Faye is an eco-stylist and ambassador for Salvos Stores, so she’s an expert at showing people just how chic second hand can be. Every time I catch up with Faye she’s looking absolutely incredible, and I love hearing the story of where each item she’s wearing came from.

Op-shopping is a great way to save money and by buying from a charity retail store, you help people and the planet. I thought it was only natural that Faye gives us some tips on how to op shop like a stylist!

Faye’s tips for op-shopping success

• Tip 1: Treat op-shopping like a normal shopping experience. These stores are filled with high fashion, one of a kind styles, and super chic classics, so open your mind, change your perception, and be very surprised at what you’ll find.
• Tip 2: Don’t just grab a bunch of stuff because it’s inexpensive—pick pieces that you will actually get great use out of and that will stand the test of time.
• Tip 3: Learn about fashion. Read magazines like Vogue and check out style websites. See what celebrities are wearing and what’s walking down the catwalks. Get to know brands, aesthetics, and the history of fashion. The more you learn, the more your op-shopping eye will be finely tuned. A great read is Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Press.
• Tip 4: Shop the whole store, not just your section. Some of my favourite pieces came from the men’s section. (Oversized boyfriend shirt anyone?!).
• Tip 5: Try some customising and DIYs—you really don’t need to pay $300 for ripped and distressed denim. Grab a cheese grater and some scissors and try it yourself. Check out my how-to video to see how I did it.
• Tip 6: Be prepared and take inspiration. Decide on looks you love and take the pics with you. Study the images and hunt for pieces that match what you see. It’s easy to get designer looks for less with thrift, you just need to do a little pre-work.

How to style op shop and vintage pieces

I style my pieces exactly as I would a new outfit, just with a little more spunk and story. The more you know about fashion and a brands aesthetic the more you can recreate what you see. Chanel for example is famous for chic tweed jackets, crisp white collars, and lashings of pretty pearls. Items like this are easy to find in an op shop, so you can have a Chanel-esque experience even when you don’t have the big budget.

A lot of what we see with current trends and on celebrities are what I call fashion fundamentals—pieces like black tux jackets, military/khaki, striped tops, vintage tees, ripped denim—these are all items you will definitely find and you never have to spend a fortune. With vintage, honour the look of the piece but try something fresh and modern with it.

Why be a sustainable stylist?

They say necessity is the mother of all invention and this was certainly the case for me. While I grew up with parents very into antiques, op shops, and vintage, when I was living overseas a few years ago and trying to build the next phase of my career, thrift clothing was genuinely all I could afford!

I had to find a way to make it look chic and expensive for all the interviews and networking I was doing. So I worked with the small budget I had and found ways to recreate what I saw in the magazines. Little did I know my next career move was right under my nose! My best friend could see it so she suggested I do something with my unique skill, and that’s when I started Fashion Hound.

When I returned to Oz I pitched the idea to Channel 9, which they loved. Then I pitched again to Salvos stores and here we are! I knew I always wanted to do something with fashion, but it had to have a heart and a purpose. I never imagined I would become an eco-stylist, 10 years ago I wouldn’t have even known what that was! But I know now that it’s my purpose and my life’s work.

It’s unbelievable how wasteful we humans are. We owe it to mother nature to be more conscious and look for ways to reduce our fashion footprint. It’s the only way forward, if you ask me.

The post Insider Tips on How to Op Shop Like a Stylist appeared first on Good On You.

The Rana Plaza collapse will be remembered as one of the worst industrial disasters in history. But more than that, through the awakening so many of us felt in the days and months following, it has become the catalyst for a revolution…a Fashion Revolution.

Making the invisible… visible

The fashion supply chain is complex, murky, and shrouded in a lack of transparency. Forced labour of adults and children in Uzbek cotton fields, poisonous toxins in tanning yards, cancer from cotton pesticides in India, and the millions of workers exploited with cheap wages and long hours; these are the results of fast fashion. These are the people wearing the weight of our clothing on their shoulders. And most of this is happening out of sight and out of mind, hidden in the developing world.

