The Impact of Fast Fashion on the Environment & How To Shop More Consciously on Shein

Hi there! It's been quite a long time since I last sat down at my laptop to type away a blog post. Photos with short captions seem to be favoured more these days, but writing has always been a love of mine, and now that I feel inspired to write again, I am going to talk about a subject on which there is never enough awareness. I am talking about fast fashion, but more specifically, the nation's latest obsession, Shein, and the impact this has on the global environment as well as tips on how you can shop better from similar websites.

Like I said, all of Malta (and Europe) seem to be possessed by shopping on Shein.com these days. All you see on popular Facebook groups are posts asking about shipping times, sizes, how much you need to spend to get free shipping, etc... I usually steer clear of shopping from Chinese clothing sites because more often than not, the quality is dismal, to say the least. I know this first hand because in the past, I had tried buying a couple of clothing items from Aliexpress and I was really disappointed with myself for falling into the trap and wasting money (not that it was much, but still, I work hard for my money to go and waste it like that). Basically, the clothes and materials being of sub-standard quality was my main reason for not shopping on Chinese clothing websites (and local stores who import the same clothes only to sell them at much higher prices). That is until I realized the effect of the excessive consumption of fast fashion on the environment - it hit me that we need to slow down and make better choices for the sake of our planet.

A woman photographs French artist Christian Boltanski’s ‘No Man’s Land’, made up of around 30 tonnes of discarded clothing. Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2018/jun/22/mps-to-examine-environmental-footprint-of-uk-fashion-industry

By definition, the term fast fashion refers to inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. Most of the time, these retailers like Shein, H&M, Primark, Zaful,(Zara & River Island some times), etc., use cheaper materials which more often than not, don't stand the test of time, the stitching on the garments is awful, the patterns don't match up and they just generally look cheap. Not to mention, the stealing of ideas from big designers and having people (mostly women and young children) slaving away in their factories in horrid conditions and being paid peanuts in third world countries. Moreover, when people are done with the clothes, they just get thrown away and end up polluting the environment for God knows how many years!

Knowing all this, I feel bad admitting giving in to try Shein after seeing so many posts in groups I am a member of on Facebook as well as other local influencers' and friends' hauls. I put in a small order at 2am one night when I just couldn't sleep and kept my fingers crossed, hoping I was not wasting my money again. Fast forward to 5 days later, and the order was at my doorstep. I'm not going to lie, out of the 5 pieces I bought, only one dress was disappointing in the sense that the material was cheap-looking and the print was nothing like the pictures. On the other hand, I was really pleased with the rest of my order and in fact, I wore one of the dresses to an event I had later that week and I received a lot of compliments on my look. A small part of me still felt guilty though because I am well aware of the fact that the fashion industry is the biggest environmental pollutant. In fact, I had posted this same picture on The Beauty Game and on my Facebook page with my thoughts on buying fast fashion and I'm glad it sparked a healthy debate and many shared the same thoughts.

So of course, I was pleased with my first order on the whole, except for that one dress, and I thought since they are not so bad, maybe I could still give them a chance and buy a few more pieces of warmer clothing for the months ahead and my winter trip; I placed another order 2 weeks later for 8 items - 4 dresses, a beach skirt, a co-ord set, a knit vest and a pair of sandals. Again, they were delivered in 5 days but this time, I took a stand and said no more shopping on Shein unless it's something I really don't want to spend a lot of money on, (such as the snow boots for my upcoming trip this winter). To cut to the chase, 3 of the dresses and the skirt from the co-ord were just of really low quality for me. Even after looking at reviews and pictures which looked fine before I placed my order, I just couldn't justify spending money on such low-quality items. I didn't want to throw them away though, and the same as I did with the dress from the first order, I put them away in a bag and donated them to charity, maybe someone can turn them into cushion covers or something. 

