Latest news with #slowfashion
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Wardrobe malfunction that helped inspire 26-year-old's entire business
The cost of living crisis has made most people reevaluate their spending, and a young Aussie has pointed out the common cheap act that is costing us more in the long run. Maddie Langshaw, 26, was earning more than $100,000 working full-time in social media and marketing when she decided to start her slow fashion brand Audrey Atelier. It wasn't just her love of fashion that spurred on the decision — she said she also came to the realisation fast fashion was a rort. 'It feels cheap in that exact moment but the cost builds,' she told 'Whether it's the constant need to replace poor quality items, or the environmental damage, or just the mental clutter of owning too much that doesn't mean anything.' Ms Langshaw said the danger with embracing fast fashion was you were always left wanting to buy more. 'It encourages this mindset of constant consumption, where clothes lose all meaning. It's not fashion, it's waste,' she said. 'It's also emotionally draining, because it keeps us in a loop of wanting more but never feeling truly satisfied.' The fashion designer understands the perils of fast fashion because she's been a consumer in the past. 'I definitely fell into it in the past, buying things just because they were cheap or trendy. But over time, the charm completely wore off,' she said. 'The clothes didn't last, and honestly, I didn't feel like me in them. Now, my wardrobe is 90 per cent thrifted or second-hand. 'If I do buy something new, it takes me at least five or six rounds of research. I want to know who made it, what it's made of, and whether it's something I'll love long-term.' Ms Langshaw argued that fast fashion created the illusion that more was better and clothes were disposable. 'It's a trap that keeps us buying and never feeling fulfilled. Once you shift the mindset out of it, you save more money long term and invest in pieces that you have forever,' she said. She's also had some horror experiences with fast fashion, where the lack of quality led to flat-out wardrobe fails. 'I've had seams unravel after one wear, things shrink beyond saving, and fabrics pill within days,' she said. 'Once, I wore a dress to dinner and the hem literally came undone mid-meal. I remember thinking, 'Why am I putting my money and energy into clothes that don't respect me back?'' she said. 'I have removed the majority of the fast fashion brands from my wardrobe due to this, the fact they don't ever last infuriates me, and over time I spend the same for less cost per wear thrifting.' Ms Langshaw isn't the only one rethinking how she's spending her money on clothes — and she wouldn't have started her business if she was. Her marketing background helped her notice a big shift in consumer habits, with Aussies being more 'conscious' about where they spent their money. 'I think there's this amazing shift happening. Fashion isn't just about the look anymore, it's about the story,' she said. 'Conscious shoppers are choosing meaning over mass production.' Ms Langshaw's been thrilled but unsurprised to see how shoppers have embraced her brand Audrey Atelier, where a blazer might cost $150 instead of $30 from a retail chain, but it is created to last. 'Even with tighter budgets, people want to feel good about what they're buying; they want pieces that last, feel considered, and come with a story,' she said. 'It's not about buying more, it's about buying better. Audrey Atelier connects with that craving for intention. 'It's a small, quiet revolution, and I'm so proud to be part of it. I have had overwhelming support from the community, with most of the buyers saying they want to support small, slower fashion.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish diaspora setting up and running businesses abroad
Setting up or taking over a business anywhere is bound to have it's challenges, let alone doing it away from home. But these Irish abroad have done just that. Along the narrow, cobbled streets of the artisanal quarter of Cusco, Peru, is an atelier called Hilo, home to a slow fashion brand founded by Irishwoman Eibhlin Cassidy in 2003 in the historical centre of this ancient Inca capital high up in the Andes. 'Being part of a supportive community has helped me build a local client base, which adds to the many international clients who visit the store,' she says. The Fermanagh woman's business, which she describes as 'elevated everyday wear with a twist', was the only creative business on the street at one stage. 'It's now where Cusco and international creatives open up shop. It is full of little cates and artisan boutiques.' READ MORE Mark Saunders is known for rescuing Laulhère , the oldest and last authentic French company making berets who supply the hats to French military, armies in Senegal, Chad and Kurdistan and police in Dubai – and that's not including the berets sold in the fashion industry. The Dublin man has lived in France for the last 30 years and has settled in the southwest of the country. The most recent step in his career has been to take over Christy Hats, the oldest and largest hat-making company in the world with a history dating back to 1773. 'We made all the Peaky Blinders hats and 250 for all the crew members (of the drama series). We made hats for Downton Abbey and more than 30 movie productions,' he says. Saunders says brands like his are 'on the verge of extinction, but I hope Christys will see another 250 years. I love what I do and taking on these challenges is how I keep motivated. I am 56 now and see this as the last chapter in my career.' Beijing Correspondent Denis Staunton recently spoke to the Irish companies based in China, as well as Peter Markey, who chairs the Irish Chamber of Commerce in China. Markey first went to China 30 years ago and has spent much of the past two decades in Shanghai, where he was a partner at EY until he retired in 2018. He says the attitudes of the two nations can often benefit off one another in unexpected ways. 