The rise of fast fashion

The rate at which we consume clothing has increased exponentially. A few decades ago we would buy one coat and wear it for 20 years. Today, it is not uncommon to buy an entirely new wardrobe every season. What we would’ve spent on that one jacket two decades ago, wearing it for several years, we now spend on several new items every few months, at least.

In the 1980s and 90s, retailers shipped manufacturing offshore where wages were cheaper and labour laws could be exploited. Brands and companies have capitalised on this, pushing profit margins lower than ever before. A t-shirt can be made for as little as fifty cents and catwalk trends now hit stores within days. No longer does the fashion season consist of two collections per year. New collections hit stores weekly, and last month’s ‘old’ stock receives hefty discounts, or ends up in landfill.

Welcome to the era of fast fashion.

This is why we need a revolution

Rana Plaza shook many of us out of our fast fashion daze. Our globalised world and modern technology showed us the suffering of the people sewing our jeans, lining our jackets, and stitching our buttonholes. Suddenly, it didn’t make sense that we would only buy free range eggs because we couldn’t stand the thought of chickens suffering, but so easily ignore the suffering of those who made our clothes.

That fateful day reignited a conversation about the social responsibility of clothing companies. There were rumblings of this movement in the 90s when Nike and GAP were exposed for using child labour in sweatshops. But the conversation had stalled somewhere in the mid-2000s as fast fashion brands increased in size and offering.

When consumers become citizens

But what has emerged from Rana Plaza and the sustained conversation about fashion is a movement against this. A growing cohort of consumers who are behaving as citizens; people who are no longer satisfied with opaque supply chains, the unethical treatment of people, and the pollution of our environment. More than ever before people want to know the dirty little secrets behind the brands, and who they can buy from with a clear conscience.

Hundreds of apparel corporations from around the world have signed the The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. The Accord ensures factories receive independent inspection and public reporting of the results. Many retailers, like Uniqlo’s owners Fast Retailing, were initially reluctant to commit to a binding agreement.

But as consumer voices gained momentum, their demand for companies to do better won out, and more and more retailers have since committed to better working conditions for their workers. (Uniqlo has since signed The Accord).

And whether or not it concerns Bangladesh, consumers more than ever want to be aware of where their clothing comes from and who made it. That’s why we started Good On You. We wanted to give people the information they want—when they need it—so they can be more informed about the story behind their purchases. By bringing together a range of research and ratings, we analyse and give brands a simple rating so that we—conscious consumers—can make informed decisions and be a part of the global movement.

What still needs to change

The Accord has done a lot to give consumers confidence that brands they regularly buy from are taking the Bangladeshi safety issue seriously. But many garment factories are still uncertified under the scheme, so the problem is far from solved. And while the minimum wage has gone up dramatically, it’s still the lowest in the world. It’s still just as important as ever to ask “who made my clothes?”

We stand with Fashion Revolution and thousands around the world who are working hard to spread the word about conscious consumption. Find out about some ways you can get involved during Fashion Revolution Week each year towards the end of April. Like avoiding a cheap burger because we know it’s not going to nourish our body, consumers are opting to invest in timeless pieces, pay a little more, and take an interest in the health of their clothing. And as the momentum builds, a change will certainly take place.

3 simple changes you can make now

Don’t restrict your fashion revolution to one special week each year. Here’s some simple ways to be a more mindful shopper in your everyday life:

• Want to know how to shop better after Fashion Revolution week? Download the Good On You app or browse our Directory to check how brands rate on the issues you care about.
• Learn how to build an capsule wardrobe.
• Buy less and wear longer! Give your clothes the life they deserve by giving them the best care.

The post Rana Plaza – the Day the Fashion World Changed appeared first on Good On You.

Fairtrade tastes fabulous

According to the Fairtrade Foundation: “Life is tough for cocoa farmers. The price of cocoa beans has slumped in recent years despite high demand. Disease and age are damaging cocoa trees and few young people are becoming cocoa farmers because of the poor prospects. Fairtrade helps to make cocoa farming in places like Ivory Coast and Ghana more sustainable by guaranteeing minimum prices and providing a premium to invest in local communities, so farmers can provide a better future for themselves and their families.”

