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What Is Greenwashing & How Do You Avoid It? | Fashion Revolution Week 2017

By April 28, 2017 Ethical

Fashion Revolution Week was created after the Rana Plaza factory disaster in 2013. The factory home to many big name fast-fashion brands collapsed, killing over 1,100 people and injuring thousands more. In order to create change within the fashion industry, transparency is needed across the board as well as commitment to ethics and sustainability. Fashion Revolution asks you to get involved by sharing a photo/selfie of your favourite clothes asking the brand, #WhoMadeMyClothes?


Fantastically, Fashion Revolution and a new surge of conscious consumerism have brought to the attention of many brands that their customers want more answers about where their clothing comes from. We’ve seen them respond positively and it has inspired us all to keep going on our mission for greater transparency, however, with this comes the idea of ‘greenwashing’ and being all talk and no action.

how to avoid fast-fashion greenwashing - h&m sustainability


~ READ THE FASHION REVOLUTION FANZINE ~


The Greenwashing Index defines greenwashing as “when a company or organisation spends more time and money claiming to be “green” through advertising and marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimise environmental impact“. With the rise of consumers demanding to know more about how a brand is run and how it’s supply chain is managed, more and more brands and designers have started to step forward to show in whatever way they can, that they are part of the positive change and movement.

I will start off by saying that it’s important to recognise that something is being done, no matter how small that is. We have to start from somewhere even as individuals so I’m glad that the industry is becoming more aware. My concern is that for less informed consumers, small steps will end up looking a lot larger than they are on the surface and those who are doing an outstanding job across the board, will be left at the wayside due to the fact that they are lesser known.

One of the major examples that some of you may already be aware of, is H&M. H&M have two “sustainable” lines under their belt; H&M Conscious and Conscious Exclusive. The aim of the Exclusive collection is to showcase more sustainable production techniques whether that means using organic cotton or recycled materials. It’s a capsule collection, far smaller than the rest of their range which is more heavily marketed on their website and far easier to find in store. The main Conscious collection seems to be based around what fabrics are used within each garment.

If you visit the H&M homepage, you’ll find that the Conscious Exclusive collection has to be found by scrolling down and that there is no main header link for either Conscious collection; they’re tucked away under the Campaigns on the Women’s tab.

how to avoid fast-fashion greenwashing - h&m sustainability

Secondly, their recycling initiatives have also been catching the attention of the media and its customers. In January 2017, H&M launched a campaign video called “Bring It On” to ask their customers to donate their used garments into store. Interestingly enough, this video is still up and running on H&M’s US website, but on the UK one, you can only discover it via Google.

You’re probably wondering why I’m focusing on how accessible these pieces of information are. It’s all part of what greenwashing technically is, and is a good indicator of whether you should be supporting a brand or not. If the sustainable or ethical information isn’t as equally as accessible as the main collection of a brand as a whole then they are being the opposite of transparent. Information is being spread around that sustainability is a focus when in actual fact, it’s still something which is being tucked away and concealed.

And as much as I appreciate the H&M Foundation for funding some innovative and sustainable ideas at the recent Global Change Awards, I highly doubt the average high-street customer is aware of this.

how to avoid fast-fashion greenwashing - h&m sustainability

I found this a similar case with ASOS; their ASOS Eco Edit is tucked away under a menu tab with just a single link. They have two separate social media accounts for promoting their more sustainable and ethical items of stock, their Instagram following being a mere 12k compared to an over 5 million account reach on their main. That’s a whole lot of influence being put to waste. It would be an interesting question to have answered; why wouldn’t they want to share the more positive of brands on their site, with the majority of their following? To me, it’s baffling.

