Never have I ever been complimented on a necklace so much. Honestly! People have been so kind about this lovely gifted necklace every time I wear it (which has been pretty frequently, I must admit). The chain is really well made and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin at all - plus the design pays homage to vintage / art deco style in such a unique way. I very much adore it.

But let's back up a little shall we...

I'm pretty vocal on my channel and socials about the ethics of fast fashion. The materials, energy & labour that goes into creating pieces that lack quality & therefore are disposed of pretty rapidly. But what about jewellery?

Until relatively recently, I had not properly considered the disposable nature of a lot of the jewellery I've purchased. When I was younger I would go through oodles of Primark plastic pearls, lots of tacky Topshop sale-rail rings and nickel necklaces. They wore really badly and (retrospectively) were just a waste of money and resources.

Nowadays, I'm much more picky when it comes to jewellery because my skin is very sensitive. This a very annoying and majorly pretentious sensitivity to have - I struggle with wearing various metals and low-carat gold even. Like I say, this didn't used to stop me wearing cheap rings and necklaces. My neck would itch and my fingers would turn a mouldy green shade - but style over comfort eh? I had no funds to invest in proper jewellery back then. No drive to purchase the classy stuff that didn't make my neck red-raw with itching & ears bleed from the cheap metal. Am I painting a pretty picture for you here?

But another aspect of jewellery that hadn't dawned on me was the story behind the people who make the jewellery. I don't know how I thought these things were produced to be honest - I guess I just assumed they were made by machines? How mad to think that was my assumption and that I wasn't interested in asking any further questions as long as I could have the end product... In reality, the jewellery industry remains pretty hidden and massively sketchy. I'm talking about brands that are a bit more up-market than Primark now, the pricey and more 'prestigious' brands. I'm all for investing in pieces and making them last, but still there are very few jewellery companies that have credentials on their ethics and sustainability. It remains an unknown part of the jewellery business for many consumers.

Lucky for us, there is one particular brand that is wonderfully transparent about their practices. The above necklace is by the brand Sacet (pronouced sah-set). I've previously mentioned this brand in a favourites video when I featured a pair of thier Lujia North East earrings (though I mistakenly pronounced the brand sa-ket because I'm an uncultured swine..). 

Sacet create amazing jewellery that is both ethically and sustainably made. They use 100% recycled metals, ethically polished diamonds & gemstones. They even grow their own diamonds to ensure they are conflict-free! The necklace and bracelet above both feature the Ornate Geometric Pendant in 18K Gold Vermeil on Sterling Silver. The colourful stones in this piece are Malachite, Citrine & Rhodolite.

Every product I've tried from Sacet has come beautifully (but sustainably) packaged in cardboard boxes with individual cloth bags. They work with various designers with different artistic tastes so they can provide a wide variety of styles on their site - from vintage-looking pieces like the one in this blogpost to more simple and edgier jewellery as well. 

What I find really interesting and unique about Sacet is how they break down the journey of the piece of jewellery you receive. Their business purposely links the final product you receive to the maker of that piece (Anyone in the audience tonight familiar with Marx's theory of alientation?! No? Just me? Alrighty. As you were.) If you're new around here, I studied business at uni with a particular interest in sustainability and corporate social responsibility [which is often referred to as CSR]. For this reason, I am a huge fan of Sacet's ethos when say they prioritise people, planet and profit in a balanced way. These three P's are the three pillars of CSR and by considering the stakeholders who fall into these three categories, brands can improve their ethics and give back to the world in both a socially and economically sustainable way. Sacet make an effort to give names, faces and credit to their designers and craftspeople both in the leaflet that comes with each purpose and online here https://www.sacet.com/craftsmen. They provide fair pay and collaborative and safe working conditions which connect people who have a passion for craftsmanship. It's very heartwarming and something every brand should strive to achieve too.

This set really is a work of art and I'm sure would make such an amazing present for any jewellery lover in your life. What with Christmas around the corner, if you're thinking of getting a special someone some jewellery this year, I couldn't recommend Sacet enough!

