JOANNE Watkinson
SHINING EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY
Think Christmas party clothes and there is a theme which more often than not consists of sequins, velvet, fringing and a generous helping of black.
Boring? No. Hey, if it ain’t broke…
So, when the festive season rolls around do you head for the section in your wardrobe that screams merriment, pull out something festive and you’re done, or do you run out and get more sequins?
This week I spotted an influencer wearing a silver sequinned pencil skirt and matching top by Danish Brand Rotate Birger Christensen.
I loved it. I needed it, so without taking a breath, I navigated away from the page to make it mine.
Failing to find it available to buy, I fell down a digital rabbit hole looking at dozens of other sequin two-pieces, and as quickly as it had appeared the instantaneous need to own that particular suit dissipated. I dodged an expensive bullet.
That, my friends, is the Instagram shopping effect. Like scoffing a family-sized chocolate bar, gratification is instant, the remorse comes later.
Back to sequins, or paillettes – the French word for sequin, which I used to use in a pitiful bid to sound more ‘fashion’.
I love them, but this seemingly innocent wardrobe embellishment is a menace to the environment.
Often made from PVC, a flexible and durable plastic, they are not biodegradable, meaning that sequin dress will be around long after the party stops. Hundreds of years after. A sobering thought.
But, as ever, we have options. The most sustainable option would be to style the sequins you already have and make them look fresh. I love a white shirt with a sequin skirt.
Option two: A very quick look on resale sites Depop and ebay brought up a raft of secondhand and barely worn sequins. Breathing new life into old clothes is both financially and environmentally beneficial.
Or, and this is new to me too, opt for recycled sequins. Brands such as Free People and Hush both offer recycled sequins, but designer Elissa Brunato has gone one step further, inventing a sequin made from cellulose, a plant extract, that shimmers just like an ordinary sequin, is strong enough to be sewn onto a garment but that will eventually biodegrade, unlike a plastic sequin.
It’s partywear that won’t cost the Earth.