Why do some people wear the same outfit daily?

In a day, we make so many different decisions. From what to wear to what to eat, we make an estimated 35,000 decisions on a daily basis. While some of these decisions are trivial, together, they take away from the really important decisions we need to make during the rest of the day. This phenomenon is advertised as decision fatigue.

So, what this means is that every decision we take, takes up a part of our mental energy. This results in a person making weaker decisions towards the end of the day. In order to counteract this, many famous designers and people like Carolina Herrera, Mark Zuckerberg and Albert Einstein chose to reduce the decisions they need to make by having a monotonous wardrobe.

Besides, a few designers prefer a neutral/blank canvass to give them a distance from what they do.

So, how can you reduce decision fatigue? We’ve listed a few ways you can reduce the number of decisions you do daily:

1. You too can wear the same thing every day. If not the same thing to work, you can wear the same thing to bed every day. This will help you reduce at least 1 decision per day. Instead you can even set your work wardrobe for the week on the weekend before.
2. Schedule, schedule and then schedule. Rather than making hundreds of decisions daily about when to exercise etc, have a set schedule to exercise, walk your dog etc.
3. Have a morning and night routine in place so you don’t spend every night figuring out when to eat, when to sleep etc.

The more you are able to automate your day, the better it is for your brain power. So, maybe that french saying, even the best hairdresser’s have unclean hair, may have some merit.

All about Indigo Dying

Back in 300 BC, Indigo was considered a luxury item and made its way to Greek and Rome through trade exports. However, it began to gain prominence when it was used in the denim dying process.

Over time, the demand for indigo surpassed supply and a synthetic alternative was created. The alternative led to a steep decline in natural indigo production. However, the trend has circled around and more consumers are looking to natural fibers and sustainable production.

How is it made?

Indigo comes from plants such as rhubarb and cabbage! However, the leaves of the Indigofera tinctoria is the most popular plant used in production. These plants are grown in India and El Salvador owing to the hot humid climate.

Similar to cacao and coffee beans, the iconic blue dye depends on the temperature and soil it has grown in. A slight variation in the pigment is often the result of different growth factors.

Is Indigo sustainable?

The short answer is yes. Once the pigment has been extracted, the water used in the process can be recycled and used for the crops. Additionally, the indigo plant also produces fertilizer as a by-product when it is composted. When we compare this to synthetic indigo, the later is made from petrochemicals and produces toxic waste.

Since indigo is cultivated in India and El Salvador, it provides employment and communities which need an economic lift.

Follow these tell-tale signs to never buy bad shoes again!

As a self-confessed shoe-aholic, I’m always on the lookout for great shoes. Often I’m told to invest in shoes because shoes must be of the best quality to support the rest of your body. Expensive brand doesn’t always guarantee the best quality; sometimes street shopping can surprise you too. Here’s a list of a few things to look out for when you head out on your next shoe-spree:

1. Odour: Although this an obvious point, it is incredibly important. A poorly made shoe will smell bad, that’s a given. Foul smell stems from the improper or lack of stitching; sometimes, retailers skimp out on spending big bucks by glueing the sole or embellishments on. This glue will be your first warning sign that the shoe isn’t worth your money.

2. Soles: Going back to the soles, before you even try on the shoes, examine the stitching near the sole of the shoe. If you see no stitching, it probably means the sole is lazily glued on. Run, leave the shoes behind and run far away! These shoes will not resist water at all and within a few weeks of wear, separate at the base.

3. Lining: Much like clothes, the lining speaks volumes. It spells out the secrets of the shoe-maker. A truly good shoe will be lined perfectly, smooth at the folds around the seams and edges. All of the pieces should be stitched together and not glued!

4. Dyes: If you can find out which type of dye is used, always opt for vegetable dye. Natural dyes age better over time while chemical dyes, including chrome, is often visible in an unnatural evenness in colour. Another sign of a badly dyed shoe is if it cannot be properly shined back. You will notice many faux leather shoes, once scuffed will never go back to their original shade.

5. Sounds: When you’re in the market for a pair of wedges or platforms, take them on a test-run. Subpar shoes, unlike the real deal, will create squeaky noises, jarring click-clacks and they might even sound hollow. Look out for these dead giveaways, before you commit to going in headfirst.

6. Cushioning: Ever used those shoes, where the cushioned layer turns flat within a few weeks of use? Every indentation is visible each time you take off your shoes. Save your souls from these potentially embarrassing scenarios by checking the cushioning under the balls of your feet. These aren’t just to save the day from a major fashion faux pas; they are a tell-tale sign of high quality.

7. Plastic: Where do we get started on the use of plastic? Beware shoe-lovers of the pest ready to damage your shoes. Plastic is a cheap alternative and often added to the outsole on the bottom of the sole. Don’t let anyone convince you that this is a good idea. It’s bad for your health and the environment!

8. Flip-flops: As a lover of flip-flops(yes, we do exist), try out a few pairs before you add them to cart. Any pair that pokes you around the heel of your foot remove from them from your cart immediately.

Hope this helped you edit out the shoes you don’t need. Do let us know in the comments below if these tips helped you out on your shoe-cursions.

