Ethical Fashion Part I - Every Outfit Is A Vote!
Since starting this blog, I've grown. A. Lot, and I've gone from a materialistic teen obsessed with fashion, designers, brands and shopping, to a young adult obsessed with one question: "What can I do to make this world a better place?" But first I had a harder question to answer which was "How do I make myself better?" and make myself I did and am and will keep doing until a freakin third eye grows in the middle of my forehead. So I'm not here to preach, just share what I'm learning in my journey to improvement and one part of this journey is becoming more conscious about how every action I take has a butterfly effect that ripples across the world. Everything we eat, wear or purchase in general has been created by others or from others and since fashion is something that has been influencing me almost my entire life I only felt it right to delve into the ethics of it and maybe one day help improve it.
Now a few questions YOU might be having.
So where does ethical fashion blend into all of this? Get to the point sista!
The answer to this is covered in the video above. Watch it! ;)
Where do our clothes come from, who makes them?
Almost all clothes let you know in the label where they are made, countries like Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam are some of the countries with the highest risk of human and labor rights violations. While not shopping items made in these countries can lead to less "sweatshop clothes" in your closet the main goal is for those people to keep their jobs by earning a fair wage. In my opinion that can only happen if all of us as shoppers voice our opinions! A simple tweet or instagram comment can go a long way if we all did it, (eg. asking topshop on instagram to next time post a picture of their seamstresses wage instead of Cara's bod) You get the picture. It's called online activism and we can all be little activists with a single tweet, so type away!
What about the materials, can those be unethical also?
Unfortunately yes, aside from toxic chemicals used in dyes that are harmful for the workers and the environment there are some other fashion victims nobody seems to care about. Animals. Oh no, here she goes with her hippy bullshit. Yep, here I go, because if I can stop being the fur and leather loving primitive cavewoman that I was, then so can you. Right now.
Watch through all four of these videos, do not look away, you will cringe, you will feel a gut wrenching nausea and disgust and you will cry. But unfortunately, this is reality and everyone needs to know about it. It's the only way you can really grasp why dressing vegan is so important.
https://youtu.be/DE56fAD3HyE
https://youtu.be/PtAFHyXS31M
https://youtu.be/7hZh_zrV6oY
https://youtu.be/g55mL67BM20
If after this you feel ready to make a change, do not fear! There is no need to throw away half your closet, just avoid buying any new animal products and you're good to go, there are more faux and synthetic options in the market these days than ever before. All high street brands have them so it really takes ZERO EFFORT to saves lives and do good!
Why don't any popular fashion bloggers talk about this? It's part of the industry they work in.
In my opinion, every fashion blogger should know about these things whether they choose to talk about it, support it or not, so should magazines and all related online media. Unfortunately, the biggest brands like Topshop or Nike for example are also the biggest sponsors and the most corrupt when it comes to human and labor rights. Saying no to promoting corrupt brands would mean cutting down on their income. What they don't understand is that if we all collectively supported ethical brands (like Asos Green Room, Style Saint, Stella McCartney and many more) then all the power and money of the fashion industry would shift to them.
I want to become an ethical shopper, but I don't know where I should shop and what brands to avoid and also, will it be difficult to make this change?
Firstly, don't worry, becoming an ethical shopper is very easy! Watch the video below where I talk about the most popular brands that we all shop from and let you know which are the safest options and which have been involved in sweatshop, slave and child labor. I have stopped shopping all together but when I really need something these are my favorite options: Asos, Vintage, Etsy (& in general handmade), swapping clothes with friends and my sister, anything that is made locally in Greece and h&m conscious collection. There are literally tons of options but these are just my go-to. I think my number one favourite option has got to be handmade, buying something that someone designed and made on their own although not cheap, it's a fantastic way to feel more connected and respectful towards the creator and the creation.
Ethical Fashion Part II - Where To Shop & Not!
The brands you recommend are all pure evil! I thought this was an ethical fashion blog!
My goal is to make ethical fashion simple and ease people into it, I don't believe it would be effective to ask people to straight away swear off buying any clothes because nobody would give ethical fashion a second thought. Just saying, if you have to choose between h&m and zara, go with h&m, if you have to choose between h&m and handmade, go with handmade. I'm just providing some tools that anyone with critical thinking can use.
I like living in ignorant bliss, why should I come back to this blog?
Ethical fashion is not your thing? That's ok, I'll still be making videos and outfit posts, I'll simply only be working with and promoting brands that support human and labor rights and are cruelty free.
Are there any other websites I can visit for more info?
Watch This! Sweatshop Documentary
A guide to making clothing choices
How to Find Guilt-Free, Affordable Fashion
Sixty big name brands continuing to use sweatshop labour
Are These Unethical Fashion Brands Hiding In Your Closet?
Changing the world through fashion: Eva Kruse at TEDxCopenhagen
Hope you guys found this post interesting and if you have any questions you'd like me to clear up let me know in the comments bellow! I'd be more than glad to answer them.
INSTAGRAM @KRISTENLEO
INSTAGRAM @KRISTENLEO
Here's what I typically eat on the weekend! I've seen lots of other health youtubers making this video so i thought you might find it interesting. I consume approximately 2000 calories of fruits and whole foods daily and exercise as often as possible by doing yoga or weight training at home. I'm not a big fan of the gym to be honest, so I prefer to work out with my peace an quiet and at my own pace also, I am literally obsessed with headstands, I'm not sure why but I'm addicted... Let me know if you want me to show you what I eat on a typical working day because it's a little bit different because I have to pack my meals. Thank you for watching!
