Sustainability Edit

Blythe wears: Hessian burlap sack; Tiara, Beyond Retro; Shoes, F-troupe; Choker, Stylist’s own; Dress, Beyond Retro; Leather Jacket, Vintage Versace

ustainablilty in fashion is about being kind to our ARE WE A Senvironment, conscious with our resources and treating garment workers actual human beings. This means looking PRODUCT at the tag, usinglikewhat we have and being in our wardrobe choices. We’ve taken an OF OUR creative upcycled potato sack, styled it with vintage garments and accessories, and asked two fashionable twins who lead busy ENVIRONMENT? city lives, about their take on fashion, style, sustainability and the mainstream...

Stylish siblings are part of a new wave of elite influencers making a debut in the world of fashion, and Paris-born trendy twins Parissa and Anahide Shafiei are no exception. Whilst the girls may share the same killer looks, and a bond which both describe as a ‘unique and indescribable gift,’ they hold different perspectives on the world and everything in it, “we have two strictly different personalities, she’s like a honey candy, when my taste might be a little more bitter,” jokes Parissa, who currently works in Social & digital media at fashion house Lacoste. Whilst the two may swap and share clothes, they both agree that their styles are unique from one another, “my sister has a completely different style to mine, she is more edgy,” Anahide says, whilst Parissa chimes in accordance, “I’ll usually be a little more cool and laid back, when she’s always pretty sophisticated”.

The girls started to acknowledge their differences in personalities and style growing up when they were teenagers, and currently live in different cities, Parissa says her job requires her to travel between Paris, New York and London, whilst Anahide calls London home. Ana now works as a freelance personal shopper, after leaving her job in the fashion industry, in order to pursue her dream of owning a multi-brand concept store in London. When asked what her most vivid experience working in the industry was, she fondly recollects, “working in the studio for Christian Louboutin, the people I met there, their creativity and generosity was incredible, and the working space was full of beautiful art pieces.”

Between them, the duo have acquired an incredible mass of experience in the Fashion Industry, providing them with unique insights.

When briefed about the Potato sack concept, do-it-yourself fashion and Sustainability, they both agree that Parissa is the more sustainable one, “I’ve gotten a lot into the DIY movement lately. I find it amazing to see so many young designers create amazing pieces & witness people creating their own things. I love to see people believing in themselves.”

On the other hand, Ana reveals, “for me luxury sounds like opulence and extravagance and I do not see the link with being sustainable,” she is the more extravagant of the two when it comes to splashing out on designer labels, when asked what her most cherished wardrobe item is, her eyes light up, “my Louboutin crystal shoes, Hermes goodies, and my Chinchilla and mink jacket!”

Parissa, the ‘thriftier’ one, describes her most cherished wardrobe items as her black leather jackets and specifically “a glitter vintage jacket that I bought some years ago..”

The twins can both agree that people tend to splurge on expensive designer fashions in order to present a certain image of themselves, and to conform to “social status”. When asked if she thinks we are a product of our environment, Parissa says, “there are different ‘spheres’ of influence, your family, the culture and city you grew up in, and the fashions within that city, then there is the social environment, your friends, parties you go to, where you work. So yes, I think that people are definitely influenced by their life environment.” The subject of Sustainability is of great discussion, as Society looks increasingly to wellness and mindfulness, our generation is arguably more aware and conscious of the environment around us than any before, Anahide says, “I think brands should start expressing themes of sustainability through social media more, that would be the best way to convey the message,” she concludes, “besides, we want a healthy world for our generations to come.”

Written by Sophia Kirch