As for the rest of the order, I was really happy with what I got, even the shoes. I wore them to lunch along with the top from the co-ord set (see pictures below) and I felt really comfortable in them and they didn't hurt my feet. Bottom line, I will only be considering shopping from Shein in cases such as I mentioned above; not wanting to spend a lot of money on something I won't be using as frequently. So, for now, I am waiting for the snow boots to be delivered and I'm hoping for them to be as good as the sandals.

 

With that off my chest, I wanted to share some tips that I hope you find helpful when shopping on Shein and similar websites because I do understand that most of us can only afford fast fashion. I for one, am no saint when it comes to clothes shopping. I need options and I cannot commit to just a capsule wardrobe and there was a time when, yes, I did buy a lot of clothes just for the sake of buying. However, nowadays I find myself making better choices and investing in better quality, classic pieces that will stand the test of time, and I want to pass on that knowledge to help you make better purchases on Shein or everywhere really.

• First off, keep a measuring tape handy and write down your measurements so they are easy to refer to when buying. This is a no-brainer but taking your time to measure yourself can spare you from getting the wrong size and having to return an item and having to pay for return shipping costs etc... 
• Look for better quality materials such as merino wool for example. These garments may be more expensive but you will get a lot more wear out of them. As tempting as cheap prices may be, the item in question is more likely to be of really bad quality than if you spend a little more on a better quality garment. Don't forget that cheap can be expensive as you would have to replace the item more frequently and that since most fabrics are non-recyclable, they will end up polluting the environment.
• The next point applies not only to Shein but also to most high street retailers. Avoid buying copies of popular designer bags and shoes. I have seen countless imitations of the Bottega Veneta Intrecciato leather pattern, the Gucci & Dior logos, and the Louis Vuitton monogram butchered while browsing different retailers locally and online. Most of the time, these bag knockoffs look cheap, will most definitely not last as long, and buying them is only contributing to stealing ideas from the big designers. I know this is probably something that is overlooked by the majority of you, but for me, as someone who spends a lot of time watching videos of designer bags, it irritates me to see brands blatantly copy shapes and designs. There are a lot of other bags you can get and to be honest, I doubt they will arrive in good shape from Shein.
• If possible, stick to plain garments rather than patterned to avoid mismatching. In the polka dot dress I am wearing in the photo further up, you can see that the pattern is not uniform where the seams meet. I love that dress but, yes it does bother me that the pattern does not match, so stick to plain clothes as much as possible to avoid that.
• Before you check out, have a look at your cart and think it through. Do you really need 10 tops of the same style? Thought so. Save the money you would have otherwise spent and treat yourself to something better 😉
• Re-use the re-sealable plastic bags the clothes come in. Wipe them down, expose to sunlight and use them to store other things in, for travelling, etc...
• Lastly, if you are not happy with any items you bought, you can always donate them or sell them on Shein Malta on Facebook in a bid to reduce fashion pollution.

Bottom line, I don't want to make a habit out of shopping from Shein and I'll just consider shopping from there if there is no other alternative or if the alternative is way more expensive than I would like to spend. Thank you if you've made it this far, that means a lot to me! Now I want you to share your thoughts in the comments below. Were you aware of the impact of fast fashion on the environment? Do you shop from Shein? Do you agree with me in not making a habit of buying from Shein?

Shopping for Designer Goods Online - Reliable Websites that Ship to Malta & Tips How You Can Save Some Money

Luxury and designer goods, while they are absolutely not a necessity, they are a most welcome splurge when we can comfortably afford them. What I mean by that is that it is not worth going into debt over a luxury bag, pair of shoes, clothes, etc but, for me, and I'm sure, a lot of you who came here to read this post, it feels nice when we treat ourselves to a luxury purchase.

Following some recent Instagram stories, many of you were asking me for reliable designer websites and apps that can help you shop for luxury goods while maybe saving some money, and today, I will be doing just that. Personally, nothing beats the store experience, but buying online is most of the time the only option here in Malta because of the lack of designer stores, so here goes a lengthy post to round up all the information for you. Grab yourself a hot drink and a snack and let's get started!

