Summer is starting to peak its head round the corner so I’m starting to think in a bit more colour. Here’s my wishlist from businessofprelovedfashion.com (Bopf) with the South of France in mind.
Bopf is a locally based second life luxury website run by Diza and Ify—a husband-and-wife team whose passion for fashion sees them ‘moving Birkins, Kellys, and everything in between.’
A beautiful Iftar at The Guild celebrated the launch of ‘The Celestial Collection’, a collaboration between locally based lab-grown diamond specialists Diamind and Jordanian/British Hannah Rasekh. “A tribute to the infinite beauty of the cosmos” Crafted using lab-grown diamonds set in 18-carat gold, the collection was inspired by the grandeur of the night sky, with designs that “reflect the shimmering constellations, radiant orbits, and the delicate interplay of light and space.”
Lab-grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds in every way, and according to Morgan Stanley, “lab-grown diamonds accounted for an estimated 14.3% of total diamond supply in 2024.”
With a continued projected increase in market share for 25-26, investing in lab-grown is also the most environmentally friendly way to increase your luxury accessories game, as it produces only a fraction of carbon emissions that mining natural diamonds does.
Lab-grown gems are also more affordable and becoming more popular – last year alone, according to the diamond industry analyst Edahn Golan, 45.3% of the diamond engagement rings sold in the US had lab-grown diamonds in.
Shoppers in Dubai are among the most connected in the world, with an internet penetration rate of 99 percent. But as much as online shopping offers us the at-home or on-the-go ease of perusing what’s in store, without having to actually be there, rates of return items are increasing.
Why is this a concern? Returns don’t just double the journey of our purchases; they exponentially increase their carbon footprint. Shipping and returns collectively account for 37% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the retail industry, and returns alone add an additional 30% to the carbon emissions of the initial delivery.
So whilst we have precious few opportunities to be self-indulgent nowadays, making the effort to go in-store and actually try on items we like is actually helping to make you a more sustainable shopper! Plus, there’s nothing that compares to the sensation of feeling the quality of clothing on a rail IRL.
Here’s where you can visit in Dubai for a second-hand luxury experience:
In a world of dupes, I much prefer shopping for original, vintage or a piece of heritage.
Second hand shopping needn’t be something to be ashamed of… it’s a crucial way to shop sustainably and often, the only way to find items that have long since sold out in store or been out of your reach financially too.
40% of all apparel items purchased in 2023 were secondhand. In 2023, the global market value of secondhand and resale apparel was estimated to be worth 197 billion U.S. dollars. 65% of the projected secondhand market growth through 2028.
I am offering a round up of the pieces that have caught my eye each week to help make it a little easier for you to get on board (if you haven’t already done so!)
Here’s what I’ve got in my wishlist from TheLuxuryCloset.com
This stunning Cartier silver 18K yellow gold Baignoire watch
Just my type… Chanel navy blue suede cap toe CC slingback pumps in a size 38
Ready to hit the J1 beach clubs with this one… Chanel navy blue CC beach towel
There’s a theme this week clearly… but can’t go wrong with these vintage looking Chanel gold earrings!
Officially on my wishlist after the London show… a Burberry wool coat!
Throwing this one in for fun…
Everyone needs a pair of plain white sneakers, might as well make them Prada
Getting ready for Vegas with these cute SL ankle boots!
From Sweden to the Middle East, Scarlett Poppies elegant resort wear offers a timeless array of beautiful dresses, kaftans and co-ords, heavenly adorned with artisanal detailing. The collections are designed by a mix of designers from different corners of the world via sustainable production methods.
Each collection will always showcase unique embroidery techniques and other handmade elements, ensuring that jobs are created in the garment industry, rather than removed by modern machines replacing skilled artisans. Using and promoting this range of unique embroidery traditions and skillsets, keeps them alive for the future.
Scarlett Poppies collections range from dresses, tops, tunics, jumpsuits to true beach cover-ups such as kimonos and kaftan dresses etc. “Comfort and easy breezy materials are key.” With fabrics originating from nature such as; cotton, linen, silk and viscose – the latter generated from cellulosic pulp.
Using up stock fabrics from one collection to another helps to minimise waste. Wherever possible they choose organic fabric options rather than conventional, as well as fabrics that are locally available and produced in the country where the collection is manufactured, to avoid increased carbon footprints within the supply chain.