To educate yourself more on the ethics of the jewellery industry, please check out Sacet's website here: https://www.sacet.com/jewellery-with-a-purpose. It's really informative and well worth a read. Thanks again to Sacet for the kind gift in exchange for a review. I'm a big fan. 

Organic Basics don't beat around the bush: 'The fashion industry is a dirty bastard'. 

Their words, not mine. 

And they're not wrong. The textile industry is responsible for masses of air, land & water pollution all over the world - and it's often the poorest of people who work in overseas factories that face the horrendous immediate side effects of this pollution. It's not uncommon for untreated wastewater from factories to flow into local waterways, harming aquatic life and contaminating local water supplies. Still, that's not to suggest that we worldwide won't feel the impact of our consumption choices when it comes to fashion. I'm not suggesting it's a far away problem just because many garments are produced overseas.

Consumption issues are everyone's problem. I have found that the more you educate yourself, the more overwhelmed & disillusioned you can feel. What used to be a mere transaction is increasingly becoming a moral dilemma. You pick a garment up & think, who made it? What material is it made out of? How was the material produced? Where this garment made? In what conditions?

It really is a minefield.


Thankfully, Organic Basics have been a breath of fresh air in my wardrobe. They make scandi-style sustainably and ethically made underwear & activewear that fits well, washes well & wears well. Every box: ticked.

They only work with factories that share their same vision of sustainability in fashion. These workplaces are free of harassment, forced labour, child labour, and ensure everyone employed is paid a fair living wage, with regular breaks & receives employee support in terms of things like childcare. Just as they should.

So the ethics of the brand is on point, the fit is spot on and the quality is just great. I highly recommend checking these guys out. One of the most common questions I get about sustainable fashion is in regards to where to get sustainable underwear & workout gear, so I figured I would review the pieces I've tried from Organic Basics. Although I champion secondhand shopping wherever possible, it's great to have firsthand options from a brand you trust just in case you can't find what you need secondhand.

I've tried 3 pieces in total and tested them for about three months - two of which were kindly gifted, the other I bought with my own moneys because the quality of the first two blew. my. socks. off. (if you'll pardon the pun).

Everything I've tried is from their SilverTech range - which is a range treated with Polygiene in order to stay fresher for longer. More wears between washes saves a lot of water over time. The SilverTech bits are made from 96% recycled nylon and produced using practises that conserve water, save CO2 pollution and prevent waste. Check out their Impact Index on their website for more info. In my experience, I can confirm that this fabric is truly breathable enough to wear and work out in 5+ times before it needs a wash. And that's coming from me! Sweaty Gonzales! Who doesn't even wear anti-perspirant! It's game-changing.

This really is one of the comfiest sports bras ever. I even wear it as a normal bra day-to-day a lot of the time... it's the perfect amount of support but doesn't have any seams or hard fastenings so doesn't dig in anywhere.

In terms of support, I would say it's a decent medium impact bra without being uncomfortably tight (I'm a B cup for reference).

First & foremost, these leggings work absolute ~magic~ for the butt. The lift & sculpt is almost applaudable. I know, I know, it's not necessarily about aesthetics with workout gear. But, hey! If you feel good in workout gear, you're probably more likely to workout more right? 

At the end of January, I went to one of the dreamiest countries I've ever had the pleasure to visit - Iceland. We were centred in Reykjavik + went to all of the thrift stores/charity shops/flea markets the capital had to offer. Here I am sharing what I picked up secondhand and styling each piece!

It’s a new year. A new you. A new dawn. New day. New life. And it feels good!

Everyone’s dusting off their gym membership card, doing squats and upping their veggie intake. Making yearly goals and promises to yourself. Some may roll their eyes at this time of year and its accompanying lifestyle resolutions, but I actually really like the idea of new beginnings, fresh starts and self-improvement. And I love the George Elliot quote:

It’s never too late to be what you might have been.

To answer the blog title question, in quite literal terms: no. You cannot wear leather as a vegan. This is because, by very definition, veganism requires that you do not eat or use animal products. Simple as. 

So yeah, that's that. 

