I Have a Clear Idea of What I Don’t Want my Clothes to Say About Me

I have just read a commentary by Dhana Inc. founder Shamini Dhana featured on Triple Pundit entitled ‘Wear What You Stand For: Uniting Humanity Through Fashion’.

The Fableists believe that Dhana is absolutely right to be promoting a more conscious approach to fashion. It’s time we all listen and take notice of what the sustainable fashion movement has been banging on about for decades. But how can we get people to change? Appealing to hearts and minds is winning over consumers by the thousands but it’s not enough. We need millions to pay attention in order to see change in the way that clothes are made, bought, consumed and disposed of.

Dhana’s line, “an unconscious judgment call is made, a perception created at some level, within the first 40 seconds of physically meeting someone new” really strikes to the heart of the matter. We need to start to appeal to the vanity of the masses.

I’m not entirely sure what I want my clothes to say about me, but I am pretty clear on some of the superficial things I don’t want my clothes to say about me: cheap, fake, and common are just a few that spring to mind. Those are things that I would not want said about me on a deeper level either, by the way. Yet, the vast majority of clothes that are bought on this planet say these three very things about the buyer.

Cheap: The companies that produce most clothes make them as cheaply as they possibly can. This means cutting corners at every turn; quality, employment practices, safety standards, ecological considerations, waste disposal and contents are just a few examples of ways that companies can cut costs.

Fake: Often, designer items are copied and sold for a fraction of the price. While many can argue that so-called ‘designer’ items are overpriced, that is often because they pay the craftspeople they employ fairly, with benefits and living wages. They also produce limited edition quantities of items, making them more valuable. Producers of ‘knock off’ items are exploiting our desire for name-branded, designer items and using sweatshop labour in order to produce imitation items that are low quality. Is the badge really that important?

Common: In order to keep prices low, fashion companies produce endless quantities of the same item and sell them all over the world. On any given day, you can be certain that somewhere, several thousand people are wearing the exact same top as you are. No two people are the same. We are like 7 million unique and magnificent snowflakes. Why do we all strive to be the same?

I don’tknow why anyone would want their clothes to give the impression they they are cheap, fake or common. We need to go out of our way to choose quality, authenticity and originality. Wouldn’t you rather leave that impression on everyone you meet? You only have 40 seconds.

Sarah

 

 

The Fableists will be at Hackney Wick on Saturday December 6

Fableist Daf will be at The Wick December 6th (yes, tomorrow!!!). The Wick is a new weekly event, launched at the end of the summer by Liz Mendez, and Sonia Anderson, the girls behind East London’s ‘Kubicle’ parties, who have had over 10 years experience running events in East London as well as hosting areas at many festivals in the UK and further afield, including Glastonbury, Secret Garden and Lovebox.

They’ve taken over the programming for every Saturday at the brilliant Old Bathhouse venue in Hackney Wick, E9. It’s an old 1930’s Art Deco public bathhouse and has numerous indoor and outdoor spaces, all spacious and unique.

Outside there is a beach area, Tiki cocktails bar, Street food, buskers and live art, inside there is a boutique market with fashion, accessories, vintage, arts and crafts, homewares and collectibles, chilled out DJ area, kids activities, Yoga, gallery space and café.

The crowd is a fun, vibrant and creative one and children and dogs are welcome until 6pm. The first Saturday of the month (i.e. tomorrow) is a kid focused week.

Come out and see us at this super fun place. It’s all about the kids tomorrow!

A comic strip with facts, beautifully illustrated fiction and non-fiction, gripping stories and funny books are all on the shortlist for the Blue Peter Book Awards

Award-winning author and illustrator Chris Riddell’s latest book on the adventures of Goth Girl is among six children’s books shortlisted for the prestigious Blue Peter Book Awards 2015.

For the first time, a book using comic strips to tell real-life stories is also nominated for an award.

The Blue Peter Book Awards, which are celebrating their 15th year, are special as they ask children to read the shortlisted books and then vote for the two winners.

