Our Blog | Love Linen The Label — Sustainable Fashion

Books about style, ethical fashion and building a better, simpler, more conscious wardrobe

“Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion” by Elizabeth L. Cline (Portfolio, 2013)           

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you want an in-depth analysis of how the fashion industry is impacting workers, the environment and the economy

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR  fast fashion addicts in need of a wake up call 

“Worn Stories” by Emily Spivack (Princeton Architectural Press, 2014)                                  

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF your closet is full of meaningful pieces that remind you of something or someone special

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR anyone who likes personal stories, short essays and autobiographies       

“No More Dirty Looks: The Truth about Your Beauty Products and the Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics” by Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt (Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2010)   

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you want to transition to a cleaner, safer and environmentally friendly beauty routine

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR health-conscious beauty lovers   

”The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organise and Simplify” by Francine Jay (Chronicle Books, 2016)                                                                   

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you want a straightforward, motivating guide to decluttering and simplifying

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR anyone that’s curious to find out what this “minimalism” thing is all about             

”Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster” by Dana Thomas (Penguin Books, 2008)           

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you’ve always wondered if luxury brands are worth the money

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR luxury fashion lovers and sceptics alike   

“Wear No Evil: How to Change the World with Your Wardrobe” by Greta Eagan (Running Press, 2014)                                                                                                                                                                                       

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you want practical tips on how to build a more ethical closet

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR eco fashion newbies     

“Decoding the New Consumer Mind: How and Why We Shop and Buy” by Kit Yarrow (Jossey-Bass, 2014)                                                           

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you want to improve your shopping habits and stop wasting money on impulse buys

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR people who love research almost as much as shopping       

“How To Get Dressed: A Costume Designers Secrets for Making Your Clothes Look, Fit and Feel Amazing” by Alison Freer (Ten Speed Press, 2015)             

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you want your outfits to look as good as they do in magazines

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR literally anyone who cares about their clothes   

“The Curated Closet: A Simple System to Discovering Your Personal Style and Building Your Dream Wardrobe” by Anuschka Rees (Ten Speed Press, 2016)                                                                                                     

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you want a step-by-step guide to building your dream wardrobe

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR anyone who complains about having a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear       

“Women in Clothes” by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits and Leanne Shapton (Blue Rider Press, 2014)   

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you consider your style to be a reflection of your life and personality

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR style-conscious deep thinkers   

”Spark Joy: An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying” by Marie Kondo (Vermillon, 2016)                                                                                                                                                                                               

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you can’t get enough of Marie Kondo’s genius or need some extra tidying motivation

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR people who have never heard of Marie Kondo (the rest probably already owns this book or its predecessor)       

”You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You” by Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner (Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2012)           

YOU'LL LOVE THIS IF you want to know what your clothes say about you

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR anyone who enjoys books with a psychological slant

*Credit List by Author of The Curated Closet - Anuschka Rees

1. Wear What You Love Everyday

Everyday is a special occasion to be alive. Embrace the moment, embrace now and dress your best everyday, embrace your style no matter what future goals or aspirations you may have. Don't wait for that special moment - that special moment is and always will be - NOW

2. Embrace Your Unique Body

Regardless of what body shape or type you are, you are beautiful and you should embrace the uniqueness which is you. Don't let your insecurities or hang-ups get in the way of embracing your personal style. 

3. Don't Get Sucked Into A Rule Book

There are so many opinions of what looks good and what body shape and so on. At the end of the day it is good to stay informed but also your opinion and you feeling good is what matters most. Regardless of your age, body type and shape, don't let this get in the way of your personal style and wearing what you love.

4. Detox Your Wardrobe

Do not wear clothes that make you feel bad. Have a clear out if you need, and get rid of any clothes you do not feel amazing in, don't fit you, or, you have never worn. Donate or sell are good ways to sustainably clear out.

5. Quality over Quantity

Studies show most people wear only 35% of their wardrobe. You don't actually need many clothes! Curate a capsule wardrobe of your signature style. This will make your personal style stronger and you will feel more confident only wearing what you love. Quality clothing also stands out in a crowd of fast fashion which makes up most clothing in the world. Stand out and support values which resonate with you. We support local, ethically and sustainably made and of course quality natural fibers.

