This week’s number one film is Sex and the City Movie. I’ve yet to see it (due to tickets being sold out) but was a massive fan of the series. What’s Sex and the City got to do with ethical fashion I hear you ask? Well because of the release of the film there have been a lot of interesting blogs popping up in celebration of the movie. Most of them feature celebrity gossip and comments about the film but some are focussing on the fashion. For those of you not familiar with the series fashion is a HUGE part of it.
After much debate we have decided that Carrie would win the prize, out of the four girls, for being the most ethically minded shopper. Why? The reasons are as follows:
- For Carrie it’s not all about the labels, more about what looks good (in her opinion)
- She matches expensive shoes with dresses she buys from the flea market
- She ‘recycles’ pieces and puts them together with other bits
- She doesn’t throw out her shoes
Whilst we can’t be sure if the character Carrie is really concerned with environmental issues we like to think that she pays attention to ethical issues in the fashion world. Disagree? Let us know.
While we are on the subject of Sex and the City, one blog had a fabulous idea for a SATC party that involves swapping clothes. This is a great idea for a party on it’s own merit. Apparently everyone brings along an item/items of clothing, you pitch your item and then someone takes it away. Fab idea- especially if you have trendy friends. It’s also good for the environment as instead of the clothes being thrown out they are recycled. You can check out all the details by visiting the site at www.celebrations.com
Laura said,
June 3, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
I’ve just seen that Sarah Jessica Parker is upset because the dress she wore for her premiere was third hand. Possibly she doesn’t have that much in common with the character she plays!
Great blog!
Lori said,
June 3, 2008 @ 9:42 pm
I have not seen SATC – the movie or the series. I have made a conscious decision NOT to see either.
I see SATC as part of the problem. Women have been so brainwshed by marketing and Hollywood imagery that they will save for months (or put it on a credit card and pay it off) to have a certain “it” handbag. Worse, many who can never afford the $500+ price tag of a designer brand will buy a fake made in a sweatshop. Their desire to appear “successful” and “fashionable” is so great they don’t care if an eight year old was forced to work to make their “impossible to tell it’s not real” Prada/Vuitton/Dior bag. They HAVE to have it. It is crucial to their self worth as a person.
Not only are there human rights abuses involved, but also envronmental degradation. And now, even designers such as Vuitton, Dior, and others DO manufacture in China and other locales with little environmental and labor regulation. The book “Deluxe: How Luxury Lost its Lustre” by Dana Thomas, Newsweek’s Paris Fashion Editor is an excellent expose on the practices of high-end luxury brands.
It is also a travesty that women get their worth as a human from what kind of purse they carry. No, I will not go see SATC. I am sure the fashion is very beautiful to watch adn I do love beautiful clothing and shoes. But knowing the effect of such shows, I choose not to support them and the ideas they propagate.
Shauna Chapman said,
June 4, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
Carrie is only slightly Green. I give her points for at least wearing vintage clothing which is certainly a form of ‘Reusing’. But I think the Green-ness stops there.
If Carrie had stuck with Aidan, then I suspect she would have been a lot more greener because Aidan made furniture from reclaimed materials for a career. I could see Aidan actively thinking about the environmnet, recycling, riding a bike etc but Carrie is too commercial and cares only for one thing: looking good. I suspect she’s the type of girl who would see a documentary about sweat shops and switch the channel ASAP because it would make her feel bad, for about 20 seconds.
As someone who runs an ethical fashion label, I would be delighted if Hollywood rung me up for a wardrobe donation but I wouldn’t expect the ethical aspect to stick. I’d be worn today and torn tomorrow.
Ethical Shopper said,
June 9, 2008 @ 7:49 am
I have watched some episodes of SATC but not enough to know if Carrie is “really” an ethical shopper. I agree that Hollywood promotes consumerism at whatever the cost is socially or environmentally, however, times are changing. A number of the Hollywood celebrities are taking action and luxury brands are being forced into more ethical practices as they are subjected to media and consumer scrutiny. I love the idea of a clothes swap – there are a number of them here in Australia as well!
Lynne said,
July 10, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
I think I have seen Carrie wearing fur though – and I’m not sure that’s very ethical. Also, in the movie, she put a lot of her clothes into storage – it might have been better to recycle them on E-bay.