Myth busters: Are Essential Oils good or bad for our skin?

Essential oils are the newest fad. From DIY skincare to therapeutic practices, essential oils are prized for their properties and different values. You may have heard of the calming properties of lavender essential oil or the anti-bacterial properties of tea tree essential oils. But are these oils really all they are cracked up to be?

What are Essential Oils?

Simply put, essential oils are volatile oils which are steamed distilled from plants (a process which has been in play for over 4000 years). The first step involves extracting the oil from stems, flowers, leaves, roots, bark or resins. But they don’t behave like regular oils because they don’t contain essential fatty acids.

Essential oils, unlike regular oils leave no greasy feeling or marks. They are more expensive as they require a larger quantity of plants to create a single drop of oil.

How to use essential oils?

Essential oils must be handled with care. Since they are concentrated, one needs to use them in smaller quantities and never without a carrier oil. Using an essential oil directly can burn the skin or cause irritation at the very least. These carrier oils may be for example olive oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, castor oil, hempseed oil or jojoba oil. So, when you decide to use essential oils, its better to err on the side of caution and put lesser drops than required.

Alternatives

A better alternative to essential oils are hydrosols. Also known as herbal waters, aromatic waters, these liquids are extracted during the distillation process. They are way safer as they can be used directly on your face as a toner. Additionally, they have a calming effect on your skin and also have anti-microbial properties.

Eco-friendly Fabric : Khadi

Khadi was woven into the fabric of India’s freedom movement and to create autonomy within the country. Even today, Khadi is widely promoted within India as the fabric is hand-woven and long-lasting. So, let’s discuss this eco-friendly fabric.

How is it made?

Traditionally, Khadi is created from hand processed, hand spun and hand-woven cotton but it can be created from different fibres as well. So, as you can see, the focus is on making the fabric through hand. When we compare that to fast fashion, which are made from machines, it can be made in a limited quality and therefore, better for the environment.

Something interesting about Khadi is that the process of making the fabric has been nearly the same since the early 20th century. It was used in India long before the Independence movement pushed it to the forefront.

Importance of Khadi techniques

The reason why Khadi is a front runner in the environmental movement is because it protects traditional handicrafts and also, empowers small communities which have preserved this technique in their ancestors. So, the fabric allows rural households to find ways to generate income without moving to the city and leaving their families behind. It also allows them to earn a fair wage.

Khadi is known for having a low carbon footprint, especially compared to other fabrics barring tencel and hemp. This is because majority of the processes involve handmade techniques which rely on the number of humans and are limited. Additionally, it does not use as much water as other fibres.

How to Care for Denims

Jeans are a staple in nearly every wardrobe and something many of us wear on most days. Even if you don’t love denims, you most likely have one article of denim clothing. But did you know that if you wash your jeans once a month rather than once a week, you can save more than 2000 liters of water! Whats more is that in order to create a pair of jeans, we need to create over 3500 liters of water.

So, let’s discuss the best way to take care of our clothing to increase its lifespan.

 

When you wear denim:

Try to avoid pulling or readjust your jeans, belt loops to reduce the chances of them ripping. Instead try to adjust them using your waistband.

Washing tips:

Washing your denims less is more. Not only will you save so much water, but it also allows the denim to age better. You can freeze your jeans to kill the odor rather than washing them multiple times.

When you do wash your denims, zip up, button up and turn them inside out. Ensure the denims are washed at room temperature because heating can damage the fabric.

If your jeans have dirty spots but don’t need a full wash, do spot washing. You can use a damp cloth, toothbrush to remove the stain rather than washing it.

Allow your denims to air dry which reduces your energy usage but also protects the fibres of your denim. Additionally, keep them away from direct sunlight.

How to Store:

Ensure you fold our denims or hang them using a wooden hanger (which aren’t just for blazers) when you store them in your wardrobe.

Designer Copies and their Environmental Impact

Ever since there have been designers, there have been designer dupes. And today, there’s a multi-billion dollar market that revolves around designer dupes, also called fast fashion. There are several Instagram accounts such as Diet Prada and Diet Sabya (India) which call out these plagiarisms. Surprisingly, designers themselves aren’t immune to copies.

Fast fashion companies create so many knockoffs and copies that it is virtually impossible to keep track of. Besides, for every Chanel or Louis Vuitton, there are thousands of companies that create imitations and counterfeits at an unprecedented speed.

What’s the environmental cost?

Designer brands themselves are terrible for the environment. The high price tag makes it seem like the workers are paid well but far from it. Most luxury brands use the same production houses as fast fashion brands and also, use leathers, fur and other animal parts to create their products.

Fast fashion is just as bad, if not worse. The production of fast fashion depends on luxury goods and trends! So once a trend dies down, those products are basically worthless and ultimately trash. Additionally, fast fashion online returns are usually thrown away as it is the cheaper alternative.

While I am personally against leather, new and secondhand, one can point out that luxury goods have a longer shelf life. They tend to remain in wardrobes and also purchased secondhand. On the contrary, fast fashion products are often so cheap that people throw them away without a second thought.

