How is social media changing our shopping habits?

This week I read a brilliant article on the Nylon Magazine website about how social media is changing our shopping habits. Today's millennial's are not choosing to shop direct from brands and stores instead they're picking up on-trend, new and used items from their favourite Instagram influencers. By the means of marketplace app Depop. 

Nylon explain how it all works “The app’s users follow each other, message each other, and “like” each other’s items for sale in a feed not unlike Instagram’s layout. And, of course, like Instagram, the most influential users—from bloggers and vloggers to celebrities—are the ones racking in hundreds of thousands of likes, as well as sales”.

I was a member of Depop for a short while approximately a year ago, but it wasn't for me. I'm not really an eBay shopper either and to be honest online shopping has always proven difficult.

Depop has 5.5 million users and is an innovative way of selling. Social media is constantly influencing what we wear, either through style inspiration from those we follow or via the advertisements that have slowly appeared on our feed over the last year. 

However, there is pro’s and cons to this new shopping movement. Would buying pre owned goods from our Instagram influencers cost us our individual style? or does it promote re-selling second hand clothes instead of buying new ones? and what impacts might this have on retailers? 

I personally enjoy gaining style inspiration from those I follow on Instagram but I’m not on board with shopping that individual closets. Nylon explain this as “owning a part of their personal brand”, but I also think this means you are owning their individual style whether this be from an up-and-coming fashion brand or a piece of rare vintage. Fashion is about personalising your style and expressing who you are. Buying clothes from our Instagram followers could cause the younger generation to become clones of one another and imitate their style without finding their own. 

I do however think it is important to reuse our second hand clothes and not just dispose of them and this is something Depop promotes. The fast fashion movement of ‘buy in bulk’ is having lasting impacts on the environment and changes need to be made. The younger generation are enjoying shopping from their favourite bloggers and vloggers and this is without a doubt going to impact on high street retailers and brands.

Founder of Depop Simon Beckerman says “I see the future of retail being much more about connecting people together, rather than brands and companies.” From now on retailers will have to find new ways of engaging with customers to ensure sales remain positive. This may be done with brand-sponsored Instagram and Twitter content which builds synchronicity between retailers and social media.

Technology is constantly changing and this is forcing brands and retailers to evolve, if not they might find themselves falling behind in the fashion race. 

Nylon Article http://www.nylon.com/articles/simon-beckerman-depop-interview

Ph Credit aboutfitsdotcom.wordpress.com via Pinterest

Can we realistically shop more sustainably?

Since starting to think about writing my dissertation I've thought about a variety of topics and one that I have passion and interest for is sustainability in fashion. I've started my research - this has involved lots of library books and making notes on my phone whilst reading sed library books.

 Many of these books have gone way off topic and I would be honest by saying I've lost interest. But one that really had an impact was 'To Die For - Is fashion wearing out the world' by Lucy Siegel. 

This book covered so many interesting and thought provoking topics -  child labour and cotton picking in Kazakhstan, the hidden cost of cashmere and the impact faux fur is having on the globe. Some of these topics I'd touched on in the past but others were surprising and others rather upsetting. This got me thinking - if I didn't know about these issues (someone working and studying in the industry) then the consumer is even less aware. I began to research more by watching the powerful documentary film 'The True Cost' this and the book brought to my attention - can we as consumers realistically shop sustainably? Are there brands out there that offer ethical and stylish clothing at a good price? 

My Research found that even in 2016 there's still only a very small selection of ethical brands selling clothing both on line and on the high street (the high street offering even less options.)

Yes a small selection of high street brands offer some organic cotton pieces, Zara for instance (I own three t-shirts in various colours) and H&M offer the Conscious collection - but what do we really know about the methods of production these brands use. Yes I'm sure these brands work very hard to ensure code of conduct procedures are in place throughout the supply chain and encourage transparency, but could more be done? 

 Such little Ethical Clothing on the high street means it's very difficult to actually source sustainable clothing, especially at a reasonable price -  price is a definite factor when purchasing clothing along side style and fit. 

The why of the buy (2015) states 'In a buyers market, a market place situation in which there are more sellers than buyers, an excess of supply over demand results in lower prices for consumers. This means that buyers can be more selective of their purchases because there are many choices available to them'. 

Since watching 'The True cost' I have become aware of an ethical/fair trade brand that previously I had little or no knowledge of and that's People Tree. The documentary film followed their founder Safia Minney around many of their factories in the Far East.

People tree (2016) state 'The people we work with have some of the smallest environmental footprints in the world'.

Products are mostly made by hand and they promote organic cotton farming and avoid using harmful chemicals during production. This overall has less impact on the globe and also offers those working in the garment manufacturing industry less chance of developing unhealthy side effects caused by poisonous dyes. The People Tree website states which factories and individuals they work with which gives the consumer the opportunity to find out who is making the clothes they are wearing. 