A Fashion Revolution - A Better 2020

So I Went To (Fast Fashion Shop) and bought 10 Dresses - This is what I found 

(actually didn't but you get the gist)

1. I didn't really love ANY of them but they were cheap
2. I know I'll throw them out in 12 months (if they don't fall apart first)...more landfill
3. I really don't know what they are made from - poly... oh yeah isn't that plastic and microfibers choking our planet?
4. I didn't check to see - ah Made In China under slave labour and a regime that does not support any life - including human life..
5. One has a tag 'Ethically Made in Bali' - mmm why not Australia - ah fair wages... fair in Bali... do they have a fair work?
6. The person that made it worked over 12 hours per day and only got paid less than 40c PER DAY - don't know how they are surviving
7. The fabric was poor quality and cost less than $4 per meter - the processes of producing this cheap fabric are currently polluting the planet and stripping it of natural resources
8. I wonder how long it would take me to sew a dress - I wonder how much I'd like to be paid?
9. How long would I like a dress I really really loved to last? Could I make it last? Would I wear it more than once?

Lets #DoBetter - consider  #WhoMadeYourClothes - what your clothes were made from and how you'd like to WEAR YOUR VALUES 

Simple changes we can take to #DoBetter

- Shop Local - handmade and made with love is best :)

- Shop Made in Australia - for Australians haha, fun aside we need to make our country great again an now is an excellent reminder that we need to be self reliant, it's better for us, our planet and economy  

- Start a Vege Garden - start small and grow - fresh herbs are so so good for you!

- Connect with your community - volunteer, join a local sports club, you will receive the same and more of what you give out 

- Nurture your body and mind - so important, you are your greatest asset, and you are the only one who can take care of you, if you are a giver, to fully give as much as you want you have to give to yourself first - "nobody can pour from an empty vessel" 

- Spend more time in nature - time in nature is beneficial to your health and wellness for so many reasons, it helps keep you connected and grounded and is so good for the heart and soul 

- Re-duce Re-use Re-cycle - just that!

- Eat less meat - there is so much evidence out there that we consume way too much meat than we need and it has horrific effects on the planet, every little bit counts to reduce this impact

- Reduce use of plastic - plastic is no longer fantastic - choose carefully there are many amazing alternatives out there

- Minimalise your life so you can spend time doing what makes you happy - now more than ever we are being reminded what really matters - make these things your new 'forever' priority list - there is something beautiful about a happy simple life don't you think?

Simple yes but the best things in life are x 

We Just Need to Stop - Consider WHO Made My Clothes

This is a great short video expressing some of my own sentiments regarding fast fashion, based in the US yes but on point!

It is just ridiculous that in only the last 10 - 20 years the production of clothing has increase so much to be at the stage of $10 disposable items in the name of 'trends'. We need to be smarter and we need to consider the real cost behind the price tag.

What A Cheap Price Tag Actually Says:

• I was made by someone under slave labour (majority who are woman)
• I was made in poor, unsafe and unfair working conditions
• I was made using poor materials
• I will fall apart within months and add to landfill
• I caused more pollution and negative earth impact 
• I was not made out of love or care for the earth or any human on it

No More Made in China - No More Mass Produced Crap 

These current times are a reminder to the world that it is unsustainable to rely on one power house to essentially control the world.

We know that this is driven purely and simply by price. To give the consumer cheaper options means mass production using lesser materials and slave labour (often illegal) conditions to drive the end price to the consumer down.

This is a wake up call - we can do better and we MUST - for a better future we need to make better choices - this starts NOW - what will you do better?

Linen keeping you Green - How is Linen Made?

