I've been thinking a lot about my blog lately, and even considered deleting it a few times. It's just not quite 'me' anymore, and I think I'm struggling to balance the idea of having a fashion blog (read: frivolous) and trying to well... not be frivolous. I think that's the right word, anyway.
It came to my attention a few months ago that in fact, clothes don't just appear on rails as if by magic. It sounds silly, but it is so easy to think this when, as a customer, all you see are beautifully dressed mannequins and enticing big red 'Sale' signs. I began to recognise that there is actually a whole supply chain behind them, and the issue is that this supply chain is just completely riddled with environmental/ethical problems (especially for the high street brands that the average joe can 'afford'). Take for example cotton... it has to grow, be picked, be shipped, be bleached, be dyed, be washed, be sewn, be packaged, be flown across the world, and all this uses real resources and real people.
My problem is, I love clothes. This is pretty evident when I'm trying to pack for uni and I fill 2 suitcases with clothes before I've even looked in my actual wardrobe. I also love blogging, I love the blogging community, and as someone who is going to be graduating in a year's time, I also love how many doors it can open for a countryside girl with very little else to rely on.
So I'm going to shake things up a bit, and take my blog in a more ethical direction. This is like opening a giant can of worms, and is frankly, rather daunting. 'Ethical' seems to have an infinite set of definitions, as well as a pretty bad reputation in terms of fashion. I've already written a few posts about items I consider to be ethical, which have occasionally attracted some heated debate. But debate is good! Please feel free to debate as much as you like everyone, I find it really interesting!
Anyway, about this new direction... I don't want to be preachy, and I most certainly won't be perfect. I'm just going to try and make a difference, and I'm glad to have this platform to do it. I've been testing the water since January, to see if I can resist the sales, the peter pan collars, the beautiful 60s inspired collections, and on, and on, and on... but so far it's working! I've also been (painfully) turning down freebies from PR companies that don't fit with my new shopping habits. Anyone who is a blogger will know how hard this is...
Finally, I'm still Sadie, and this is still my blog. Almost exactly the same as before, just a bit more green (literally and metaphorically).
Sadie xxx
15 comments:
I love this direction and your willingness to stick to your guns! I'll be here reading!
Thanks Emily! All suport is welcomed with open arms! x
It sounds like a good direction! I've become increasingly interested in ethical fashion over the past year or so after switching exclusively to buying second hand - at first just for money reasons but then as I read more into it (including the Lucy Siegle book you recommended) it's now for moral reasons too! I now don't enter any competitions on blogs from high street etc companies as well as not going back to the high street but instead exploring ethical brands. I look forward to seeing future posts/ recommendations!
Laila x
thekittenswhiskers
Yay!
This is exactly the focus of my blog as well, and at times it's hard not to feel preachy but I feel like at least we're having conversations that are worth having - and isn't that what blogging is for?
Oh that's fabulous. I completely understand your dilemma.. but not being able to afford the 'ethical' clothes that I actually like is hard. yay for thrifting, though.
I entirely appreciate your desicion. I can't wait to see the outcome.
Good on you girl!!! As a blogger, I sometimes sit back and think, no I'm not going to post about that because it's supporting an enormous shopping centre and I'd rather support small businesses and the high street. Little things like that. I think Bloggers need to think more about what they're promoting. We're essentially encouraging people to have a higher turnover of cheap clothes which I feel really bad about. Don't feel you have to stick to guidelines all the time though, we can't always be perfect and I think showing people how they can add a bit of ethics into their lives is far more relatable anyway - good luck!
xx
This is so good to hear! After reading the Lucy Siegle book you recommended, it's changed the way I think too- I have found myself looking around high street shops, and very little has any appeal when knowing they're journey onto the rails hasn't been the nicest! I'd love to read a blog with a different perspective, I've found the ethical posts you write, actually make me think & I've bought from some of the brands myself. Its lovely to still have your similar style, but to feel better about the clothes you own :) But still, you're so good at making your own clothes and finding second hand goodies! Since becoming a seamstress I find I'm making things more often than buying them, which is better for my purse and ethical too :) Looking forward to reading your posts & I hope you're having the most lovely time in Paris! x
How exciting! Welcome to the ethical blogging massive (well, I think you were already firmly in it, tbh, but I guess this is an 'official' welcome). I think the issues you say you struggle with are ones which we all face. Sometimes I really miss going for a day out 'shopping' on the High Street, but I know the guilt I would feel from a mass splurge on what is effectively ethically poor, cut-price tat would outweigh anything else.
Massive luck with your new direction, xx
This seems like a great decision, I'm excited to see what you post! I've also been moving in that direction lately and have been happy to see that there is an entire blogger "tribe" that is working through these very same issues! let me know if you want some links of great ethical-focused blogs I read!
That's a really nice idea Sadie, I think it's great you try a new direction with your blog. Fashion blogging can be quite materialistic indeed, but it definitely doesn't have to! I'm curious to see how you're going to fill in your blog :)
Great to hear Sadie! I now work at a fashion wholesale company and have also become much more aware of the whole production process- it's crazy how much clothing is sent to landfill just because a big high street client decides they don't want to take a line anymore- which can be hundreds of thousands of pieces! I've since become a bit disillusioned with the high street and been charity shopping and eBaying second-hand clothes much more. I think it's great that you're putting yourself out there and using your blog to reflect what you believe in- it's a lot more interesting than most of the high street clone blogs! xxx
www.thequickredfox.co.uk
Thankyou so much for your support girls! It really means a lot! And it is really lovely to read such long comments :).
@rachel I'd love it if you could send your favourite ethical brands this way (in fact, this applies to everyone!)
I'm so glad you didn't delete your blog! I've always loved your posts, and I think it is a great idea to focus more on ethical fashion. My favourite ethical label is Tara Starlet but it would be great to know more brands out there! xx
Sadie, Just discovered your blog. We think you're incredibly cute. Keep up the great work. You still have more to share and we want to learn more!
your friends @ axeaboutme.com
I perfectly understand what you mean. I started to go into this blog thing and quickly realised that I needed to buy everything new (products wise) for people to be interested. Then I started to question why did I want people to be interested and what was the point in trying to copy the like of Betty and Garance? I eventually realised that these blogs are scandalously encouraging mass consumerism and it's really sad. Especially since I have had a growing interest in ethical fashion for the past 3 years. Like you, I lovvve clothes (and beauty products) and it is difficult to resist all the new stuff in the shop!!! So I have decided to post whatever I like on my blog. I don't care if people like it or not. I am trying not to be preechy and I am happy I found someone who has decided to rethink their shopping behaviour and general mindset when it comes to fashion! Keep up the good work, your pictures look brilliant!
It's funny, you are from the UK now living in Paris and I am from Paris now living in London ;).
CD.
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