Sustainability Pulse #22
Sustainability Trends & News Worth Exploring — January 23rd, 2022
Dear Gucci: Wild Animals Are Not Props
Gucci's new line emphasizes sustainability and animal motifs for the Year of the Tiger, but its use of wild animals as props is questionable.
In 2020, Gucci launched its first-ever sustainable collection, Off The Grid. In line with the brand's goal of circular production, the collection features recycled and organic materials, including a 100 per cent regenerated nylon made from pre-and post-consumer waste. That same year, Gucci joined The Lion's Share Fund, which supports wildlife conservation. But, with its latest collection—Gucci Tiger—the fashion giant is bringing its support of wild animals and the natural world to a screeching halt.
Four Ways Companies Are Elevating Their Sustainability Initiatives
Climate change and COVID-19 have been the fashion wake-up call we all needed. People are catching wind of how dirty the fashion industry is and are gladly waving goodbye to fast fashion and inviting sustainable staples to establish a permanent presence in their lives. Likewise, professional women worldwide are taking a 360 view of their closets and leaning toward the brands that place sustainability at the forefront of their missions.
Ralph Lauren CEO says metaverse is way to tap into younger generation of shoppers
At the National Retail Federation's annual conference, he said consumers can already buy Ralph Lauren's digital apparel and make a virtual visit — or even have a virtual coffee — at the company's Madison Avenue store. He said the retailer is considering whether to buy real estate in that digital world, where e-commerce, gaming and social media collide.
Winter Blues Got You Down? 14 Ways to Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder
If your mood these days is as bleak as the winter sky, you may be struggling with seasonal affective disorder. Fortunately, a few simple changes at home can help you beat those winter blues.
-Integrate Light Therapy
-Create a Comfortable Sleep Environment
-Find Space to Exercise and Eat Right
HOW TO TAME YOUR CLOSET, ACCORDING TO PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS
Helpful storage tips for boots, bulky loungewear, jeans and sweaters ahead.
There's nothing like squeezing your life into a 600-square foot apartment — especially when it's winter, and you're forced to make room for puffy coats and chunky boots. Even if you have the luxury of more space or multiple closets, the pieces you need to navigate cold weather can still create chaos in any room you inhabit. Add on the extra hours you're spending at home this month, and the messes you once overlooked become hard to ignore.
The Role of Regulation in Ensuring Circular Fashion
With the aim of investigating the role of governmental regulation in reducing the environmental footprint of the industry and moving it toward a circular economy-based approach, a paper has been published online in Sustainability.
The Growing Issue with Sustainability in the Fashion and Clothing Industry
With the growth of the global fashion and clothing industry comes concerns over its sustainability and business practices. Recently, there has been significant media attention on the development of so-called “fast fashion” and its impact on the wider clothing industry and society. Over the past four decades, there has been a 400% increase in the amount of clothing produced annually in the world. Additionally, the average household spending on clothing and the average amount of clothing worn has decreased.
After 149 years, Colgate's toothpaste tubes are finally recyclable.
Colgate redesigned its toothpaste tubes so they can go into curbside recycling bins. It could eventually keep a billion tubes out of landfills each year.
A Rendezvous with Sayoko, the creative head behind Sayoko Creations
“Reincarnating unwanted materials by hand, giving them a new life with a twist of humor.”
As a special service to our loyal subscribers, we will be including an interview with a unique, sustainable fashion brand in every newsletter created by Aastha Rajiv.
This week, we introduce Sayoko Creations, an upcycled fashion brand based in New York.
Sayoko Kojima is a Brooklyn based designer and independent artist originating from Chiba, Japan.
After studying art and fashion in Japan, she moved to New York to further pursue her craft and experience the diverse cultural experiences the city has to offer.
Aastha: Can you tell me a little about your background?
Sayoko:I studied in Japan as an Art and Design student before coming to NYC as a dance student. I started designing during the pandemic at Brooklyn Fashion Academy before being invited to show my collections at Brooklyn Fashion Week.
A: What do your collections feature?
S: During the pandemic, I started using old disposable jeans and dress shirts found in the neighbourhood to repurpose into my eclectic designs. My designs are more artistic than functional, incorporating unique shapes and natural dyes such as avocado, black beans and tomatoes.
A: What inspired your creative outlook?
S: Japan has a culture of upcycling in its households. Old towels can be used as kitchen mops, old clothing can be repurposed into scrap material or worn by young ones. The focus on upcycling clothing in Japan inspired me to create a sustainable fashion brand.
A: What do you envision as the future of your brand and of sustainable fashion?
S: To create a marketplace for fashion designing to be available to all and not only to a group of elite designers. Everyone should be allowed to design. My idea is to enable sustainable fashion to be locally produced at lower than current prices through a rotational economy.
I would also like to make the process of designing accessible to all. Only by designing and upcycling their clothing themselves people would understand the value of their clothes and not throw them away.
Explore Sayoko Creations at @sayokocreations on Instagram.
P.S. Want to get more out of your downtime?