One homegrown luxury brand I’ve fallen in love with is Lumena Maison. A beautifully elegant collection that features local artists and dedicates profit to local missions.
UAE based, it features limited quantities of the highest grade of silks, which is a renewable resource, can biodegrade, and uses less water, chemicals, and energy than many other fibers. Aiming to promote the rich heritage of the Arabian Gulf region to the rest of the world, this slow fashion brand only employs the talents of local GCC artists.
From kaftans to scarves, twilly’s, two-piece co-ords and dresses featuring prints like ‘Kite Beach’ below, they make for the perfect Dubai mementos and gifts.
Lumena Maison honors the traditional ways of silk production and supports the silk scarf-making artisans with fair pay. Manufacturing is often carbon footprint heavy but they use digital printing on their fabrics to ensure a more eco-friendly production line, and less waste of surplus inks and water.
Furthering their positive impact, Lumena Maison has partnered with the Al Jalila Foundation, committing 10% of all sales through the website to support cancer treatment for women and children.
Find them offline at Halm Collective, beach road.
According to Greenpeace International, the production of textiles is responsible for 20% of the world’s water pollution. Denim in particular is a seriously thirsty material to manufacture.
Denim is also white (as it’s cotton) so in order to get it that blue shade we all know and love, it is dyed using indigo (a natural substance), but indigo, whether natural or synthetic, does not dissolve in water to become liquid dye. Instead, it must be altered using carcinogenic and harsh chemicals that bind the dye to clothing fibers, the waste water of which is then washed into local rivers polluting their ecosystems.
There is a growing need to develop more environmentally friendly techniques. A few ways in which denim can become more sustainable includes; using organic cotton – which can be farmed with less water and fewer fertilizers and pesticides, reducing the environmental effect. Also developing a biosynthesis of indigo is an important route for reducing denim’s carbon footprint.
Citizens of Humanity and AGOLDE are working to source sustainable fabrics which will lower the impact on the environment, including;
Regenerative farming cultivates a healthy relationship between cotton plants, the soil, and the Earth’s atmosphere. These specific farming methods focus on soil health, carbon sequestration, and soil biodiversity. By implementing regenerative farming techniques, farmers are able to reduce carbon emissions and restore soil health, both of which allow for greater crop yields and lend a hand in the fight against climate change.
After a garment has reached the end of its lifecycle, the material can be recycled. Material recycling is a multi-step process where used garments are sorted by material, shredded into smaller pieces, and cleaned. Now clean, the fibers are re-spun into a new blended recycled cotton yarn that will be used for the creation of new fabrics. This reduces the carbon footprint accrued by farming new cotton.
Currently, 99% of all colors rely on fossil resources. The textile manufacturing industry, one of the largest consumers of color, uses 2 million tons of dyes annually. KITOTEX® and INDIGO JUICE® technologies reduce the amount of water, chemicals, and energy in the production of yarns. Together they save 15% water, 33% chemicals, and 25% energy compared to conventional dyeing processes. Citizens of Humanity Group now integrates Eco-Indigo into its production processes. Eco-Indigo is an innovative bio indigo dye created by Pili, a French biochemicals company.
Istituto Marangoni alum and ex-Roberto Cavalli assistant accessories designer, Shewak made his London Fashion Week, 2022 debut with his now infamous double heeled stilettos. As seen on ‘Dubai Bling’, the designer ensures that his unique creations are in fact planet forward in construction.
To help ensure Shewak offers a sustainably minded product, they reduce leather wastage by using innovative cutting techniques, employ biodegradable insoles, save 70% of the water used in heel painting with PVD sputtering instead of galvanic processes, and use metal-free linings. In production, Shewak collaborates only with government-certified factories that prioritize sustainability, maintain a cap on carbon footprints, and ensure a safe, hygienic environment for workers.
Thinking post-consumer too, they give back to the community by donating $5 from every product sold to Dubai Cares.
The beauty industry impacts us in a whole range of environmental ways, Saie is Sephora’s newest clean beauty brand to really focus on a sustainable future.
Current practices can deplete natural resources, damage oceans, hurt wildlife, and produce harmful microplastics. One of the biggest challenges the beauty world faces is post-consumer packaging waste.
But what’s the answer?
Well one way is using more sustainable packaging, which is typically made from materials that are either biodegradable or recyclable. This includes materials like glass, paper, cardboard, metal, and certain types of plastic, like bio-based or plant-based plastics.