These are my 6 tips on shopping healthy and vegan food when you're on a budget! I've been on a really tight budget for about six months and these are a few tips and things I learned on the way that I've aplied to maintain a healthy and vegan (high carb-low fat) lifestyle . Let me know what other things you guys do to stay healthy on a budget in the comments!
Shop Three Birds Sitting
Filmed, Edited: Dimitris Haidis | Directed: Dimitris Maggioros | Intro designed: Stauros Triantos
Had so much fun filming this, trying out all the beautiful clothes in the store, choosing and styling the outfits for it with the lovely Elpida who owns the store and has also decorated it wonderfully, I was also lucky enough to get to keep that sparrow print dress as well! Can't wait to wear it now that it's finally spring and the weather is so much better.
Aegina island summer 2014 on film.
I FINALLY developed the film from 2 disposable cameras and one underwater cam that I had lying around for 9 months to get that super old film look + because I've also been a bit lazy. The pictures are from the trip I took with my boyfriend Maki last June in Aegina island.
I had forgotten my iphone charger at my place and being the photography freak that I am, there was no way we were going on vacation and not taking any cool looking pictures. I've always wanted to experiment with film so we set off to find disposable film cameras in the digital age at the port of Piraeus. Not an easy task, believe me. So in this super dodgy shop, selling tacky Greek souvenirs made in China, we found them, two dusty disposable cameras (5 euros each) we weren't even sure would work (they sort of didn't really) and we set off for our vacation to the island of pistachios. Once we got there I also found a disposable underwater camera that although it looked like it was much better quality than the other two and it was way more expensive (16 euros) it stopped taking pictures after 7 clicks :( booo
Although old disposable cameras are not the most dependable they give off such a nostalgic and beautiful vibe that from now on I will bring at least one with me anywhere I go for vacation.
Interested in doing the same?
Here are my 7 tips on getting the best disposable camera vacation photos.
photos by Agape
(Zara vegan faux fur, Asos playsuit, Blanco backpack, H&M boots and necklace)
Had a very vintage Saturday, went thrifting and snaged a really amazing maxi dress from the 60's from Vintage Athens & Bizarre Bazaar and I can't wait to show you guys once I sew it to fit me better, also found a fantastic vintage lamp at Coo. I'm so glad the Vintage movement is blooming in Athens, you don't need me to tell you why that's awesome, from environmental and ecofriendly reasons to simply owning something with a little history that nobody else owns. Go Vintage!
(Zara vegan faux fur, Asos playsuit, Blanco backpack, H&M boots and necklace)
Had a very vintage Saturday, went thrifting and snaged a really amazing maxi dress from the 60's from Vintage Athens & Bizarre Bazaar and I can't wait to show you guys once I sew it to fit me better, also found a fantastic vintage lamp at Coo. I'm so glad the Vintage movement is blooming in Athens, you don't need me to tell you why that's awesome, from environmental and ecofriendly reasons to simply owning something with a little history that nobody else owns. Go Vintage!
Also a quick update, after reading a few articles showing how many bloggers actually photoshop their pictures to look thinner, at first I was surprised, then thought I should have seen it coming. I'm not sure why but I felt betrayed by those bloggers, when I previously admired their outfits and thought only someone that thin could pull it off now I don't see the outfit or if they are in shape I just see how insecure they are about themselves. Εven though they have so many people looking up to them. Also being a public figure and photoshoping your body to look thinner is the same as lying to your followers, saying that basically fashion is a fantasy that can't exist in the real world. What they don't understand is that there are a lot of younger girls that are very influenced by them and want to look like them at any cost, unaware that their role model's appearance is clearly an illusion made by liquify filters and warp effects. I just wanted to put on record that my pictures are photoshop reshape free, not that anyone has questioned that but just saying, I only use photoshop to enhance the colors of my images and resize them NOT to make myself look thinner, being a fashion blogger is about showing wearable and practical outfits on the bodies of more relatable, average and not model sized people or unrealistic artificially made bodies. Rant of the day completed! Hurray!
Blanco coat, Monki crop top, Asos sunglasses, Zara trousers and boots,
Topshop backpack, H&M necklace
Sorry for the resting bitch face in all my pictures, I don't know why when I'm happy and having a good time I look like I'm planning to murder someone... aaanyway.
I bought this vegan faux fur from Blanco a few years ago on sale for 10 euros. Keeps me warm and cozy and I'd say it looks pretty cute too, no need to slaughter innocent animals and wear their skin for a made up aesthetic of supposed "better quality", There are new ways to stay warm other than the materials cavemen wore. Sorry for preaching but I'm not sorry hehe, I'll shut up when I stop seeing every single bitch at fashion week wearing fur and leather. I'm hoping I'm not the only one that cares this much, there's just so much injustice in this world it would be nice if we could all participate in it as little as possible. There goes my little speech for the day, I hope you are all having a wonderful day and beginning of Spring!
ps: Sorry I haven't been replying to your comments here on the blog, I read all of them and I'll respond as soon as I have a little much needed free time!
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Saien soba, vegetable gyoza, avocado hosomaki, edamame
I finally got to meet up with Agape over some Japanese food at Wagamama in Kifisia near Athens last Saturday. I also made a sad effort at vlogging the day although I don't think I'm getting any better at it so here it goes with good old traditional blogging ftw!
I thought I'd give a try at reviewing the vegan options at Wagamama for my massive number of vegan readers that will appreciate this... #muchsarcasm