If you are a denim-wearing eco-warrior then perhaps you are more fashion and less eco-conscious! For wearing denim that has been mass produced by fast fashion companies is perhaps akin to eating meat if you are vegetarian. Not the done thing in short. Read below and get the basics of why the current denim manufacturing has a negative environmental impact.

Adorning yourself in denim goods will never go out of fashion. Jeans have formed the basis of every man’s wardrobe since the 20^th century and their popularity will, no doubt, continue far into the 21^st century and beyond. As a popular product, its manufacture can safely fall into the ‘fast fashion’ segment of the fashion business. As with all clothing that is produced ‘fast’ the detrimental effects on the environment are something to consider should you be a slow fashion aficionado and hope to produce a denim collection. It was a little-known fact, prior to 2014, that the manufacture of denim products had such an unfavourable effect ...

Ever wondered how to make a handbag? Or a dress? While most people will never wonder this, many do. Every day newcomers enter the fashion industry. While they may bring new ideas and enthusiasm, their lack of knowledge of how the industry works, development and sourcing know-how and process often leaves them exhausted and with depleted funds.

Welcome to the world of entrepreneur-ism where the streets are sometimes paved with gold for the lucky few who make it to the finishing line. There is no magic formula for success in business but on a positive note, you can help yourself by having a clear vision and defining your perfect customer.

On a less positive note, the reality of running a fashion business which includes late nights, stress, chasing the fashion editor carrot with no pay for the first couple of years, is not for the faint-hearted.

The actual designing is secondary to your ability to manage your business which includes the people, processes and finances. There is a vast am...

Brands with any integrity have been thinking of ways to build their businesses with a sustainable advantage for a while now.

Below are some Eco-friendly practices that you, as a business can do to contribute your share of sustainability in the fashion industry.

With planet earth being pushed to the limit and recent headlines predicting that a 2C rise in temperatures could set off an uncontrollable chain of events within five decades, everyone needs to do their bit.

No one is more aware of the urgency than millennial students at fashion colleges. Many of them have been developing their work on an eco-friendly ethos.

However, once these students graduate one can only hope that their fledgling businesses are set up in such a way that helps reduce their carbon footprint. Travelling on a path towards greater sustainable practices means analysing the environmental impact of your company and your suppliers.

Here are the 7 Eco-friendly practices for your fashion business:

1. Studio

Sett...

What do you call a retail model that is not going down but getting divided based on the economics of the world, consumer behaviour and early adopters? Let's dive into the fragmentation of retail.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I have seen the terms ‘retail apocalypse’ and ‘perfect storm in retail’ being used in the last 2-3 years. I have watched the collapse of several major chains with an increasing sense of dismay and ‘the end of an era’ nostalgia. Department stores, toy specialists, electronics giants, they were all institutions in their own right!

Now, an apocalypse is a profound word and means ‘the total destruction and end of the world’. Grave! English is not my first language but intuitively it feels wrong to associate the word with the current retail situation. Some retailers are thriving while others are suffering. The respective financial performances are polarised.

Besides the multi-channel retailers with a strong USP and online pure-plays, marketplaces are the bi...

Why is there a rise in demand for personalised products? In this age of mass production and over consumption it’s apparent that consumers want to feel special and to stand out from the crowd. But, does it go further than this and who are the brands offering personalisation well? Let's find out.

Within every hierarchy of fashion, be it high street, middle market or high-end, personalisation has a place.

From sports shoes in Nike town, where customers are able to put a NikeID to their runners and have a bespoke pair delivered within two weeks.

Or the mass appeal of the mid-market e-tailer, who took off after recognising the demand for customisation.

Obviously, high-end brands such as Hermes have been monogramming product since the beginning of time.

When I was a teenager I wanted to look a bit different from my peers and I was lucky enough to be able to make my own clothes to instigate this.

Unfortunately, not everyone is able to create their own clothes or accessories and this is ...

We can’t all afford the designer styles we see on celebrities and runway models. So, we often settle for cheap alternatives. Unfortunately, there’s a price to pay for affordable clothing – and we’re not talking money-wise.

Much like fast food, fast fashion was made to cater to those on a budget as a quick and easy solution. Fast fashion clothing is characteristically cheap, trendy, and mass-produced. There are a number of global fast fashion brands, most of which we’ve likely frequented without knowing any better. Some you may have heard of include:

• Charlotte Russe
• Fashion Nova
• Forever 21
• H&M
• Topshop
• Urban Outfitters
• Zara

Not only are the practices of some of these brands morally and ethically irresponsible, but they’re also environmentally wasteful.

Unfortunately, we’re easily disillusioned by their reasonable prices and up-to-date styles.

Aside from the fact that they promote sweatshop culture, they often lack in quality as well. Fortunately, if you frequent these ...

If you’re looking to become a jewellery designer, there are plenty of ways to go about achieving your goal. While there’s no one “right” way to ensure success, there are several early career options for aspiring designers who are looking to make their mark on the jewellery industry. How do you decide which route to take?

The best way to become a jewellery designer will be based on your skills, needs, resources and personality. What works for one person might not be the best plan for you and vice versa.

When you are starting a business in a new field, it is an important time to take stock of who you are and what you have to offer. In doing so, you’ll be able to develop an understanding of the best path to success for your (jewellery) career.

In this article, we will show you how you can discover four paths to become a jewellery designer and how to understand which process will be the right one for you.

1. The Traditional Jewellery Maker Path

For many years, the best way to become a...

Working with clothing manufacturers overseas is a natural progression for many fashion brands. The move is often necessitated by two main factors - a need for larger volume production or a necessity to reduce costs and increase margins.

Finding clothing manufacturers overseas or any fashion manufacturers for that matter has got easier over the last few years. There has been an influx of multiple online fashion manufacturing directories focusing on different areas and verticals of the fashion industry. Yet, working farther away is not got much easier.

It is not impossible either! It is important to go into these new relationships and make this big change with eyes fully open.

Many fashion brands make the mistake of getting excited by the potential savings they will make by moving their production offshore, and neglect to see the obstacles and challenges such a move will instigate.

No challenge is insurmountable, but choosing not to recognise it early enough and deal with, will o...

Buying ethical clothing and talking about ethical fashion has become the "in" thing of our generation. But what does it mean? What makes clothes ethical? Few ask the question let alone look into the process and meaning of this modern-day term so many feel so passionate about. The truth is, ethical clothing is not something that starts and ends with the designing and sewing of them. It's important that the actions before and after the actual creation process are also ethical. What does that mean exactly?

"Ethical clothing" can refer to many different aspects of production. It can mean that the materials used for manufacturing those clothes have been grown in an organic fashion. It could also mean that the people who are creating those clothes are working in adequate conditions.

But it could also refer to the actual workers who are growing the cotton crops used for making the clothes, and their work conditions.

Read more about ethical manufacturing here.

What can you do to ensure th...

The rise of cruelty-free fashion and beauty brands is apparent and all around us. Over the last few years, keen followers of fashion, no doubt would have noticed a sharp increase in consumers seeking more conscious fashion choices.

For many, the search led them to nowhere. Others chose to do something it and launched their own brands in this increasingly popular product niche.

The poor state of the planet we live in is highlighted daily. No longer do we witness natural disasters from a safe distance. More and more of us experience first-hand or know of someone who has been directly affected by such climate change provoked calamities.

Most causes point to the vast amount of land, claimed through (mostly) deforestation in order to make it suitable for growing crops that will feed the animals. According to a study done by the Harvard University approved in 2013, around 30% of the worlds ice-free surface land is farmed to support the feeding of chickens, pigs and cattle that we consume....