This does have some side effects, not necessarily negative. For instance production is slower so less goods are made but the goods are better quality which does increases price points - Safia Minney calls this the slow fashion movement something People Tree support.

The customer is always looking for good quality at a good price so can sustainable fashion ever have a huge impact on the fashion industry? Is creating clothing in a sustainable way doable for the rest of the industry?  Or is slow fashion the way forward? 

Lucy Siegel author of To die For teaches us to purchase less clothing at a higher cost. This clothing will be of better quality and therefore last much longer. This would mean buying classic pieces that we will love forever instead of fashion fad pieces we may discard next season. I do love this idea of buying less as it would have less impact on the environment - but Fast fashion is loved by many and changing shopping habits could be difficult. I also worry about the consequences it could have on the economy. 

The fashion industry currently has a domestic market value of 66 billion and according to fashion United (2016) '555,000 people are employed in the fashion, textile and fashion retail industry in the United Kingdom'. This doesn't include fashion production workers in countries all around the world. 

I do however feel that things can and will change, but very slowly. This will hopefully impact those working in garment factories and have a positive lasting impact on the globe. Studying in the industry has given me an insight into what retailers want and that's requiring more information on where their products are being made, which I think can only be a positive. This will hopefully lead to more ethical fashion on the high street, therefore making it easier for us as customers to purchase sustainably. 

Photo source - studiokalumi.com via pinterest

Are Navy, Green and Oxblood the only colours we need for autumn?

Jumper (here) and Boots (here) | Topshop. Skirt (here) | Zara 

Are navy blue, bottle green and oxblood red the only autumnal colours we need this season? 

Autumn has arrived and we have finally said goodbye to our summer wardrobes and pulled out our autumn favourites. Whatever colours they may be, a flick through this mornings Sunday Times Style and a trawl around the high street yesterday show these three colours are going to get your style on point for Autumn Winter 2015.  

No matter what your style is, darker colours and a multitude of textures are something we turn to when the days grow shorter, nights turn longer and the weather feels colder. 

Yesterdays jaunt showed the great British high street has endless offerings this season - see robe style, floor length wool coats at Topshop and Primark. Leather, suede and denim skirts at New look and H&M and bohemian floral printed dresses at Zara. 

For on trend and on price stylish pieces hit Primark and Dorothy Perkins. 

Happy Autumn Folks

Richard Nicoll, decades of fashion and Jack Wills

 

Image Source: i-d.com 

I cant' say I been a avid lover of Jack Wills, I never purchased the famous gillet or queued excitedly for hours in the boxing day sales - I actually thought it might somehow fall off the radar when the nostalgia trend was over (how I was wrong). The brand has recently been brought to my attention as Richard Nicoll (their new creative director) releases his first SS15 collection for the 'preppy British brand'.
"Jack Wills is not just about creating wardrobing for young adults. It's for anybody with a youthful spirit," comments Nicoll, "The clothing can be worn by a wide variety of ages. Mixed together, they create an irreverent image of British youth culture and a celebration of the individual in the gang." (i-d.com)
His collection, released in stores this week makes references to a variety of fashion decades and pop cultures - including, the ever so popular nineties and sixties. Think candy pinks, bright reds and bold stripes mixed with patchwork denim, tweed and leather.

Richard Nicoll has created a collection perfect for the brands loyal followers and those (like me) who knew so little.

A statement piece

Coat | H&M here. Top similar here and Bag similar here | Topshop. Jeans | New Look similar here. Boots | Faith (old).

My regular life has finally resumed....yes I'm back at University and I couldn't be happier. The biggest student perk has to be Unidays student discount. Spontaneous shopping trips can often be the best and last Wednesday I found this beautiful oversized grey coat for the bargain price of £24.99. Plus Unidays gave me an added 20% off student discount giving me a staple winter piece for only £19.99!

The weather has cooled and I can say Autumn is in full swing. I teamed my new coat with a simple v neck tee, skinny jeans and a pair of knee high boots on this crisp Saturday morning.

The EDIT | The Roll Neck

 

 

As we speak it's raining outside and it's even getting colder, yesterday I wore a jumper for work...in August! I know you've heard it before but this has me excited for Winter. 

Last year I loved the chunky roll neck sweaters that the fashion elite were sporting, but somehow I struggled to find one I loved. 

This year I started my search early and I have found 'the one'! This super chunky, oversized number from Zara (here) will keep me cosy throughout the winter months. The chunky knit is a wardrobe staple either teamed with skinny jeans, a fitted skirt or a floaty dress it gives that minimalistic look I'm always pinning for. Perfection!!

Image Source | zara.com