When you buy fair trade chocolate, you’re making a positive difference in the lives of cocoa farmers and their families. Fairtrade Australia have compiled a shopping list of certified fair trade eggs. You can check it out here.

Other important certifications to look out for in Australia are the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Rainforest Alliance and UTZ Certified.

Does the Easter Bunny have to think about food allergies when delivering eggs to your place?

KidSpot Kitchen have some great Easter recipes to help keep you and your kids safe this Easter. Choose from such goodies as Iced Bunny Biscuits and Easter Bunny Tails!

Dairy-free Easter eggs. That’s not possible, right?

Wrong! In a pinch, pick an egg that’s at least 70% cocoa. Most 70% cocoa chocolate is dairy-free (but make sure you check the ingredients on the back of your egg). Or let Animals Australia pick an egg for you, with this dairy-free Easter guide. Peta also has a list of delicious vegan Easter chocolate for you to hunt down. You can even make your own!

Make sure your chocolate is palm oil free or uses sustainable palm oil!

Most of us know that palm oil is bad news for people, the planet, and especially animals. One of the simplest thing you can do to minimise harm this Easter is to choose chocolate products that either use 100% Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) or that are palm oil free. Brands which use unsustainable palm oil are causing damage to otherwise pristine environments in South East Asia.

Here’s a great list of palm oil free and CSPO chocolate.

Find out which egg is right for you

Shop Ethical ranks chocolate brands and you can personalise the ratings by indicating which ethical issues are of most concern to you. It’s a great way to find a chocolate egg that really reflect your values.

And if your Easter chocolate need not be spherical …

Let’s face it – you get more bang for your buck with a block of chocolate. If you’re feeling a bit creative, why not use blocks of chocolate to make your own ethical Easter egg cake?! Or use them to whip up some vegan hot cross buns. Or, if you’re really into the idea, try Jamie Oliver’s non-cook chocolate, pecan and meringue cake for your Easter morning tea.

What to do with the shiny wrappers after all the chocolate is gone?

Unless you’re a really lucky bunny, the foil wrappers from Easter Eggs are usually too small and light to make it through the kerbside recycling process. To get around this, Planet Ark recommend bunching them all into a ball so they’ll have another life.

However, if you’ve got kids at home or visiting you over the holidays, washed and dried wrappers make a great material for craft sessions, which will keep their eyes off your stash!

Happy Easter!

The post Tips for the Easter Bunny: A Guide to Ethical Easter Eggs appeared first on Good On You.

As a teenager, I refused to buy Nike and Gap. Thanks to some very effective journalism the western world had become aware of the child labour in factories across Asia, and these global brands were implicated. But like many other people, I didn’t allow myself to consider just how widespread this injustice could be and how many other brands were doing the same thing. For years, it was easier just to bury my head in the sand and not think about it.

The system promotes bad practices

It’s been nearly seven years since I joined the ethical fashion movement – and to be honest, it’s been tricky to be a purist about the supply chains I’m buying from. The system is set up so that making the right decision (one that aligns with your personal values) is really hard. I drive my car because the public transport systems do not accommodate my schedule. The lack of options at the supermarket means I buy tuna which is most likely contributing to overfishing. And poor labelling and hidden supply chains mean I do not know the true cost of my garments, limiting my power to make a better choice and call the company to account.

We need a new default. We need systems and business structures that automatically choose the most sustainable and ethically-oriented avenue.

Is it so hard to imagine a world where companies never make clothing or products which release toxic chemicals, destroy natural habitats, exploit workers or are tested on animals?

Really?

We’re consumers before we’re citizens

Our identity in society is predominately that of a consumer. We are spoken to more as a consumer than we are as citizens or human beings. Our needs as people have been commercialised and marketing has become so effective, that unquenchable consumption has become a cultural norm.

