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I S S U E S
I S S U E O N E O c t o b e r r 16
INFORMATION
Getting an insight into the lives of others a-like, expect personal stories from the creator, friends, family and submissions from viewer contributors. Content is updated with new articles, interviews, quotes and tutorials added throughout the week, full issues are released monthly.
AR TICLES Q U O T E S TUTORIALS SWOPSHOP
Tutorials - Halloween queen make-up tutorial Submission by Ella Davis - How to make a DIY natural Jewellery Organizer Articles - Why keeping plants in your room could improve your mood. - Undressing fast fashion, ethics & consumerism. - What I’d tell my teenage self Submission by Zoe Barrow Interviews - What happened when my boyfriend started messaging my mate Interview with Lulu Turner
INFORMATION
Stranger Magazine Stranger Magazine is a lifestyle and apparel swapping platform based in the UK. Aimed specifically for teenage girls, the content covered ranges from explicit interviews and interesting articles from personal experiences as well as DIY tutorials, to considerate consumption all the while swapping your cast offs in exchange for 'new to you' items with the Swap Shop.
One woman’s hand-me-downs are another girl’s gold. Real talk. If you would like to contribute to an issue submissions are accepted for an interview, article or tutorial, so if you’ve got something on your mind and fancy sharing we're all ears. Send us a snippet to strangermagazine.co.uk/submissions to share your experience with the girl world.
A R T I C L E S
Undressing fast fashion, ethics & consumerism Power to the people; Raising ethical standards
A significant growth in ethical concerns has risen among customers resulting in an increase in demand for ethical choices in the marketplace. Ethical consumers are characterised by their shared concern for environmental, social and animal welfare matters. These consumers demand change within fashion industry standards and retailers, longing for a more moral, ethical, fair production and disposal of apparel. The demand for fast paced clothing production and demand results in excessive consumption from consumers across the world, this impacts greatly on the environment. Conscious fashion brands strive to use ethically sourced resources as well as respecting moral, humane treatment of people and animals. Workers receive fair pay anywhere in the world with adequate working conditions and hours. Consumers receive clear product information stated on the product, paying a fair price for such products maintains employment for independent businesses. Businesses who source and manufacture their products in factories in the same country as dispatches built solid business models and practice ethical production.
Ethical practise within high street fashion
The fashion industry is one of the biggest causes of pollution globally, coming second to the oil industry. The increased consciousness of consumerism effecting our planet is driven by media coverage. By making ethical choices singularly you have the power to approach considerate brands which avoid the exploitation of workers rights. But fast fashion isn’t just associated with clothing, a further contribution to deforestation is caused by the mass production of catalogs not made with recycled materials. Along with waste from packaging and pollution from transportation costs its clear to say parts of the industry isn’t hot on sustainability or reducing its carbon footprint. This disposable culture toward our wardrobes has come around recently. But the buy now wears tonight gone next month approach is wearing thin. Consumers often find difficulty to remain an ethical customer when there is much to consider when buying, yet limited knowledge available of how the product is produced, where it is made and what it is made from on the label alone. Would you rather buy a piece of clothing that lasts you 10 years that have carried you through your best and worst days? You could invest your money in a few quality ethical pieces you’re going to get wear out of rather than spend it on many flimsy items you’ll wear a couple of times then fall apart in a matter of washes. It will also mean having a conscience of knowing the garms your wearing has a history of equal pay, good standard of conditions and treatment under its belt.
Every one in six people in India work within the fashion industry. The majority of these workers are women in India earning less than $3 per day. Recent studies suggest that women only wear about 20-30% of their entire wardrobe.
The world now consumes 80 billion pieces of clothing each year. The reflecting cost of unused clothing is around £30 billion.
India’s poorest people work in slum workshops and refugee camps for 18 hours a day. Its estimated that around 350,000 tonnes of used clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year. Landfill sites have expanded 30% in textile waste.
What is fast fashion?
Fast fashion is a system for cat walk trends produced by high street retailers in large quantities, designed to capture and dispatch the trend as quickly as possible to compete within the market. The copies are sold at High street suppliers, they are massproduced, therefore they become more affordable; thus attracting consumers to buy more. These brands make money from cutting as many corners to maintain cut thought margins. The reason why clothes are sold so cheaply is simple low quality fabric, stitching, design, slack labour rights standards. Clothing is manufactured so rapidly to keep up with the latest trends from the runway made and sold for a fraction of the price, but this cheap tag pays the price in a different sense. The poor and sometimes unsafe working environments, unfair pay and extreme hours all add up for the cost to be greatly inexpensive.