I digress slightly, but essentially, I try to avoid buying first-hand clothing as much as possible. Vegan or otherwise, production of new products and pieces costs resources and energy for processes such as production & transport. Therefore, purchasing existing items does not add to the demand for newly manufactured clothing. That's it really, that's my answer - I still buy secondhand leather because it doesn't contribute to demand for leather. Some may argue that wearing it normalises the wearing of animal skin, but I don't see it that way. 

I wouldn't go out of my way to buy leather in a charity shop, and I wouldn't buy it new, but secondhand sits ok with me for the reasons mentioned. I would obviously encourage buying vegan leather first hand over real leather first hand due to animal cruelty involved in production, poor working conditions in leather treatment facilities and pollution to surrounding areas. However, pleather and vegan leather are not necessarily good for the environment due to the materials they are made from (look into it further if you're curious). Plus, although secondhand shops don't necessarily contribute to a country's GDP (economics modules coming in handy say whaaat), they still inject money into the local economy and most importantly encourage reuse of preloved items. Reduce reuse recycle & all that.

I'm so lucky to have had so many people message me over the past few years saying that they really appreciate my approach when talking about my cruelty-free journey in that I show how it is attainable (their words not mine, not tooting my own trumpet). And I thank you eternally for letting me know you feel this way! I do try to constantly make it clear - it is okay to not be perfect all of the time. It is okay to fudge up and have a bad day, to momentarily not be the angelic ethical consumer you're striving to be. If you are increasing your awareness of your personal impact on the planet & other creatures, if you are trying to make a change within yourself, that's what matters. Talking to people, explaining and not lecturing, engaging in conversation - that's what matters and that's what will make long-term difference to people's thinking. Attacking people for not being faultless is not constructive, it is destructive. It might shock someone and make them momentarily think, but without explaining and listening and engaging you stand very little chance of convincing someone to truly reflect on their impact and on themselves as a part of the problem - and therefore part of the solution.

However, veganism to me is an ideology, not just a diet. And you must also remember that, in technical terms, in true vegan ideology, a vegan would not own any pets, as animals are not ours to own or get pleasure from. They are not physical property. You see? It's perhaps more complicated than first thought. 

You can pick at my reasoning as much as you like, but I have my reasons, as I am sure you have yours :-) I am trying to be the best version of myself I can be and to harm the planet as little as I possibly can. Perhaps I will do a 180 and completely change my opinion on secondhand leather one day, and I am completely in my right to do so. That is all.

For me, I think that perhaps this is how the modern vegan movement gains greater widespread traction. Would you rather give people the ultimatum of going entirely vegan cold-turkey (pardon the non-vf phrase) and otherwise not to bother at all; or let them reduce their consumption of animal products gradually or even just slightly? I think the second option gives people a more open gateway into the world of veganism. Treating it as a journey, not as an all or nothing! situation to start with. You go at your pace, evolve as you learn, and don't judge anyone else at a different stage in their journey. Odds are you weren't raised vegan, so try to be empathetic to others willing to give it a shot - whether that be 100%, 70% or just 2%. Everybody has got to start somewhere, and we do what we can where we can.

Ever since I've been trying to avoid shopping fast fashion, I often get asked about where to shop for ethical clothing when it comes to swimwear and underwear. Luckily I came across the Brighton-based brand Ruby Moon who have a cool selection of sustainably crafted bikinis and swimsuits.

I'm not going to tell you where to shop, but here are some facts about the big fast fashion brands I have hanging around in my wardrobe to give you an idea of their ethics. Across the board, these big name brands struggle to give complete transparency, as found by Fashion Revolution Transparency Index, meaning that they are not communicating their supply chain nor their performance on social & environmental issues clearly. Sure, some brands came out better on this index than others, but that doesn't make a lack of clarity and honesty acceptable. It must also be remembered that the nature of fast fashion is that it is, well, fast. The clothes are made to be thrown away after minimal use - and it happens on a colossal scale. By nature these brands are not likely to be sustainable in the slightest. Click here to see my video addressing the cruelty in my wardrobe. For references on the topics talked about in this video, check out this brand breakdown...