From plant to clothing - the use of the flax plant (linum) dates back over 35,000 years, linen being the oldest natural fiber still loved and used today 

Our logo has been created with our simplistic and earth friendly core values in mind 

The motif is based on the flax flower in bud form, a symbol of growth, time and care taken in the process of producing linen fabric and our linen clothing 

As linen is typically grown in the cooler countries of the world, the fibers that come from the flax plat are strong but the process of turning them into linen takes time 

This demonstrates the enduring popularity of linen. Cotton and other synthetic materials are cheaper and easier to make, but people still choose the quality that is only found in linen 

All of our Linen is of the highest quality sourced from Europe, most of this linen is from Belgium   

Reasons To Fall In Love With The Worlds Best Natural Fiber

We seem to be on trend as the world catches on - again to how good quality linen just is

1. The process to produce linen is earth friendly and natural, minimal to no water or pesticides is needed to harvest and minimal chemicals to extract the linen fibers from the flax plant is needed
2. Linen is arguably the most sustainable natural fiber in this way, being made from a plant also makes it eco-friendly and 100% biodegradable 
3. Linen cloth has a very long life, linen is well known to be more than 3 times stronger than cotton, it is also a more structurally sound fiber which means it does not loose shape and is more resistant to abrasions 
4. Linen gets better with every wash, unlike most other fibers which deteriorate linen remains strong and gets softer and silkier with time
5. Linen is known to be the go to summer material, but this works both ways as it is a natural insulator which means due to the natural ability of its fibers, linen keeps you cool when its hot and warm when its cold, it is one of, or if not the best natural fiber to regulate your natural body temperature 
6. Wearing linen makes you stand out in the crowd, linen lovers are known to appreciate a more natural and conscious way of life and well as appreciating a healthier way of living
7. Linen is easy to wear for all occasions, it is not hard to let linen take over your wardrobe, an investment worth savoring for many years to come  

The Lifetime of a Design

At Love Linen we do everything with love and much time, energy and care goes into everything we do. 

We are only small and we only make a few. We are accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia and we are proudly Australian made, owned and operated. 

Each design we hand make in our sewing studio in Broome before is goes to our digital pattern makers. This process alone can take months! Our amazing manufacturer specialises in short runs which means we only produce around 10 - 20 of each design in a carefully chosen linen fabric. 

Quality over quantity is what we are passionate about. We also love producing linen clothing of true style and classic design that you wont see everywhere else. Our designs are unique and limited which make them extra special. 

Although we have many designs sketched - some on paper - many in the mind - we are only a small business and our aim is to grow sustain-ably with our beautiful linen lovers into the future. We wish we could give you it all at once but where is the fun in that! So much happens in the design stage and we even surprise ourselves sometimes! 

If you are reading this, thank you for being part of our journey. Your support and appreciation means the world to us X

Support Local, Support Your Community

There are so many great reasons for shopping local. Festive season sometimes takes a hold however, and massive name brands do take center stage with their massive advertising budgets and the little small businesses can get lost among all the noise. We ask you to look for them, there are so so so many amazing small businesses out there producing amazing products filled with love and supporting earth and world friendly values we all hope to aspire to. 

Gift giving over the silly season can get - well a little silly! How much do we really need? Here is a quick guide to help with a more mindful choice which also supports your local community.

Consumable Products 

Handmade soap, perfume, handmade local foods, local honey, local produce, candles, incense, natural deodorant, skin care and hair care products - products you know will be used or consumed and not wasted - choose locally made, naturally made products  

Reduce Plastic 

Kids toys, clothing, plastic things which have little or no use. Shop for a non-plastic option or a cause contributing to earth friendly sustainable, re-use or re-cycle values. Shopping local makes this choice easy, there are many hand-crafters and local artisans and artists around, plus you a giving a unique gift to both the small business you are supporting and the receiver

Give An Experience 

Struggling to find the perfect gift for that someone who has everything or is difficult to buy for? An experience like a massage (or any self pamper), wine tour, hot air balloon float, couple photo shoot, or something simply that you know they will enjoy will always be well received. Choose a local service or company

Make Something From You 

Hand-make something yourself. Whether it's baking, painting, making jewelry, macrame, renewing something you have as a gift - if you are inclined this is something truly unique you can give as a gift from you. Small items are usually best and remember to shop local for your supplies 

Support a Local Cause

Supporting a local cause always feels good. If you have one you are passionate about, let everyone know instead of gifts, small donations towards this cause is how you are giving this year. Everyone can feel involved and purposeful with their giving with you 

Don't Sweat the Gift Giving

The most important gift you can give anyone is your own happiness and that you share your light with them by giving them your time. Gifts and the pressure of buying for no other reason than an expectation is both stressful and unnecessary. If this is you, explain this to your inner circle, if you need to take a break this year (or any year) know that - this is OK