What can we do?

We can consume smarter. Ditch fast fashion brands and support brands that empower the workers and love the environment as much as you do!

Sustainability in Sportswear

Athleisure has gained immense popularity over the past few years. While sportswear was made to wick sweat and provide support during physical activity, today, it has become part of our outerwear wardrobe.

In 2018, the sportswear industry generated nearly $174 billion in revenue! A reason for this massive turnover is the low cost of production. Most gymwear contains plastic in the form of polyester because it is cheap.

Why?

This one is easy. Sportswear was designed to be breathable, lightweight and sweat-resistant. Polyester ticks all these boxes and was easy to produce in large quantities.It also allows for the moisture to evaporate rather than stick to your skin again.

Compared to polyester, natural fibers absorb the moisture of your skin and weigh the fabric down. But what makes polyester a great option for manufacturers are the same things that make it a nightmare for the environment.

Not only is polyester non-biodegradable but also require huge amounts of energy during the production process. Additionally, sportswear usually does poorly at thrift shops because people prefer buying it new. Besides, knowing the amount of clothing that is thrown away every year, it is imperative that we try to keep such clothing away from the landfills.

What can you do?

First thing you can do is to shop smarter and lesser. Basically, buy only what you need and that’s it. While it can be frustrating that all this pressure falls on the consumer, there are a few companies that are trying to be more sustainable. Nike announced last year that nearly three-fourths of all their apparel contains recycled material. Another surprising addition to this list is Adidas. I know that they are far from perfect. But over the past year, they have organized various ocean runs to create awareness. They are also using the ocean plastic to create clothing and clothing hangers.

What we suggest is look at the materials. A great one to opt for is TENCEL. It is sustainable and a great fit.

But, what can you do if you live in a country where sustainable sportswear is not common? You can try to reuse the material to stuff cushions etc.

My issue with Sustainable Fashion

“There is enough clothing currently in existence for us to clothe the world umpteen times over,” Jacobs added. “In this scenario, even the production of a single organic T-shirt looks out of sync.”

This year, sustainable fashion has had an audience like never before. All through fashion weeks and brand launches, we heard the words being tossed into the mix. As per studies, nearly one-fourth of all clothing brands have been trying to rope in sustainability in some shape or the other. But why are brands trying to cash in now? Because sustainability is trendy.

This may seem like a harsh conclusion but brands have known their impact on the environment for a long time. Especially big fast fashion brands, they have been setting environmental goals 5 years (but never meeting them). Brands seem to be hosting carbon neutral fashion shows or launching a clothing rental scheme (H&M).

But what will happen once the trend dies down?

What is the real definition of sustainability?

While we have seen major brands like Gucci and its parent group, Kering, pledging to be carbon neutral and marketing it as a sign of sustainability, is it really? The short answer is no. A brand can be carbon neutral and still be bad for the environment, the two aren’t mutually exclusive.

Sustainability is an umbrella term for many practices and this is the main issue. Brands will only adopt practices and trends that are profitable for them. Tomorrow if plastic straw bags are all the rage, brands will not hesitate to hop on that trend. Sure, the straws will be the ones found from landfills and oceans but they will end up right back there.

What it takes to be truly sustainable

For a brand to go the whole nine yards, they need to transform entirely. From changing  their labour wages and rights to reusing textiles, brands will need to be transparent rather than cherry pick the marketing campaign that sets them apart.

Unfortunately, the main point is that sustainability comes from not purchasing more than what you truly need and brands are actively working against that. This is why marketing departments are usually paid the big bucks to increase profitability.

 

How to Recognize Poor Quality in Clothing

A few years ago, I started to get tired of how quickly my clothing was falling apart. I tried everything from washing the clothing with cold water to spot cleaning but it was all futile. Then, a friend gave me advice that has completely changed how I shop. I have listed the top pointers on how to become a smart shopper!

1. Look at the Stitching

The market of dupes is ever growing, however one of the identifying factors is the stitching. High quality fabrics and tailoring will always hidden seams. In fact, many companies consider perfect flat seams a mark of quality. So the next time you go to a thrift store or department store, take time to look at the fabric and spot the one that will stand the test of time.

2. Materials

So this may be an obvious one to some but it definitely took me a few years to understand which materials last and which don’t. While polyester, modal and viscose seem virtually indestructible, fabrics made from natural fibers(cotton, tencel and linen) are the real MVPs.

3. Inner Lining of Fabric

I have fallen for this many times. Buying a top which says 100% cotton, but when I come home I realize the inner lining is made of polyester. Learn from my mistakes and skip polyester lining. A cotton top with a polyester lining is how some companies skimp out on quality and increase their profit margins. Additionally, ensure the lining is attached to the hem with a little space in between.

4. Embellishments

Some bags and shoes have beautiful beading work which make them an instant addition to your closet. However, look out for poor gluing. A sure sign of quality, well-crafted clothing or accessories will never have a sub-par glue job.

I know how important it is to keep not only my clothes but also my shoes in the perfect condition. Most of the trick is in buying smart. Hope these small tips help you keep everything from boots to thick winter jackets looking brand new!