'The Chinese have this reputation of working crazy hours and all the rest of it but that's not the whole story. They quite like going out for a nice dinner and having fun with people. 'That's really when the Irish attitude to having fun and letting the hair down a bit can really help with developing relationships.' Ruairí Doyle has settled in Canada, though he had no intention to move from Ireland again after a three-year spell working for Google in London. That was, however, until an opportunity arose with Press Reader in Dublin in 2017 and the rest, as they say, is history. The job brought him to Vancouver and, in 2022, the Rathnew native was appointed chief executive. Now, he is enjoying the outdoor lifestyle in the thriving west-coast port city with his wife, Kim, and their two sons. 'It can be challenging at times, with me being from Ireland and Kim being from Quebec. We don't have the support network of grandparents around. We do our best to instil a bit of Ireland and a bit of Quebec into the boys. We have hurleys and sliotars in the garden and maple syrup and cretons in the fridge.' Meanwhile, columnist Laura Kennedy, who is based in Canberra, Australia, writes about the age-old saying that absence – or in this case, distance – makes the heart grow fonder and how she has relearned to be Irish and how to value the places she didn't appreciate before. This bittersweet part of emigration is shared by the expats down under that Padraig Collins spoke to. Fildelma McCorry has been in Adelaide since 1999 and says she is there to stay. During last November's election campaign in the Republic, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said during a debate that he was 'gonna get people's children back from Australia'. McCorry was not impressed, though: 'They always say that.' She says one of her daughters could spend a year studying in Dublin as part of her course, but the cost would be far too high, as despite having an Irish passport, she would still be considered a foreign student. 'Until they make those things open for diaspora children, it [everything the Government says] is just rhetoric, it's just talk.' And, for the few weeks it was, Patsy McGarry l ooked at the role of the Irish diaspora in electing Pope Leo XIV. Sure you'll find the Irish everywhere!
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
4 days ago
- Business
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Introducing elune mode: The New Standard in Quiet Luxury and Sustainable Fashion
Elune mode redefines modern luxury with elevated essentials that marry timeless style with sustainable craftsmanship In a world driven by fast fashion and fleeting trends, elune mode emerges with a clear and powerful purpose: to redefine luxury through sustainability, quality, and timeless style. Founded in July 2024 and already shipping globally, elune mode blends the principles of 'quiet luxury' with old money aesthetics, delivering elevated essentials that are ethically produced, environmentally conscious, and impressively versatile. At the heart of the brand's identity is its commitment to slow fashion. Sol, the founder of elune mode, insists that sustainability starts not with recycling, but with resisting the urge to throw clothes away in the first place. 'The first thing I cared about was how it's made,' she explains. elune mode garments are constructed from natural fibers, high quality blends and custom dyed yarns, sourced and manufactured in South Korea, a country known for its longstanding textile craftsmanship. elune mode's pieces are designed to last, both in quality and in relevance. Each item features a classic silhouette, free of loud branding or fast-changing trends. Korean artisans with decades of experience hand-sew most inner seams, lining, labels, and finishing touches. 'When you wear our clothes, you feel the difference,' says Sol. 'Even if it looks simple, the way it fits, the way it touches your skin, it's completely different.' This attention to detail extends to every aspect of production. Rather than rely on factory lines, each item is made in full by a single craftsperson, resulting in what Sol calls a 'bespoke style of production.' Labels and buttons are hand sewn, yarns are custom dyed (sometimes tested 30 times to get the shade just right), and signature elements like subtle contrasting lines and versatile color palettes allow each piece to mix and match seamlessly. The result is a systemized collection designed not just for beauty, but for practicality. 'Our cardigans, polos, and knitwear can be worn at the office, on the golf course, or to dinner,' Sol explains. 'It's not about having different outfits for every occasion, it's about styling timeless pieces in different ways.' The brand's aesthetic philosophy is simple: quiet, intentional luxury without the excess. There are no logos. No seasonal gimmicks. Just well-made clothing meant to last for years, not months. 'I wanted to offer the quality of a thousand-dollar sweater without the price tag,' says Sol. 'There's a gap between cheap fast fashion and ultra-expensive luxury. elune mode fills that gap.' From recycled packaging to thoughtfully sourced materials, elune mode considers the full life cycle of every garment. The brand is also exploring ways to integrate high-quality recycled fabrics into future collections, but Sol insists it must meet her standards. 'Recycled is a good idea, but only if it's good quality too.' elune mode is more than a brand. It's a long-term project grounded in values. 'This isn't about fast cash,' says Sol. 'I want to build a brand that can serve people around the world, with high-quality essentials that you don't need to replace.' In a saturated market, elune mode's quiet confidence and dedication to doing things differently are precisely what sets it apart. With craftsmanship, care, and consciousness stitched into every seam, the brand is proving that slow fashion can make a fast impact.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Odd Muse fashion brand boss sobs hysterically over 'offensive' videos about her clothing