Firstly, let us address the elephant in the room. Most of the big designers such as Chanel, Dior, & Louis Vuitton, do not ship to Malta and these so-called halo brands, do not have any authorized re-sellers. Up to my knowledge, there are two ways you can buy genuine, brand new, luxury goods from these brands. The first option is having a contact at one of their stores, preferably European to avoid paying hefty duties and taxes. You can obtain a sales associate's contact information when visiting your favourite store abroad and making their acquaintance. Ask them for their contact details and see if they will be able to ship orders to you in Malta. This is what I did with my Dior Christmas orders since we cannot currently travel. I have the contact details of one of the Dior sales associates in Florence and I usually Whatsapp her what I would like to buy and we take it from there. The second option is to go through a company that sources the items for you. Locally, I know of FAB Malta who offer this service. Be mindful of any extra charges incurred when requesting sourcing services (this is totally normal). FAB Malta can also source hard-to-find items and designer ready-to-wear apart from shoes, bags, and accessories.

There are however some designers who find no objection in shipping to Malta, such as Saint Laurent (YSL), Burberry, Ralph & Russo, Aquazzurra, Gianvito Rossi, Jimmy Choo... and I have shopped from their websites directly on different occasions. I have never had any issues with orders being lost and postage is fully tracked. Thereby, I recommend you check out the shipping policy of the original designer's website first. Locally, we have Sarto and Lusso which stock some popular designer brands. However, even though their stock is extensive, they, of course, will not carry the full collections but they are worth a try.

My Wedding Shoes - Ralph & Russo Eden Heel Pumps
(photo by BOW Malta)

Gianvito Rossi Plexi pumps

If I cannot shop from the original designer's website, I usually make my purchases on MyTheresa, Farfetch, The Outnet, Net-a-Porter, Matches Fashion, or Luisa Via Roma. They all ship to Malta (more often than not, you have to pay for shipping) and offer reliable delivery services. Not to mention, discount codes and sales all throughout the year. In fact, unless the item you want is considered a classic (which practically never go on sale), you can bag yourself a bargain when shopping from one of these websites. They sometimes also have exclusive collections in collaboration with some designers which you will not find anywhere else. I usually buy my Self Portrait and Needle & Thread dresses (see pictures below) from MyTheresa, The Outnet, or Net-a-Porter and have never paid full price on any of them! With the latest Brexit developments, make sure you double-check the customs policy from UK designer retailers to avoid being met with an extortionate customs bill when your order is delivered. Harrods and Selfridges are also favourite designer retailers of mine, however, their delivery fees are quite pricey and to be honest, I don't know how Brexit will affect said fees.

Self Portrait and Needle & Thread can often be bought on sale

The popular Sicilia Outlet Village is also now offering online shopping services from your favourite brands. Thereby since we cannot currently travel, you can still enjoy your favourite brands at outlet prices. More information, including the stores' contact details, can be found here. 

If you can wait out a purchase and you would like to save some money, I would highly recommend you download the Shoptagr app which you can use both on your desktop PC and smartphone. You save any items you want from partnering websites (you can use it with all websites I mentioned above) and you can organize the items by category or whichever way you please. Shoptagr will then alert you when the item you want is back in stock, your size is available, and even when it goes on sale! I find Shoptagr is a great app to help you save money in the long run.

YSL is another designer brand that ships directly to Malta

Lastly, if you're not too keen on buying brand new, or you are after a rare or vintage piece, the pre-loved market is the way to go. However, bear in mind that certain brands and pieces sell for a higher price than if bought brand new. Thereby, as I always say, do your research well, especially since you are going to spend a lot of money on a single purchase. So, for those of you interested in checking out some pre-loved websites, Vestiare Collective, although I have never bought anything from them, is my favourite to browse vintage pieces. They authenticate all the items being sold so you are guaranteed an original. Farfetch also has a very good pre-loved section that's worth going through if you like to hunt down pieces for your collection.

