1 | Introducing The Shop Ethical Instead Challenge | #ShopEthicalInstead
2 | MEET THE CHANGE MAKER
As part of #ShopEthicalInstead I’m here to introduce myself I’m Zara-Mia the founder of ZARAMIA AVA. Ethical Menswear & Womenswear Contemporary Fashion Designer!
I started the business as I wanted to change the idea of fast fashion and bring back quality, timeless clothing, that is versatile and diverse for all to wear. I aspire to design sustainable luxury clothing that is cruelty free & vegan, produced with zero waste.
I am supposed to explain why I am a change maker, but to be honest it would not possible for me to be the change maker without all of you, as it is you the customers who make the choice and change the world a little piece at a time by what you support and buy, we just raise awareness and guide you to make that step.
3 | MY BIG WHY | #ShopEthicalInstead
The main reason we chose to be an Ethical Fashion business is because we wanted to make a positive impact for people and the environment, throughout the supply chain, to raise awareness and guide consumers on how they are making difference with their choices.
Our ethical journey began after watching the True Cost documentary it made us realise that we can make a difference, being a fashion brand. We can make changes for the better. Showing consumers that you can have luxury contemporary fashion, that is also ethically made and sustainably produced.
The reason we are fully vegan fashion business is that we are against animal cruelty, animals should not be harmed for fashion. We do not use any animal bi products and are cruelty free, we are vegan throughout the business we do not want to add to the animal suffering around the world. With some of our products we donate a percentage to animal charities. Being a vegan fashion business has its own benefits as it also lowers our carbon footprint and is better for the environment.
Why we do what we do is because we care about people animals and the environment!
4 | HOW IT’S MADE | #ShopEthicalInstead
It starts with inspiration and research which leads to sketching ideas & designing full collections, we also design whilst pattern cutting as well to eliminate waste.
Sourcing is an integral part of our brand making sure everything is ethical, sustainable, vegan and cruelty free.
With our zero waste section we design and make garments from our fabric scrap, size depending, so we end up with limited one off items.
We draft our own block patterns, this gives us more opportunities to make our desired fit.
We then use our own drafted blocks to make a master pattern, this is used to apply our whole design onto. We then draft separate patterns from the master pattern including the seam allowances and cut them out.
The next stage is making a toile we iron the fabric, place the pattern pieces on to eliminate the fabric waste then cut the fabric pieces out.
We then start pinning, and sewing the fabric, on either our industrial sewing machine or industrial overlocker, depending on if we are using stretch fabrics. We test the toile and see if we we need to make any adjustments to the pattern pieces to make it a better fit.
Then it’s time to iron and cut it out of the chosen fabric we mainly use natural organic fabrics or end of rolls which is deadstock from fabric manufacturers. We add the logo and care labels. If the garment is lined we iron all the seams flat, trim the excess seam allowance, pin and sew the lining to the outer fabric, we leave a gap to then bag out and turn the garment the right way round. To finish off we trim the threads, hand stitch the gap, then press all the seams and iron.
Finally we have our finished handmade Ethical, sustainably produced luxury garment.
All our main collections are made to order and can be personalised to the consumer, as we are a slow fashion brand we don’t over produce stock.
5 | BUY LESS CHOOSE WELL
We are against fast fashion. Our garments are designed to be timeless, most of them are lined to increase durability. They are season-less made to be worn any time of year, produced with quality, and made to last. Versatility is key when designing and producing our products; one garment can be worn in a variety of ways enabling a capsule collection.
6 | MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We use ethically made sustainable natural fabrics as we want to make a difference in the fashion industry, for our garments to have a positive impact, we aspire to have a supply chain that Is transparent and as ethical as possible.
Organic fabrics have no chemicals used to produce them. Safer for the workers, and safer for the consumers. These are biodegradable so will leave no waste. We state all fabric used in the description of our products, even down to our organic cotton threads.
We at ZARAMIA AVA are always learning and improving, we want to build awareness of sustainability! Working together to make a better world.
7 | GIVE BACK
Giving back is something that is incredibly important to us. On some of our products we give back to animal charities, by donating a percentage of the profits to help their organisations, rescue or help animals.
Our GEOMETRIC RABBIT BAG | Natural Organic Cotton is one of our products that benefits locally charities.
8 | MERRY & BRIGHT #ShopEthicalInstead
Spend time with family this holiday!
Candles always make us feel festive, for a cosy night in!!
Have a merry & bright season!
9 | TRADITION | #ShopEthicalInstead
Where we can we produce or outsource handmade products using traditional skills, we don't want craftsmanship to be a dying art form. Let's keep these beautiful skills
10 | GOOD GIFTS | #ShopEthicalInstead
Give thoughtful gifts such as:
- Your time
- Make memories
- Give experiences
- Give back
- Give useful functional gifts
- Handmade gifts
- Shop ethically
- Shop second hand or vintage
- Shop locally with small businesses
11 | ALL THAT GLISTENS
Nature is beautiful we need to protect it!
