Why Choose a Custom Garment?

Hello all fashion junkies! I woke up today and in my caffeine induced haze frenzy the need to share something extremely important with you all. The discussion around fast fashion and its negative impacts on our world has been flying around the media lately, it seems like everyone is pointing fingers in an endless witch hunt to find the 'most responsible', many are quick to boycott and blame large companies like H&M and Zara. Sadly this is a very human response to crisis, we find someone to blame, persecute, and call the problem solved. This issue is not that simple, the real culprit lies no further then the mirror or your neighbour, or your best friend. The problem is ours, we buy into these corporations and eat up their product faster then they can produce them. But where is the solution? Our society has a fever for mass consumption and the newest new. We have to shift our mindsets, we have to stop treating clothing like a snap chat story or a tweet: fast and on to the next thing. The answer lies in the not so distant past, where clothing and textiles held extreme value. Clothes should be worn often and cared for, mix this with new technology in the world of sustainability and we start to see our consumption problem is deeply societal and phycological.

I know what your'e thinking, quit with the hippy tree hugger bs. This is so much more then the environment, we are talking about the exploitation of human lives, destruction of our planet, and this mentality to always need the newest and best can be really harmful to our self confidence. You can fix this today, by making choices to shop local, sustainable, and best of all custom.

Why choose custom clothing? Besides the superior fit and comfort of a custom garment (honestly who wouldn't want clothing perfectly tailored to your body and designed to make you look amazing?) they are also extremely economical. Custom garments tend to be local and ethically produced, you can go further by requesting environment friendly fibres like bamboo and hemp (don't think yuck, these textiles have come so far you would mistake them for linen and raw silk). A custom garment is a long term investment of superior quality and a tinier carbon footprint. The best part about it? you have autonomy over your own style and cut, and these garments are not tainted with slave labour and sweatshops.

How to shop custom 101:

Custom clothing is an entirely different experience then fast fashion, the process is personal, luxurious, and if you're with the right designer it should be fun! The first thing to remember is cover your basics, a well fitted garment does not need to have crazy design to look killer. A classic cut and bold colour will carry you for years. Purchase a few versatile investment pieces, remember to build a wardrobe not one look. You want flexibility from these garments. They should last you years, and you can slowly add to your wardrobe. The result? you've eliminated clothing waste and impulse buying. No more ill fitted impulse buys, trendy worn once never agains, low quality fabrics that fall apparat, and no more mishmash of a bunch of cheap items that do not match as a wardrobe.

A proper designer and tailor should be your best friend when it comes to custom clothing, their job is to help you make these choices with their trained eyes and make you look your best.

Can't afford custom? There are other solutions, try getting your clothes altered to fit you better (you will look amazing and get much more wear from the piece) and try to invest in higher quality garments so they last longer. Resist the impulse buy! and never shop clearance, it always influences bad choices because of the cheap price.

Custom reflects the true cost of a garment, the adjustment of price reflects the true cost of sustainable labour and ethically sourced materials. Budgeting and being realistic about what you need are key. A minimal wardrobe increases efficiency and makes your morning so much easier. Let's be honest, we all wear the same few outfits we love over and over anyways. Purge out your closet, and really think about what is necessary and what is impulse.

A garment should be versatile and serve multiple purposes, take you from venue to venue. This body suit for example (made by yours truly for Evellyon) can be dresses up or down, or worn as is. It is a unique piece that adds flare without being too loud. Think texture and cut over loud. You can pare it with jeans and a blazer for casual days, or dress it down with a cardigan, You can layer it under a skirt for a dressy look, or wear under an off the should dress for a cool layered look. Every look is different and requires minimal effort.

You can order your custom Eve body suit from our Instagram @evellyon_atelier or from our Facebook page @Evellyon

-xoxxo N