It is one thing for me to choose fabulous shoes at the expense of my own comfort – blisters, bunions, bad back - I can’t ask for sympathy as it is totally self-inflicted. However, it’s quite another thing altogether for me to accept that someone half way across the world (and in some cases just a few miles across London) is suffering a far worse fate than sore feet, just so I can bag a bargain.

I am on a mission to communicate the ethical issues in the fashion industry in a stylish and creative way (no porridge coloured hemp in my wardrobe).

I haven’t always thought this way. Up until five years ago I was oblivious to the social and environmental issues in the fashion industry. As a reformed shopaholic I understand the challenges each of us faces around changing our behaviour; the strong emotional connection to clothing and shopping should not be underestimated. As a teenager buying new cheap clothes was a hobby and memories of feeling depressed on or after ‘unsuccessful’ shopping trips are strong almost 20 years later.

I would now rather nurture clothes than buy new but I am aware that suggesting someone stop buying clothes may have them running for the hills, or burying their head in the sand. Plus, I do still love shopping - I have a real weakness for vintage and an inability to pass a charity shop without going in.

Having kicked my fast fashion habit and found a new career through encouraging others to reassess their own consumption, I feel I know a little bit about what it takes to make the change.

So it was in this spirit that some eighteen months ago I conceived and began to develop a new website to connect, promote, facilitate, support, share and catalyse the transition from fast fashion to slow style. I am now hugely proud to launch The Good Wardrobe, an antidote to the ‘sustainable fashion is expensive and anyway it takes too long to find’ thinking. Join in and find out that’s just not true anymore.

Thanks to Earl Grey and Rose sewing cafe for letting me use their space for the photos.

About the author

Founder and Director of The Good Wardrobe. Lover of charity shops and mending stuff.  New to Bristol. Follow on twitter