Starfish and Bangladesh

I am so disappointed that Starfish is in liquidation.  They have been an icon of sustainable fashion here in New Zealand and we need more of that.

The collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh is an awful tragedy.  We are all aware that these conditions are part of the Western world's fascination with cheap Throw-Away fashion.  But if we stop buying what happens to those workers who are dependent on their (albeit meagre) wage?   

I have been investigating Tshirt suppliers for a new range for Minnie + Ree.  And that's how I found WRAP - Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production.  

WRAP is an independent, objective, non-profit team of global social compliance experts dedicated to promoting safe, lawful, humane, and ethical manufacturing around the world through certification and education.  Look for this when you are buying clothing!

Have a look in your wardrobe.  If you are like me you will have some clothes that are old but you keep bringing out year after year and they still look good and feel good.  Sometimes I retire them to storage for a couple of years but we are always reunited again.  I have a State of Grace coat that I have had for 10+ years.  Over the summer I had it relined as the lining was falling to pieces but now that it is cold I am wearing it again and still getting heaps of compliments and people asking me where I got it from.  

So the most sustainable clothing is to buy what you love and keep it for ever!  The goal for Minnie + Ree is to make this kind of clothing - hopefully I will see you walking down the street wearing this year's skirts in 10 years time!!