Sustainability with Izzy Manuel
I interviewed Izzy Manuel, a sustainable social media consultant and influencer! Izzy is definitely an inspiration for me, from how she approaches fashion to being vocal about sustainability and ethicality of the fashion industry.
If you’re not following her on Instagram already, you really should. Not only her photos are always styled so well it feels like they came straight from fashion magazines, but you will always learn something new about sustainability.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
Hi! My name is Izzy, I am a sustainable social media consultant and influencer, but I come from a Chemistry background! So not the usual route when it comes to fashion ahha!
What made you decide to switch to sustainable fashion?
I actually started my sustainable fashion journey when I was at university, I was very much caught up in the idea of having new outfits all the time and I felt ashamed for not having new clothes all the time. So I started buying from charity shops and second hand and I haven't looked back since!
Any advice on how to build a sustainable wardrobe?
Building a sustainable wardrobe has si many aspects to it! All I can say is that to build a sustainable wardrobe make sure to not have any duplicates, you only need one of each item, think about do you really need that new item and will you actually wear it? And finally, will you wear that item at least 30 times, if it is a no, then it's not worth buying it.
How are you being sustainable in other aspects of your life?
This is something I really wanted to work on more this year! I have really worked hard on reducing my plastic consumption, especially within my bathroom, so I now use shampoo and conditioner bars, body butter bars, etc. I have also looked into the banks I bank with as there are SO many banks greenwashing , saying they won't invest in fossil fuels anymore when they still do! Finally, I am also looking at how I consume tech, and if and when I do buy "new" tech, to buy refurbished tech and to make sure my old tech is recycled instead of going to landfill!
Any blog/instagram accounts recommendations to follow for advice on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle?
There are so many!! @venetialamanna and @fash_rev are both incredible for learning more about sustainable and ethical fashion. I adore @mikaelaloach for climate news outside of sustainable and ethical fashion and she is also an amazing climate activist, I also love @atmos, they're an amazing environmental magazine that focuses on the climate as well as culture and it is just amazing!
Your favourite second hand purchase.
Everything to do with my current home! When I moved out of home, I really wanted to buy as much as I could second hand, and I managed to furnish my phone using basically facebook marketplace, and it was the best decision I ever made. So much cheaper and of course sustainable!
How do you feel about trends in sustainable fashion?
This is such a tricky one, I must admit, I LOVE the idea of trends and experimenting with new styles and going out of my comfort zone, however, trends are also extremely detrimental for the planet. £2.7 billion are spent on outfits that are only worn once in the UK and I think trends are at the forefront of this! I always think to myself, even though this is a trend, will I still wear it when the trend dies?
And for the end, would you share with us your top 3 sustainable fashion tips?
My top 3 sustainable fashion tips are...
1) ask yourself do you really need it or want it before buying something
2) be aware of greenwashing! If a brand are claiming to be ethical and sustainable, check if they have any proof of that and if they can back up their claims, Good on You is an amazing app and website that allows you to check how sustainable and ethical a brand is and also provides alternatives!
3) also buy second hand first if you can, however, don't put yourself down if you buy new from a sustainable and ethical brand. My view is that the industry will only be truly sustainable and ethical if we as consumers start investing in the industry which will allow sustainable technology to be more achievable for brands