With H&M especially though, they aren’t just tucking away what they so say want to change within the industry, they’re almost disguising the fact that they’re one of the biggest reasons behind why it needs to change. On the UK site, out of the main collection there are 4,874 items for Women, of which only 209 are consciously focused. This is a reasonably high number; in fact, perhaps a little too high with prices a little too low. How can a pair of skinny jeans be be £19.99 and be labelled as “conscious”? And in terms of the actual production and ethics of it all, it was only in February 2016 when an H&M factory in Bangladesh caught fire killing four of its workers. It’s due to the immense pressure of a brand of such size, that these sorts of incidents occur.

As I mentioned previously, I’m concerned that the positive actions that are being put into place aren’t being compared to what is really going on. It’s not just fast-fashion brands either. I’ve had concerns over supposedly, “non” fast-fashion brands like Nobody’s Child, for example. They claim to be to serve “fast fashion with a conscious” which is rather peculiar. Fast-fashion is unsustainable; mixing those two terms is something already rather questionable.

how to avoid fast-fashion greenwashing - h&m sustainability

An article by Project JUST, which reviews several bigger name sustainable brands like Everlane and Warby Parker, shows that phrases like “radical transparency” don’t always live up to their definitions. Of course, I would much rather suggest people start lifting up brands such as Everlane, but if you really want to be the best consumer as possible (which trust me, is often difficult), learning more about all kinds of brands is just as important.

But, there are ways to avoid the wool being pulled over your eyes. These are some questions which are good to ask yourself before supporting a brand…

how to avoid fast-fashion greenwashing - h&m sustainability

Are they shouting about it?

Something which concerns me with brands who label themselves as “ethical and sustainable” yet come across as fast-fashion, is whether they’re really shouting about it. Simply labelling yourself as such doesn’t necessarily guarantee that these practices are being put into place. Take a look and see how accessible their information regarding ethics and sustainability is, and whether they’re proud to fly that flag. Do they join in with #WhoMadeMyClothes, and the like? Ask yourself if you truly trust what they’re claiming to support.

What information can you find?

Alongside whether they’re shouting about it, you need to know what it is they’re shouting about. If this information is easy to find, you might want to think about what sort of issues are important to you. A great way to decipher this is by taking a look at the Policy & Commitment categories within Fashion Revolution’s Transparency Index, which is a review of 100 major brands and how they’re tackling transparency. Some of these commitments include…

Animal Welfare
☞ Child Labour
☞ Discrimination
☞ Equal Pay
☞ Forced or Bonded Labour
☞ Health & Safety

☞ Maternity Rights/Parental Leave
☞ Sub-contracting & Outsourcing
☞ Use of Chemicals
☞ Waste & Recycling
☞ Water Usage
☞ Working Hours

Some of Fashion Revolution’s findings include the fact that only 20 out of the 100 brands disclose procedures that address maternity rights; only 43 brands publish an assessment for high-risk supply chain issues and only 40 brands disclose how child labour policies are put into practice.  That’s less than half.

Ask yourself what issues matter to you and find out whether the brand has open information readily available for you to read and learn from.

how to avoid fast-fashion greenwashing - h&m sustainability

What information will they give you?

A brilliant point brought up in Project JUST’s article on the same issue of greenwashing was what information will brands give you if they ask. Especially when it comes to campaigns like #WhoMadeMyClothes, the stand out brands will be those of which reply with the most transparent and specific answer possible. It’s not just what they tweet you either, it’s what you can get through contact forms, emailing and even writing letters in some cases. If they don’t give you enough information; ask yourself if you truly want to support their level of transparency.

Are they making progress?

As aforementioned, I want to reiterate that progress is important. It’s exactly what we want to see more of. So yes, do praise and award brands which are doing so but also ask yourself how much are they really doing? Another part of Fashion Revolution’s Transparency Index includes the Know, Show & Fix category which is about analysing which brands are assessing their policies, disclosing these assessments and are fixing what needs to be fixed.

The highest scoring brands in this include (thankfully) H&M, alongside Marks & Spencer, GAP, Adidas, Reebok and Puma – but none of these brands score higher than a 40% score. You can learn more about the scoring by, of course, taking a look at the index for yourself, which I highly recommend if you are interested in learning more.

how to avoid fast-fashion greenwashing - h&m sustainability

Will you actually end up wearing what you buy?