8 tips for mindful shopping
Thrift shipping is a limitless yet unique way to add vintage one-off pieces to your wardrobe. Stumbling upon countless hidden gems meanwhile saving unwanted clothes from landfill and saving your dollar. Put your money where your mouth is and take responsibly for your purchases. Avoid buying from anyone who exploits cheap labour and bad workplace conditions. Embrace sustainable fashion labels such as New balance, Fat Face, ASOS eco edit, H&M Conscious collection. Appreciate their efforts to produce collections that use natural recycled fabrics. Don’t’ impulse buy to reduce your carbon footprint. Consider the purchases you do make, be sure to choose quality over quantity. Aim to for a few basic pieces to layer with statements to achieve a diverse mix and match wardrobe.
The BBC Three documentary ‘Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts’ uncovers the practice of garment workers making clothes to be sold in high-street stores. 8 British fashion enthusiasts investigate what its really like living and working alongside sweatshop factory workers in India. The series exposes child labour exploitation, low paid workers working 8-hour shifts, mistreatment from supervisors in poor conditions even sleeping next to sewing machines. It leaves us wondering what price others pay for the nations obsession for low priced clothing. Consumers are looking for new ways to make clothes last longer. The solution is spending a little more to get the most wear from your attire. If you want better quality fabric, accurate stitching, high standard design and fair worker’s rights. Its fair to say you’ll be getting more for your money than you bargained for. Switch your buying behaviour for highly rated customer satisfaction and ethical consumption on your part ethical shopping is the way to go. Armed with the knowledge that the choice you made disposes of the rights abuse trend, makes your jeans feel way more supportive.
Support companies that support fair trade, look for the fair trade validation label on products of interest. The label guarantees workers in developing countries are paid the living wage. Extent the lifespan of you clothes, just three months of active use would lead to a 5-10% reduction in each of the carbon, water and waste footprints. Up-cycle your wardrobe without breaking the bank by adding personal touches to your pieces. Embellish anything you can get your hands on, distress your jeans, design cut off shorts and add patches to your pockets, make a crop top with a frayed hem or however you want to customize your castaways. Ditch real furr for faux furr, its less expensive, morally accepted and your decision will save animals and will inspire others to do so too.
A R T I C L E S
What happened when my b o y f r i e n d started messaging my mate
sent her exact same u d e sent me"
What was your situation? LU: My bf at the time ‘J’ (3 years
experience it has made me stronger as a person. I didn't ask myself hat I actually wanted and just jumped straight into it. Honestly, I do not miss anything about the relationship I am in a much happier and healthier relationship now.
Does it still affect how you view relationships currently? LU: It did at first yes, I genuinly thought I’d never be able to
??? "He the n he
Do you miss anything about the relationship? LU: At the time it crushed me, however reflecting on my
trust fully again, however as I’ve matured I've realised that it doesn’t effect me as my current boyfriend is trustworthy.
ago now) had been
. messaging my mate (You know those ‘friends’ with questionable loyalties). He was texting her in a sexual manner using sexual innuendoes and slimy remarks. He also sent nude messages to her and some were sent to me too.
How did you find out? LU: I was made aware by this
girl at school, we were sitting together discussing doubts in my relationship. She definitely knew something somehow, I didn’t question her when she told me. She expressed that she felt bad, but I found out 3 weeks after they started messaging.
What was your reaction when you discovered what happened? LU: I was devastated obviously, even though I had doubts
about him it was still tough to read their messages actually seeing the photos in front of me.
Did you have any suspicions before it transpired? LU: Yeah I did, he was at uni so we didn't get time to see eachother as often, He was a very manipulative person and would lead me to believe he has done stuff then deny it, I had suspicions throughout the relationship.
How did you pick yourself up? LU: I just confronted him and let all my anger out, Im not
sure if it helped me get over it but it definitely made me feel better at the time.
Do you have any advice for anyone who has been or is in a similar situation? LU: If you have concerns or have discovered anything
suspicious, act on it. Discuss your doubts and see the
reaction. Sleep on it and act on the situation the next day.
What would you have told your past self that you know now? LU: Don't work yourself up over something that is simple. If
someone can't commit you shouldn't need to convince them they're right for you.
Three words to summarise this person? LU: Manipulative, clever and kinda sly. Do you have a positive message for anyone going through similar issue? LU: Know that your current situation isn't your only option,
think about yourself and decide what you think is best, no pressure.
Q U O T E S