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Zara The Monster Feeds Our Consumption Hunger
Zara The Monster
I’m reposting some facts and numbers on one of the favourite brands of many style bloggers, Zara.
I have updated the numbers since this was first published on my blog in 2013. I’ve been writing about fast fashion and sustainability for over six years.
Here are some interesting numbers to ponder about Zara, the largest clothing manufacturer in the world based out of Spain.
It opened in 1963 under the name Zorba was later changed to Zara due to a conflict with a bar in the same town with the same name.
They produce 948 million garments per year. (2015)
They have 7,474 stores worldwide (2017).
Net sales of 25.34 billion Euros (2017).
171,839 employees (2017)
Profits for 2017 of 3.16 billion euros.
Zara’s giant warehouse, at five million square feet, eclipses even the mega-warehouses Amazon uses to meet its major demands.
It takes a mere two weeks from inception of a garment to having it produced and in stores. 2 WEEKS!
They have a design team of 200 people each of which are tasked with creating five new designs per week.
Their focus is not on the details but the overall look of the garment.
They do not advertise since their products have such a short shelf life any ads they would run would irrelevant by the time the magazine or article is published.
Zara creates artificial scarcity by producing a limited amount of one design. This design is only kept in store for three weeks. This creates a sense of urgency with the consumer. The lesser the availability, the more desirable an object becomes.
Unsustainable? – you bet
Profitable? – absolutely
How do you turn around a speeding fashion consumption train like this?
People aren’t going to simply walk away from fast fashion. People didn’t walk away from fast food or fast technology.
What will it take to make the fashion market crash?
You.
Responsible consumption isn’t a choice, it’s a necessity.
Take control of your fast fashion addiction.
Reduce your consumption, avoid fast fashion, buy secondhand. These are small steps to improving the earth’s chances for survival.
Remember…we are not what we buy.
Linking up with Patti for Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday and Fancy Friday
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How To Avoid Dressing Like Everyone Else
How To Avoid Dressing Like Everyone Else
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be perceived as “one of the crowd”.
I was exhibiting at a jewellery show, ages ago, when someone came into my booth wearing the same H&M dress as myself. The horror! Ha!
I made light of it at the time but in all honesty I wasn’t super pleased with myself. My efforts to ensure that my outfits were creative, unique and made a lasting impression were a disgrace. How can you be considered an original artist when you look like everyone else? How does one avoid dressing like everyone else? Simple…wear vintage. No more H&M for me.
Let me show you how to avoid dressing like everyone else and save the earth one vintage piece at a time.
When you wear vintage you don’t have to look like this…
I did a whole post about styling a vintage dress in a more contemporary manner.
This outfit below is a perfect example of combining vintage pieces with contemporary ones creating a mix of textures, eras and colours.
Wool, flannel, suede and leather with a mix of jewel tones add visual depth and interest.
The purple leather skirt, plaid top and wool sweater vest are all classic 80’s vintage.
The velvet jacket was bought years ago and the boots are a more recent purchase. As much as I’d like to avoid purchasing footwear retail sometimes it just isn’t possible. With my fibromyalgia when my feet are unhappy my whole body suffers, sometimes for days afterwards. I’m on a personal quest to rid myself of impractical, uncomfortable footwear taking up valuable space in my shoe closet. It’s a long process but I’m determined.
This hat has been with me for over thirty years. I don’t remember its exact history but I believe it has been in my family for a long time.
Here I am wearing it when I lived in Scotland…and was a mere twenty-one years old.
Eek!
Look at that trim jaw line. Ah youth truly is wasted on the young.
My husband mentioned that I don’t even look like the same person. Thanks for that honey. #whattoexpectwhenyouvebeenmarried27years
Back to reality.
Vintage clothing will help you stand out from the crowd.
It doesn’t need to be from the mid-century either to qualify as vintage. Did I ever think I’d be wearing so many pieces from the 80s again?
Nope.
If it’s a fine piece of quality clothing it doesn’t matter what year it is from.
Here are some other vintage pieces I’ve worn or styled in the past that ensure I don’t blend into the crowd.
Do you wear vintage clothing? Why or why not?
Linking up with Patti for Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday and Fancy Friday
Please follow and like us:
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