. To do this, take each item in your hands, feel if it still brings you joy, or if it has come to the end of its useful life with you. Say thank you, and place those items in the ‘discard’ pile. If you are struggling to make a decision it means that item isn’t bringing you enough joy, so say goodbye to this too!

3. While you are carrying out this process be reflective and present. Learn from what you are keeping or not keeping as this can help you make more informed purchasing decisions in the future. Perhaps you don’t like polyester jumpsuits as much as you once did, or noticed you have far too many white t-shirts.

4. Once you have finalised your keep pile for all categories, the key is to now put these away in a magically organised manner. Roll items and store them vertically so you can see them all in your drawer.

5. Wondering what to do with everything in the discard pile? One option is to bag up your discarded clothes and drop them at your nearest thrift store – keeping in mind that this option isn’t without its downsides. You can also take your high-quality clothes directly to the people who need them, such as your local women’s shelter or to programs such as Fitted for Work. If you have items that are too worn or damaged (ask yourself – would you give this item to a close friend?) they may be able to find a new life as industrial rags. From upcycling to clothes-swapping, there are so many ways you can ensure your discards don’t end up in landfill.

Voila! Be proud of yourself, enjoy your new zen wardrobe and most importantly, remember the lessons you learnt to make more informed and mindful purchases in the future.

The post How to Organise Your Closet with the KonMari Method appeared first on Good On You.