I think it’s not only important to understand who you’re buying from, but also what you’re buying. Take a read of my post on working out whether you’ll actually end up wearing what you buy. An important part of creating a more sustainable industry is creating sustainable shoppers. We need to start becoming more conscious of our decisions and impact as that all leads back to what brands decide to change. Every penny is a vote, remember!

Shop from brands that are built on ethics and sustainability.

Finally, I want to point you in the direction of my ethical directory. Although I will admit I can’t answer all questions to do with every brand within it, I can say that I am in full support of everything these brands stand for. The list is growing and I’m updating it every month so hopefully, some of you will find it helpful. I also, recommend taking a look at Project JUST who I have already mentioned within this post. Not only was I recently interviewed for their #IAMJUST series, I also admire what they are doing. Their directory is a lot more in-depth and offers you a platform to learn more about brands you might already shop with.


Have you ever encountered any greenwashing? What are your thoughts on the progress within the industry? Let me know in the comments!

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Bohemian Bedroom Decor Ideas & Wishlist

By March 17, 2015 DIY & Lifestyle

So I wasn’t quite sure what to write about for today but seeing as I have been using Pinterest a lot more recently, I thought I would do a bit of a lifestyle post for you! I’m really eager to re-do my bedroom and make it more about me. I feel like my past few layouts and decor bits and bobs have all been to do with the furniture in the room so this time I just want to make it for me and my personal relaxation. So as you can tell by the title, have been loving boho things recently. So here are some bohemian bedroom decor ideas (and a lil’ wishlist)…

Bohemian Bedroom Ideas - Urban Outfitters, H&M, Society6~ THE INSPO: IMAGES VIA PINTEREST ~

Okay so I know these images don’t all look bohemian, but they’re a bit of a mix between both boho and minimalism. I really want to have statement pieces in my room, like bedding and feature posters on one wall. I think these pictures pretty much sum that up. Colour but in a very simple way, plus very rustic, paisley printed pieces thrown in. I’ve found my favourite place to stalk is Urban Outfitters, which is a place I would never normally shop, but some of their decor pieces are awesome. For a bit of fellow-blogger browsing, UO recently interviewed Sara from WAISTE which included pictures from her flat (which is basically the bomb.com), and I’m in awe!

Bohemian Bedroom Ideas - Urban Outfitters, H&M, Society6~ THE WANTS ~

I had a little look online and collected a few things which I’ve being eyeing up for a while and have displayed them for your viewing pleasure. I really really really like the idea of having a brightly coloured tapestry/rug behind my bed. I think it adds a cosy feeling but also adds that cool, bold design element too.

Like I mentioned above, I’d also like to have another wall which features several posters, especially the black and white typography kind. They match most colour schemes and you can pick out ones which are specifically tailored to your mood and style. I think then adding things like wall hangings and frames makes the wall even more interesting, and one day I’d love this bison skull hook in my room… SO COOL!

I also found this super cute cactus jewellery holder on H&M’s website and it’s so cute! I really need to de-clutter my jewellery stash so it would be a good start to possibly cut it down to maybe 1 or two of these holders… it’s probably for the best, I hardly ever wear any of it! I have a tiger on my bed… I have a fake tiger on my bed, which means I sort of need the odd pillow to counteract it’s weirdness and size, so I found this cover (also from H&M) which adds for a bit of texture.


