A vague moon hung low over the horizon when I got home last Sunday. It was a chilly evening and thin clouds cried their tears. Darkness fell over the world and I saw windows light up. The street lamps popped on, one by one. A leaf bounced against my ankle boot, pushed by a gentle breeze. An autumn evening like many others- one would think. I felt different though. It had been an inspiring, overwhelming and exhausting day.
I had been invited to ACT. Festival- a festival centered around all things sustainable and thus a day filled with heaps of interesting, innovative speakers and activities. Lots to see and do and learn. I felt warm inside. Determined to cling onto the motivation and burning need to make a change. To do more. To learn more. To collect my thoughts and all the new information that had just flushed over me and to bundle all of it into something great. Something to extend this wonderful day into something attainable and accessible for everyone.
I haven’t quite figured out yet how I am going to do that, but I’d love to start off by sharing a bunch of my favourite sustainable things at the moment. Stuff I was introduced to during the festival as well as things I have used and loved for ages. It is my biggest wish to be able to use this platform I have in a way that benefits the planet and our world and all the humans on it as much as it does me.
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TOO GOOD TO GO
I shared a quite elaborate series of stories about Too Good To Go on my Instagram, but I felt like sharing a little piece about this app here wouldn’t hurt. Too Good To Go is an app through which you can order mystery boxes at cafes, restaurants and supermarkets (etc.) near you. The mystery boxes are filled with leftover dishes, foods and products that normally would’ve been thrown out. You pay a tiny amount of the original price and you can pick the box up at the end of the day (usually), near closing time.
I tend to look for restaurants and cafes that serve only or mainly vegan or veggie dishes to make sure I won’t receive a box filled with meaty products. It’s a little tricky because you never know what you’re gonna get, but that is also what I like about this system. It’s always a surprise. If you do eat meat or animal products occasionally, this is, in my opinion, the best way to do it. Eat stuff that otherwise would’ve gone to waste.
In my last mystery box from ARKET. I got a HUGE cinnamon roll, a brownie with sesame seeds, a slice of rye bread with pumpkin hummus, veggies and dates and a flatbread wrap with veggies and lentils. For less than €4,-
ORGANIC BASICS
“The fashion industry is a dirty bastard.” – Organic Basics
“Created in 2015, Organic Basics is a Copenhagen based clothing company that creates sustainable, better made basics. We think that the fashion industry is a real dirty bastard, but fortunately, there’s a better way of doing things. We put sustainability at the core of everything. That means better fabrics, practices, and longer lasting underwear, t-shirts and socks, but it also means continuously improving our standards, and remaining humble at the same time. It’s our mission to lead the way on sustainable, better made basics.” – Organic Basics
One thing I found incredibly hard to find was somewhat affordable AND sustainably made underwear. I thrift loads instead of shopping in fast fashion retail chains and invest in a beautiful, ethically/sustainably made item every once in a while. I would consider thrifting bras and briefs, maybe, but a thong or lacey Brazilian cut pants didn’t necessarily appeal to me.
Organic Basics approached me and I immediately fell in love with their vibe, ethics and story. I was lucky enough to receive some of their beautiful products and (I have not been paid to say this- just fyi) I can honestly say I haven’t very often owned underwear as nicely fitting and comfortable as these pieces. They might be slightly more expensive than your average H&M briefs, but the fabric is durable, it’s been made in a fair and ethical environment and throughout the entire process the earth and its people have been considered and treated well. Worth a few extra bucks if you ask me.
HET ZERO WASTE PROJECT
Sisters Jessie ad Nicky Kroon decided to conduct a little experiment and went zero waste for a month. That was the start of a long journey towards developing a sustainable lifestyle. In this book they write about their successes and failures. They elaborate on the problematic amounts of plastic we produce and the impact your decisions have on the environment and our planet and offer ways of reducing your waste without having to compromise on comfort, style or fun.
I received Nicky and Jessie’s book in a goodie bag after ACT. Festival and haven’t put it aside since. I might just hop on the zero waste bandwagon soon.
THE GREEN LABELS
The Green Labels envisions a world where people can easily find and buy products that have a positive impact, both on themselves and the world. By making accessible and creating a demand for sustainable fashion, they encourage other labels and the entire industry to shift towards a more sustainable model.
If you’re looking for beautiful, durable, sustainably and ethically made clothing by beautiful, often local labels - The Green Labels is the place to be. I’ve been working with Claudia, the founder of TGL for a while now and I genuinely know very little people as determined and hard working as she is. Her heart beats for a better, more sustainable fashion industry and I believe, hands down, that it’s people like her that will eventually make it happen!
I really loved this article. Your photos are is Always on point and your making a statement here.
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