Saie, Sephora’s newest clean beauty brand, focuses not only on clean, good-for-you ingredients, but has also established their own ‘Saie Climate Initiative’ to take direct action to combat climate change.
“As a lifelong lover of Mother Nature, I believe it is our duty to be responsible for the impact we at Saie make on the planet. This unprecedented commitment is our way of taking action, because action is the only way to enact change. I know this is just the beginning, and I couldn’t be more excited to start this journey.” – Laney, Founder & CEO of Saie.
Saie is also committed to cleaning our planet of plastic waste through a three-year partnership with rePurpose Global. This initiative targets the impact of global plastic waste on communities while also investing in women’s development and empowerment. To put it into perspective, their goal is to reduce existing plastic waste by the equivalent of 120 million single-use plastic bottles that eventually end up polluting our oceans.
As well as production changes, Saie are also working towards net zero across all supply chain emissions by 2039 with the following:
Shipping Boxes
Kraft mailers are biodegradable and 100% recyclable.
Cartons
Their product cartons are 100% Recycled FSC-certified paper made in a carbon-neutral facility.
Cotton Balls
Their cushy, comfy cotton balls aren’t just for removing makeup; they actually use them as padding for the inside of the packages.
Paper Tape
Saie use kraft paper tape to safely secure all of their products in transit. The glue on the tape is made of water-activated cornstarch.
The UN reports that women not only bear the brunt of climate change’s global impacts but are also key drivers of sustainable purchasing and community-wide transformation. That’s why Saie has formed an all-women board of cross-industry experts, with diverse perspectives and proven leadership to help them meet their goals.
Have you thought about your impact on our environment? Choosing sustainable swimwear is one way to be a more conscious consumer, it involves understanding where you spend your money and on what.
Sustainable swimwear fabrics are important because they help reduce the environmental footprint of the fashion industry. Sustainable materials and production processes use less water and energy, and by prioritizing durability and recyclability, the impact of swimwear on landfills and ocean pollution can be significantly diminished.
When you look at the labels in our swimwear, fabrics such as polyester and nylon are what you’ll likely find. But here’s what you can look for instead to help reduce your carbon footprint:
ECONYL: This Italian product is created from regenerated nylon collected from the landfills and oceans around the world. The primary nylon products collected which create ECONYL are things like used clothing, carpets, and nets from fishermen!
Vita PL: Made by the same people that create ECONYL. Vita PL is made of 100% recycled polyester from pre & post-consumer materials.
Repreve: This unique material is made from recycled plastic bottles and turns them into usable fibers. Used by some of the largest global brands that create fashion apparel, athletic wear, and swimwear, emitting fewer greenhouse gases during production and conserving less energy and water.
*All plastic-derived fabrics such as nylon and polyester shed dangerous microplastics into our oceans.
Here’s my run down of Dubai’s slow and sustainable swimwear brands for you to check out:
The brand works to cultivate community projects, working collaboratively with divers, shark conservationists and charities to clean up beaches, making oceans safer for marine biodiversity and shark populations.
They use premium recycled Italian fabrics for our swimwear, in collaboration with ECONYL®.
Making conscious and environmentally friendly choices accessible to everyone.
Their swimwear is made and lined with 78% Recycled Polyamide and 22% LycraXtra Life, using Econyl Recycled Vita fabric.
Hunza G’s one size stance is not only an effort to remain an inclusive brand, but also reduces the risk of over-purchased sizing on a commercial level.
Each item is ethically made, under safe labor conditions with reclaimed Italian fabrics and small scale production.
Based in the UAE, all their items are proudly made in Colombia, utilizing eco-friendly practices that harmonize with the environment.
All their signature pieces, including modest swimwear, are locally made here in the UAE (reduced carbon foot print) using sustainable fabric made of ECONYL® regenerated nylon.
Made from ECONYL® regenerated nylon fibers, is not only soft and comfy but also built to stand up against all your beach adventures.
The brand works with a substantial amount of high quality, environmentally friendly fabrics and employs ethical production methods.
Devoted to fostering sustainability and cultivating slow fashion, styles from their swimwear are conceived from the world’s first fully biodegradable yarn.
Oceanus (via So Much Trouble)
Each piece is made from recycled, eco-friendly materials and hand embroidered with Swarovski crystals.
**Updated as of November 2024**