FEATURED ITEMS: Overdyed Rug (Urban Outfitters) // Screw Perfection Poster (Society6) // Frida Khalo Poster (Urban Outfitters) // Do It For Fashion Poster (Society6) // Bison Skull Hook (Urban Outfitters) // Frilly Pillow (H&M) // Cactus Jewellery Dish (H&M)


What are you decor wants right now? Are you thinking of re-vamping your room? Let me know in the comments below 🙂

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My Style: Tennis Court & Dr Martens*

By September 24, 2014 My Style

Eeeee! I am so excited to share these pictures with you! Yesterday we found an old abandoned tennis court (it was at the top of a weird path at the top of a hill), and my outfit seemed to fit the setting really well and it came out with a really cool urban/grunge vibe. I’m really inspired by fashion editorials and the way they are done at the moment so sorry for the photo spam! I really hope you like these as much as I do! 😀 If you want to see where everything is from etc, scroll through the pictures to the end…

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

ootd photoshoot fashion blog violet mirror dr martens cool kids club asos

What I Wore: Cool Kids Club Sweatshirt (ASOS), White Star Print Blouse (Jumble Sale), Pleated Skirt (H&M Girls), Socks (FOX) & Dr Marten Pascal Mirror Shift Suede Boots (Mastershoe-MyShu)*

Dah-dah! I’m just SO pleased with how the photos came out! I don’t care if that sounds vain, but it’s just exciting when something comes together, especially when it’s spontaneous! I also absolutely love this outfit too, it’s quite autumnal I suppose, but it feels right now that the leaves are changing. You might recognise this jumper from my LFW outfit ideas… I finally caved in and purchased it after I found a 20% off code, hooray! I adore it.

I also adore my new Dr Martens… they’re SHINY! They’re beautiful. They’re the kind of iridescent metallic that looks different at every angle, I’m actually obsessed and can’t stop looking at them all the time. I highly recommend visiting the Mastershoe-MyShu website also, because they have a fabulous range of shoes, and loads of brands… plus they are super lovely, supportive people too. May I add that the socks I am wearing are the best kind of socks for Dr Martens, ever. They’re not too thick or too thin, just perfect!

What do you think of this outfit and this kind of post? Did you like the pictures? Let me know in a comment below, I love to know your thoughts! 🙂

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Primark, Mark’s & Spencers & H&M Haul…

By November 5, 2013 DIY & Lifestyle, My Style

So basically, when I went to England, I had coinage, when I came back I had… nought. My explanation? Well, basically you can just watch this A/W fashion haul video… 😉


Click the link to watch the video here.
Subscribe to my channel here!
Purse//Leggings//Tutu Petticoat//Dress//Tartan Dress*//Nail Polish

I hope you enjoyed the video! If you did, I would really appreciate if you subscribed, commented or even just gave it a thumbs up! I’m sorry that there isn’t any pictures, but they really didn’t come out great! I’m sure their will be OOTDs featuring the pieces, so watch out for them!… Seeing as this is my haul post from England, here are few Instagram pictures etc from my trip! Remember to follow me @tdposh! Enjoy…

a/w fashion haul primark m&s h&m kids clothing fashion youtube channela/w fashion haul primark m&s h&m kids clothing fashion youtube channel a/w fashion haul primark m&s h&m kids clothing fashion youtube channel a/w fashion haul primark m&s h&m kids clothing fashion youtube channel

I hope you’d liked this post and enjoyed my video! I really love my purchases! 😀

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H&M’s New ‘Glamour’ Collection

By April 13, 2012 Fashion

Grab H&M’s New ‘Glamour’ Collection, and you’ll look ready for the red-carpet… & for prices cheaper than Designers!

Grey ruffle dress £199.99,Crepe dress with removable skirt £149.99 (H&M Glamour Collection).


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Outfits 3: Work Wear

By April 6, 2012 General

I have put together an outfit which is best for Work. I wanted to go for the ‘minimalist’ style, but also infuse a few of the latest trends…

Warehouse Colour Block Shift Dress £40.00 (ASOS), Scala Patent Court Shoe £22.00 (ASOS), Jacket £14.99 (H&M) Total = £76.99

Using the 3 latest trends of Colour Blocking, Blazers & Neutral Colours, this style is set for a day at the office! Add that little bit extra, by adding a pair of earrings and some stunning red lipstick 🙂

Lots of Love… Tolly Dolly Posh xx

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