WE WANT TO GIVE BACK ON BLACK FRIDAY
It is that time of the year where we are inundated with 'Black Friday Sales' advertisements and lured into a 'serious shopping frenzy' at the expense of our people and our planet. We're not against a sale and do offer our customers the option to purchase at a more accessible price throughout the year, however, the mindless and mass consumption that is encouraged on Black Friday is causing harm and supports a broken system. Let's be mindful before we pull out the credit card...
We believe there is no better time to re-educate and extend to you, our consumers, the importance of mindful consumption over this period. Let's not forget about the environmental concerns within the fashion industry and increasing importance of preserving our Earth.
"Fashion's carbon emissions are projected to increase by 50% by 2030."
The World Bank - Black Friday
The harmful impacts of overconsumption within this period sets the world even further back from our sustainability goals and tackling climate change. We, as a sustainable business, have decided to approach Black Friday in positive way by giving back to the environment.
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is a shopping frenzy we, in Australia, have adopted from the US, that was centred around the end of the Thanksgiving holiday period. During this period, along with the introduction of 'Cyber Monday', people from all over the world speed purchase to secure large discounts, which in turn generates huge profits for fast fashion businesses. The stock is cheaply made and just feeds the fast fashion system.
Why don't we mark down our products?
In order to stay true to our values of empowering women, being environmentally conscious and producing timeless and thoughtfully made products made with the highest quality of materials, we have decided not to participate in Black Friday. For us, Black Friday is a scary reality of how impactful the fast fashion industry is in overproduction and waste.
Our ongoing partnership with Ecologi to plant a tree with every purchase, is one of the many ways in which we regulate our circular business and help battle the climate crisis. Purchasing a garment from Cloth & Co. over the Black Friday sales period will not be at the cost of the earth, but rather an opportunity to benefit the environment by planting two trees, instead of our normal one. We hope to encourage mindful consumption and to help combat the excess waste during this period.
Why plant a tree?
Offset Earth Image
What can you do to limit the negative environmental impact of Black Friday?
Be mindful.
Ask yourself, do I need this? Will this purchase be something I keep for a long time? If the answer is yes, choose a brand that understands the impact of Black Friday and is taking action to support better practices and limit overconsumption.
Educate.
Utilise the available resources such as The Fashion Revolution and The Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Press, to educate yourself on Black Friday. You can also seek out other environmentally focused brands who strive for climate action and slow fashion practices.
Share.
Start a conversation with the people around you about Black Friday. Ask if they knew the impacts of this shopping frenzy and help offer alternatives to purchasing from a fast fashion retailer to businesses that are doing good during this period. Support these businesses who are making a positive impact on people and the planet.
"It is a challenging moment for humankind but we're also facing a bigger environmental and inventory crisis than ever before - Black Friday is not the answer. We all need to collaborate, listen, learn and look for new systems to improve the fashion industry and beyond...My hope is that is we collectively challenge ourselves and those around us we'll inspire positive change for the future"
Christopher Raeburn - British Fashion Designer
#recyclingblackfriday
Thank you for your ongoing support and helping us create a better world for future generations.
Cloth & Co. xx