Jane Goodall once said,”What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make .”

In my journey of slow and sustainable fashion, one thing that I have surely learnt is, to ask questions to myself, before buying even a single piece of garment. To be a conscious consumer isn’t easy, especially if, once, you have been an ardent fast fashion follower (confession of a shopaholic)! Being a content creator, and following slow fashion goes hand in hand, beautifully when you choose creativity over anything! I chose to re-use, re-style, up-cycle and repeat outfits! All of you who are already following my slow fashion journey on Instagram, are quite aware of it for sure.  Today I would like to draw your attention on accessories as a tool to create variation in looks with the same piece of outfit AND, the few sustainable brands. I love the way each of these brands are expressing their creative and innovative designs of accessories.

Michael Kors said,” I’ve always thought accessories as the exclamation point of a woman’s outfit.”

Accessories and the garment you choose to wear are equally important, in the sense, if working in harmony and synergy, the final look that is created is striking and appealing. In addition to that, I also feel that accessories have the power to create a completely different version of a garment.

What are the key accessories that can help create variation in styling a piece of outfit, so that we can repeat our outfits and still look stylish?

An anonymous definition of fashion accessory is,’ items used to complete an outfit and chosen to specifically complement the wearer’s look’.  Jewelry, Scarves, Gloves, Handbags, Belts, Sunglasses, Hat, Watch, Umbrella are few of the popular accessories that are used to style a look. 

Top sustainable brands for fashion accessories you can choose from:

  1. ADAGIO

The element of customization in the form of hand-painted and handmade crafts, is what reallt drew my attention to, when I talk about Adagio! Amazing collection of fashion accessories, ear danglers, neck-pieces, handbags, can be seen in their Instagram handle here. A wide range of denim jackets with hand painted motik of women empowerment is a visual treat! You are sure to love the fact that the brand believes in sustainability!

Handmade Ear Rings by Adagio
Photo: @adagiobymy

 

2. SORAYA

Ear rings, finger rings, neck pieces and bracelets which are not only hand crafted by local artisans from Jaipur in India. I am completely in love with the detail that has gone to each and every design. You see geometric art, bohemian motif and the collection is so contemporary along with showcasing the indigenous heritage. A sustainable brand, Soraya has a brilliant collection to offer to any fashion accessory enthusiast. To check their amazing collection, click HERE. To follow their Instagram handle, click HERE

jewelry by Soraya
Photo: @sorayajaipur

3. RUNWAY NAGALAND

An all-woman artisan that makes hand crafted fashion jewelry and handloom accessories. The brilliant collection that Runway Nagaland offers to slow and sustainability fashion lovers, promotes, preservation of indigenious art technique from Nagaland in India. Click HERE to view and purchase from their gallery of creative fashion accessories. Their Instagram handle is right here.

jewelry by Runway nagaland
Photo: @runway_nagaland

4. PAULAMI

If you like accessories which are completely out of the box, unconventional and adds a contemporary element to your style quotient, Paulami is the answer. Handcrafted jewelries and accessories, using textiles. Most of the pieces are crafted, using fabrics fusioned with other indigenous handcraft techniques. Sustainability is a beautiful journey and the collection from the gallery of @by_paulami is going to make styling so much fun! I love the bright colours used, as you know my love for colours and my belief that colours have soul, the beautiful neck pieces are sure to brighten up your dull days! Check their gallery right HERE

Jewelry by Paulami
Photo: @by_paulami

5. IRIDA

ReCycling and UpCycling is a creative design solution and an efficient way to slowing down fashion. But did you have think of upcycling leather pieces as beautiful collection of jewelries? Well, Irida’s handicrafted jewelry is made from colourful and exciting shades of leather, as they aspire to contribute to our sustainable fashion journey with their stunning ‘environmentally friendly neckpieces, brooch, hairpins, earrings! Just thought of letting you know a funfact about Irida that all the leather pieces used in making the super-contemporary collection that they have for us, are made of 100% scraps collected from Dharavi, Mumbai. the aesthetics of the product is added by the charm of customization. Embarking their footprint in the world of sustainable fashion, you can shop from their collection by clicking the link HERE

Jewelry by Irida
Photo: @irida.bling

Your choice of fashion and the way you style it, is an extremely powerful tool to articulate. As Rachel Zoe had once said, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.”! Our style has a functional role. Repeating, Recycling and Re-styling the same pieces of outfits which you already own, for ethical living and sustainability,  becomes so much fun, when your choice of accessories are also part of the footprint you want to benchmark! AND, nothing like, wearing these beautiful pieces of fashion accessories, from brands which are not just practising eco-compatible materials but also, they are pure, soulful, indiginious brands. Lets give a shoutout to #Vocal For Local.

Stay Fashionable but responsible. 😉 

Until then, Obrigada Amigos!

Puja Mj

A corporate trainer by the day. A slow fashion campaigner, social media creator and a mindful lifestyle blogger by moonlight. Through her work in advocacy and environmentalism with non-profits like the Slow Fashion Movement and Remake, she has lead multiple campaigns in the landscape of sustainable and ethical fashion, establishing a robust outreach program for the global slow fashion community.