We’re bombarded with messages telling us we’ll be happier, more successful and more fulfilled if we have newer stuff. Did I really need to upgrade my iPhone? Those three winter coats – were they entirely necessary? We receive an estimated 3,000 marketing messages a day telling us that we need to consume in order to live a better life. Not so long ago, our status and meaning came from our community and family. Today it’s reflected by the car we drive or the labels we wear.

Marketing is incredibly subtle and pervasive. But it’s time that we reclaim our identity and hold these corporations accountable for the impact they have on our world. It’s time to solve these problems with better company policies, increased transparency and awareness about their impact.

And that’s where we have the opportunity to put our citizen hats on and make a difference. Because companies are listening.

The tipping point from consumer to citizen

Having more stuff doesn’t make us happy. Once our basic needs are met, it’s quality relationships and a strong community that increase our happiness. And you know what adds to happiness? Working towards shared goals.

I doubt many people will disagree when I say that having a healthy planet, and people who aren’t exploited for our gain is a fairly universally shared value.

So how can we move from a consumer mindset to a global citizen mindset where we pursue our universally shared vision?

1. Build community

Let’s find our value and identity in our community, from our family and friends to the global community at large. When we love and care for people, we automatically feel happier and full of love. Take time to spend with people rather than scrolling through the latest ASOS sale on your laptop. Or go for a walk in nature on the weekend instead of joining the throngs in the malls buying more stuff that we don’t need.

2. Develop new traditions

Instead of acquiring more stuff in search of self-worth, have an experience or invest that money in improving our world. Do you really need to buy all those boots this winter? Instead, you could save that money to swim with turtles in the Great Barrier Reef. Or enjoy a dinner out with your loved one, where you actually engage in meaningful conversations. Instead of giving gifts, give experiences. A day-spa voucher, or scuba course. It’s experiences and not things that will create lasting memories.

3. Join a new economy

Only in the last 80 years have we moved from living hand-to-mouth to over-consumption. Our grandparents saved for years to afford a house. They wore the same coat for twenty years. Now people own multiple houses, wear clothing for one season and throw out thousands of dollars worth of food each year.

So it’s exciting to see new economies emerging which provide a sustainable consumer alternative. Car sharing models, fair trade economies and fresh produce cooperatives are disrupting the capitalist business model and in the process, we’re building stronger community engagement. This is about disrupting an economy of acquisition.

4. Talk to brands, companies and corporations

I’m particularly excited about this one. Companies are listening to people using their voice and calling for better policies on the environment, treatment of animals and people. That’s why we built into our Good On You app the ‘Your Voice’ feature.

We’ve had a great response within our app of people taking action. Sending encouraging messages to brands that are doing well (Etiko and People Tree) and urging brands to improve on areas they’re passionate about (H&M and Forever New).

The future looks bright

We’re seeing a shift in business models towards shared value – solving social problems that intersect with business. Many social enterprises, like Who Gives a Crap (using recycled paper to make toilet paper with 50% of profit going to build toilets for those in need) and Bhalo (employing marginalised communities in Bangladesh, paying them a sustainable wage) are turning the traditional business structure on its head and using their profit for good.

These aren’t coincidental shifts in the business world. They are happening because people have more access to knowledge and communications tools than ever before. And they are saying enough is enough; we don’t want an economy that thrives off the backs of the poor or our natural environment.

This is the rumblings of a shift from being consumers to global citizens.

Try as we may, the majority of us do need to buy clothes, food and other lifestyle goods. At the same time, we don’t want to be complicit in the issues we care about. At Good On You, we want to help you shop on your values. The app shows you how a brand rates on their ethics and sustainability credentials from publicly available information. The direct line of feedback to companies offers you the opportunity to act as a citizen, directly telling companies that they’re doing great, or you’ll be shopping elsewhere until they improve their supply chain. We’ve started with fashion but we plan to expand to beauty and personal care products in the near future.

We only have one planet. And we only have one life.

The post Consumer or Citizen? How We Gain The Power To Change The World appeared first on Good On You.