12 | WRAPPED IN LOVE #ShopEthicalInstead
We wrap our personal gifts in fabric offcuts. We have used binding off cuts as ribbon and attached vintage buttons for decorations.
Why not try ethical wrapping this year, avoid plastic where you can, try these ideas:
- Furoshiki traditional Japanese tradition of fabric wrapped and knotted together, you could use scarves, fabric off cuts or second hand material
- Brown paper you can hand decorate the paper, print, draw or write on it, use newspaper, packaging magazines
- Attach them together with washi tape recycled tape or brown paper tape which can be recycled, use twine, or string
- Decorate with recycled objects or found natural object like acorns, twigs, berries
13 | ETHICALLY MADE | #ShopEthicallyInsead
Our garments are handmade in the UK. We don't agree with slave labour or children making your clothing. We only use ethical factories, businesses and freelancers.
15 | CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART | #ShopEthicallyInstead
We support acts of kindness such as
- Donate to a food bank
- Provide clothing to the homeless
- Spend time with elderly neighbours
- Pick up litter
- Volunteer at Animal shelter
- Donate treats blankets and toys to an animal shelter
- Walk a neighbours dog
16 | GIVE GREEN GIFTS #ShopEthicalInstead
Give green gifts, that don’t cost the Earth!
17 | LOW IMPACT LIVING | #ShopEthicalInstead
Our garments are all very versatile they can be used for interchangeable pieces in a capsule collection. Being part of the ZARAMIA AVA brand guides you to help build a better world, avoiding mass production.
Aim to have a minimalist wardrobe, a capsule collection of key versatile pieces. Invest in durable quality pieces that will last and carry you through the seasons.
18 | PASS ON PLASTIC | #ShopEthicalInstead
Limit your plastic usage, use reusable bags instead, this is our Furoshiki style bag made out of our zero waste fabric off cuts.
What can we do to help:
| Refuse single use plastics
| Use reusable items such as water bottles, coffee cups, shopping bags, metal straws
| Shop organic natural materials avoid plastic fabrics
| If washing synthetic clothing put them in a net bag to catch the Micro fibres
| Wash clothing less, do spot cleaning instead of washing the whole garment and hang them out to dry
| Raise awareness
| Help with beach clean ups, local plastic clean ups
| Read labels and recycle
| Buy items in bulk in glass jars and avoid items wrapped in plastic
| Find out about your local recycling see what items you can recycle at home and which you can take to a recycling center.
We can all do more to save this planet. Our home.
19 | MORE MEANING | #ShopEthicalInstead
At ZARAMIA AVA we are more then just a fashion brand it’s a way of life!
Vegan, Slow Fashion, Zero Waste, Plastic Free, Minimalist, Cruelty after, Ethical, Sustainable
20 | HANDMADE | #ShopEthicalInstead
We value our products therefore most of our garments are made to order.
21 | SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES |
#ShopEthicalInstead
One of our ZARAMIA AVA stalls!
Show your support for small businesses, by shopping local, supporting independents. Give them moral support and encourage their creativity.
22 | LESS WASTE | #ShopEthicalInstead
Irish Linen Fabric!
At ZARAMIA AVA any fabric waste gets recycled and reused. We are zero waste from the very start to end product. Designing is done with zero waste in mind; pattern cutting and fabric cutting is done to eliminate the amount of waste.
23 | CONSCIOUS CONSUMERS | #ShopEthicalInstead
Sustainable luxury produced with zero waste, made for the fashion conscious with a conscience!
24 | EXPERIENCES NOT THINGS | #ShopEthicalInstead
We at ZARAMIA AVA are doing what we love. Follow your passion enjoy what you do, make memories
25 | ECO FRIENDLY | #ShopEthicalInstead
We mainly use natural fabrics, like this eco friendly sustainable Irish linen fabric.
26 | MINDFUL | #ShopEthicalInstead
We have just started our vitality for the mind venture, this section will raise awareness of mental health conditions, it will focus on positive self help lifestyle tips and guides, which will include mindfulness, exercises and meditation all linking into our sustainable fashion brand, there will be downloadable content for all to use as needed.
Here are some simple tips to boost these chemicals for overall well-being:
| Lower stress levels with self care
| Go for a walk outside
| Get consistent good sleep
| Eat well, a variety of foods with lots of vitamins, nutrients and protein
| Listen to music
| Regular exercise
| Spend some time in the sun
| Get a massage
| Learn to meditate
| Giving back, help others
27 | FAVOURITE ETHICAL FIND | #ShopEthicalInstead
Our favourite ethical find is the @ecosia website, they plant trees where needed most to combat climate change, by using their search engine to browse the web. They even tell you how many trees you have helped plant 🌱
28 | BLACK FRIDAY | #ShopEthicalInstead
We don’t take part in mass marketing campaigns like Black Friday or Cyber Monday or as it encourages over consumerism and excess waste. Purchasing items you don’t need at the cost of people and the planet is not ethical!
Let’s all wish for a more a sustainable future less consumerism and more thoughtful purchases.
29 | SHOP ETHICAL INSTEAD | #ShopEthicalinstead
