Cleaning your wardrobe is soul work

Cleaning up your wardrobe from clothes made with child labor - currently guilty of employing more than 160 million children- forced and underpaid labor (mostly comprised of female workers), unhygienic working conditions that have killed hundreds of fashion workers, and synthetic fibers that cannot be absorbed by mother earth, is not virtue signaling, or trendy, won't ever make headlines, isn't Instagrammable and truly won't earn you a spot at the PTO's envied clique circle.

Cleaning (or perhaps cleansing) your fashion habits is like redeeming yourself from the social sin of ignorance:  our consumer habits can knowingly or unknowingly be denying others their dignity or access to the necessities of life.

It's no secret that cheap, big box fashion brands overwork their -mostly female or many times children- workers (see Shein's latest accusations of forced labor surpassing 75-hour workweeks and salaries below minimum standards- yes, even for China). With Temu's call for a ban by U.S. lawmakers, Lululemon's greenwashing claims and malpractices going against their sustainability public statements, consumers can feel at a loss.

Where can one turn to find beautiful, ethically made clothes that support fair global trade and help mother earth recover from the revolution of unsustainable fibers and materials the past 50 years?

Even a minimalist and capsule wardrobe needs the seasonal refreshing, which is especially true for working women who must keep up with the demands of their workplace environment- yes, lookism is very much alive and scientifically proven to affect female workers' earnings.

If your ethos guides you to reward fashion makers that avoid environmental and human harm and contribute to restoring a wholesome planet it's time to look into brands that truly walk the talk and offer one-of-a-kind statement pieces luxuriously made and crafted with care.

Taking a bold stance against fast fashion and ever changing market trends consuming your soul and wallet, is easy. You can simply opt for a less-is-more wardrobe that will give you the freedom of mind and envelop your aesthetic needs and cultural needs of expression.

A good place to start are Greek micro-manufacturers that comply with European Labor Law standards - hence are fair trade by definition- and use earth-friendly cotton fibers that allow your body and mother earth to breathe freely. Cotton production is one of the most important crops contributing significantly to the rural economy of Greece by supporting the development and resilience of rural communities. - with Greek cotton comprising 80% of the European cotton production.

If you like ethereal, freeing clothes that embrace your silhouette instead of suppressing it, checking out Orsalia Parthenis' Parthenis collection and Konstantinos Tsigaros' K7 is a good place to start. As the official representative of Hellenic Designers in New England and the USA Khiton team will be happy to guide you to more ethical and sustainably made brands from the land of Gods. Just send a nudge on social or email :)

Peace to all.

Photo: Parthenis 2024 Spring