I would be lying if I said I was bored with fashion… at the same time, the cycle of buying it (or receiving it), writing about it and reading about it can get kind of old. There are thousands of fashion blogs out there (I remember when I started there were just a few) and there are only so many ways you can write about spending your hard earned money on clothes… As an art form I am still a fan. As cheap-mass-produced or expensive-limited-quantity items though, I’m over it. I’ve spent the weekend pouring over the fall fashion magazines. Those super thick, 1/2 full of advertisements gems that come out every August. As I finally reached page 840 of Vouge I came to the following conclusions: (1) Scarlett, Gisele, and (despite her taste in men) Kate are everywhere and we should all strive to look like them (2) Despite the fact I thought the overly-expensive bag thing was over, its not, and we should all still covet Louis, (3) Despite the obvious irony of Moschino’s slogan, I do appreciate the fact that they have Black models in their ads (with the exception of a small handful: Lens Crafters, Payless, Gap (actress) and Revlon (actress/ musician) there are very few in the magazine) (4) We (as a society) are way way too obsessed with material things. (Please read 1 and 2 with the appropriate level of sarcasm).
That’s not to say I don’t enjoy a good dose of retail therapy every now and then. But after 840 pages (ending with “$720 pair of Miu Mui pumps” exclamation point) even I was overwhlemed with a feeling of guilt. If you’ve seen Leonardo’s newest environmental flick, you know what I mean.
That’s why companies like Terra Plana are so special.
Since 2003, Terra Plana / Worn Again has been making good-looking eco-friendly shoes, in the UK, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Morocco and Mexico. They are always looking for new innovative ways of producing them. Their shoes are designed for “people who want good-looking feet, without a guilty conscience.” Worn Again is working – step-by-step – to show that this can be done – and that people want it to be done. The company has worked to engage with the existing system of production, while looking for more diverse production models, supporting local economies – and minimising the miles travelled by our shoes before they reach our feet. Mike Corbett, their new head designer, has been creating new products for the Worn Again range, including a fantastic summer sandal for ladies and men!
I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you’re going to succumb to the consumerism, at least do so with a clean conscious… and a reduced footprint.
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