The founder of fashion brand Odd Muse has broken down in tears after claiming she has received a wave of online abuse. Aimee Smale, 27, who owns the Brentwood, Essex-based aspirational luxury label, shared a clip of herself crying to her TikTok account, alongside a lengthy caption that stated she was 'heartbroken' over the 'bullying' she has received online over the last week. While she didn't directly call anyone out by name, it is widely believed that the emotional video came in response to American influencer @plzdontbuythat, who posted a clip accusing Odd Muse of mistitling itself as a 'slow fashion' brand a few days ago. Slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion in that its production focuses on quality garments that will stand the test of time, ensuring it uses high grade materials to achieve this aim. It is also considered 'ethically' made. The influencer and self dubbed 'apparel educator' - who recently called out fashion label House of CB for allegedly being 'sinophobic', a fear or dislike of China - said Odd Muse was 'fast fashion by every sense of the definition' and 'people that own apparel brands say whatever the f*** they want'. But business owner Aimee, who has previously taken Pretty Little Thing to task over allegedly 'stealing' one of her designs, hit back at the American influencer by calling the 'offensive' accusations about her brand 'wild and untrue'. In a video shared to TikTok, Aimee appeared make up-free and wearing a grey jumper. She was visibly in tears while mouthing words that were inaudible to viewers. She wrote: 'A bit heartbroken today I can't lie, the abuse I'm receiving is overwhelming. I shouldn't look but it's hard when the accusations are so wild and untrue. 'I work so hard and have been so integral with my journey… I can't tell you the amount of things I have said "no" to and challenged in my journey because they do not align with my values. 'All I've ever wanted to do is help others and challenge the norms behind the industry I am in'. She continued to defend herself by saying people believed 'lies over non-scandalous information'. She added that the backlash was perhaps a symptom of success, and that as she had acquired a bigger brand over the years, she had become a 'target'. 'The last time I'm addressing the bullying that has gone on these last few days and just want anyone who is experiencing this right now to reach out because I just want to be there for others right now,' she continued. Odd Muse is seen as a mid-luxury brand that prides itself on being 'timeless' and 'non-seasonal', and markets itself as producing 'investment fashion' pieces for women around the globe. They mostly sell form-fitting dresses, structured two pieces, skirts and trousers, that all retail from around £50 to £180. Last week, @plzdontbuythat shared a video titled 'My thoughts on Odd Muse calling itself "slow fashion"'. 'I was introduced to the brand Odd Muse this week and she loves to describe the company as slow fashion and sustainable... within about 42 seconds of entering the website it's really clear they are fast fashion by every sense of the definition,' she said. The single mother went on to accuse the Odd Muse founder of misrepresenting her brand as slow fashion because the price point 'is really high' and the items are 'made really well'. 'It is my belief that there is zero room for you to call a polyester dress an investment piece - which is like 95 per cent of what the pieces are [made of]' she added. She also referred to the fabric as 'high grade polyester' while at the same time using her hand to mimic a quotation mark. She did however concede that Aimee was 'very successful' and that her brand did 'huge numbers', but warned her viewers not to take the words of apparel owners at 'face value'. Aimee, who regularly models for her own brand, responded to the fast fashion allegations the next day, by calling them 'offensive'. Alongside a video posted to her TikTok account, she penned a caption that read: 'Odd muse is my literal baby, I work so f***ing hard and I am so proud of how much I have grown this brand with integrity. 'I won't listen to people who don't understand fast fashion tell me I am fast fashion. It's so offensive.' The video showed Aimee posing up a storm in what appeared to be an Odd Muse yellow cinched mini dress and brown sunglasses. The still image was accompanied by the words: 'Yesterday I got accused of running a fast fashion brand.' More text explained that there was a 'huge' difference between fast and slow fashion, and that this mostly centred on 'working conditions' and how long it took to bring a product to market. She also shared a screenshot of the what appeared to be the results of a recent BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) audit, for which Odd Muse received the highest grade possible, grade A. BSCI audits assess social compliance and working conditions within a company, such as employee rights, fair pay, occupational health and safety among others. She concluded the video with a short message seemingly aimed at the apparel educator, which read: 'Leave me alone now please x'. However the mini presentation failed to pacify the influencer, who said the BSCI audit was incomplete.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
From fast-fashion to self-made advocate: designer Tara Viggo
Kiwi fashion designer Tara Viggo has returned home to Dunedin from a high-flying overseas career to champion slow fashion. Her big break in the industry in London saw her working for lists of major brands, but it was there she saw firsthand the tonnes of new, almost perfect clothes being thrown out. Disillusioned and bitter about the industry, Tara started making her own patterns with the intention to encourage more people to make their own wardrobe, and slow down their consumption. A jumpsuit pattern blew up online and her business Paper Theory has been selling patterns to a dedicated audience ever since. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