This pair of Versace Virtus earrings were a gift from my husband which he bought off Farfetch. I love how they came with a sticker bearing the Spanish flag to signify where they were shipped from 😊

I hope the information in this post has proved to be useful to all of you who are interested in buying luxury goods. Do let me know in the comments if you would like more posts of the sorts or if you have any other topics you would like me to discuss!

More luxury-related content:

If you're in the market for your first designer bag, read this post here

If you're building your luxury collection, then this post is for you!

Livia - No More Period Pains?

We all know the monthly period drill - pimples, mood swings, aches, and pains. I don't know about you but I dread mother nature's monthly gift because more often than not, I'm in pain for 3 days preceding the start of my period, and that goes on up to my third day of actual menstruation. Basically, I cannot function properly for a whole week.

This month, I was introduced to Livia, a small, compact device that promises to switch off menstrual pain. I am usually quite tolerant to pain and go most cycles without any pain medication but sometimes it gets too much and thus, I agreed to try the Livia device and see if it lives up to its promise. When I asked you for questions about the device on my Instagram stories, the majority of you asked if Livia actually works, so, I compiled all the information you need to know before purchasing the device, in this post.

First things first, let's have a look at what comes in the package. You get:

• Livia device covered in a  sleek, colourful silicone skin (mine is lilac)
• a plastic case to store the device in between uses
• a set of 2 electrodes and gel pads adhered to them (sealed in a pack before first opening)
• a USB cable to charge the device 
• 2 extra sets of gel pads
• user manual with instructions and more in-depth information

Now to the works. The technology behind Livia employs the principle of 'gate-control theory' initially proposed by Ronald Melzack (psychologist) and Patrick Wall (neuroscientist) in 1956. This theory states that the central nervous system cannot handle more than one type of signal from the same location in the body at the same time. In fact, through gentle electrical pulses, Livia does just that. Livia is classified as a TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator) device and works through electrotherapy. The electrical signals are continuous and mild to block pain signals from being transmitted to the brain, hence it feels as if your brain is ignoring the menstrual pains.

Before the first use, Livia needs to be charged at least 12 hours, and you can charge it even with your laptop or computer or a power bank via the USB cord supplied with it, making it ideal to carry around even at work for example. The only issue I have with carrying it around is that the cord and electrodes do not fit in the case that comes with the device, so I prefer carrying everything in a small pouch instead.

The LED lights on Livia flash slowly up and down while the device is charging and stop flashing once the battery is fully charged
The same LEDs flash when regulating the pulses' intensity with the + & - buttons

Livia is very simple to use, you just have to connect the electrodes (with gel pads) to the charged device, apply them to your tummy or back, switch on and adjust the pulse intensity to your liking by pressing the + or - buttons. It is recommended that the gel pads be replaced every month to ensure maximum efficacy of the device (when you first get it, you have 3 sets of gel pads, hence, 3 months' worth). Always make sure to cover the gel pads with the protective plastic when not in use. 

Every time you switch on Livia, you will have to re-adjust this setting as it goes back to its default lowest setting when switching off. For me, I find it works best on a medium setting. Being a rather discreet device, I wore Livia around the house and even while out on errands on the days when I couldn't take the pain of menstrual cramps and I'm happy to say that yes, they didn't bother me while wearing the device and I'm glad a solution other than painkillers exists for period pains. So in conclusion, yes, Livia does work! You can use Livia for as long as you like but it is recommended that you do not exceed 10 hours with the electrodes attached to your skin.

Lastly, some very important contraindications. Livia should be used ONLY by women aged 16 years and above who are NOT pregnant. Livia should not be used by cardiac patients with cardiac pacemakers, implanted defibrillators, or other implanted metallic or electronic devices. Such use could cause electric shock, burns, electrical interference, or death.

Livia can be bought from www.medimexltd.com/livia with free delivery and a 120-day money-back guarantee if you're not happy with the device (damages made by customer excluded). You can't really beat that, can you?

Thank you Medimex for introducing me to Livia and allowing me not to dread period days as much as before!

Livia device was supplied as a PR product. All opinions are honest and reflect my own experience.

Livia is CE & FDA approved as a Class II medical device.