The shortlist was announced live on today’s (Thursday December 4th) Blue Peter by Michael Morpurgo, author of more than 120 children’s books, including War Horse, and President of the reading charity Booktrust, which manages the Blue Peter Book Awards.

Morpurgo was also presented with the CBBC show’s highest accolade, the gold Blue Peter badge, for inspiring millions of children with his books.

Chris Riddell’s Goth Girl and the Fete Worse Than Death is vying for the Best Story Award along with Boy in the Tower by primary school teacher Polly Ho-Yen and The Spy Who Loved School Dinners written by Pamela Butchart and illustrated by Thomas Flintham.

Adam Murphy’s Corpse Talk, which uses comic strips to tell the stories of scientists, writers, sovereigns and rebels from history, is competing for the Best Book with Facts with Animalium written by Jenny Broom and illustrated by Katie Scott, and The Silly Book of Side-Splitting Stuff written by Andy Seed and illustrated by Scott Garrett.

The four judges – Liz Pichon, Michael de Souza, Anna James and Ewan Vinnicombe – highlighted the quality of illustrations used in many of this year’s shortlisted books, as well as the brilliant stories and imaginations of the authors.

Liz Pichon, author of the Tom Gates series, and winner of the Blue Peter Book Awards Best Story 2013, said: ‘We have a brilliant selection, something for everyone. There’s beautifully illustrated fiction, gripping stories, funny books and the FIRST comic strip style book with facts which is fantastic.

‘We keep hearing that kids don’t read anymore, but if you get the right books in front of them they really will – I’ve seen it!

‘The Blue Peter Awards are a fantastic way of showcasing even more great books.’
Michael de Souza, co-creator of Rastamouse said: ‘We have a great selection of original stories as well as a book using comic strips, which is very different.

‘Books open up a new world for children. If we want to encourage children to read, we need to give them great stories, great illustrations and something they can relate to.’

Blue Peter Editor Ewan Vinnicombe, who was the non-voting Chair of the judging panel, said: ‘In our 15th year of the Blue Peter Book Awards I’m really excited with the judges’ shortlist. There is such a good range of titles in the mix and I can’t wait to find out on World Book Day when the winners are revealed – live on Blue Peter.

‘It was great that we could honour Michael Morpurgo with a Blue Peter gold badge. His stories have inspired so many children over so many years to read and love books.’
Approximately 200 children from 10 schools across the UK will read the shortlisted books and vote for their favourites in each category. The two winning books will be announced on the Blue Peter programme scheduled for World Book Day on 5 March 2015.
The enormously popular Blue Peter Book Awards, which are managed by Booktrust, celebrate the best authors, most creative illustrators and the greatest reads for children.

The shortlist:
Best Book with Facts
• Animalium written by Jenny Broom and illustrated by Katie Scott (Big Picture Press)
• Corpse Talk: Season 1 by Adam Murphy (David Fickling Books)
• The Silly Book of Side-Splitting Stuff written by Andy Seed and illustrated by Scott Garrett (Bloomsbury)

Best Story
• Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen (Doubleday Children’s)
• Goth Girl and the Fete Worse Than Death by Chris Riddell (Macmillan Children’s Books)
• The Spy Who Loved School Dinners written by Pamela Butchart and illustrated by Thomas Flintham (Nosy Crow)

The judges for this year’s Awards are:
• Michael de Souza – Co-creator of the Rastamouse book series and co-founder of Little Roots Ltd.
• Anna James – Editor, We Love This Book and Media Editor, The Bookseller, and former school librarian
• Liz Pichon – author of the Tom Gates series, and winner of the Blue Peter Book Awards Best Story 2013
• Ewan Vinnicombe (non-voting chair) – Editor, Blue Peter and Head of Presentation for CBeebies and CBBC

50% Off The Fableists’ Entire Collection

No special codes and it’s not top secret; you can shout it from the rooftops – our entire collection is 50% off. Just visit TheFableists.com or come in to our store in Coggeshall, Essex and everything is half price. Just in time for Christmas!