tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post2238529442968434085..comments2024-02-26T08:43:47.488-08:00Comments on Domesticated: The Ethics Of Goth Clothes The HouseCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07783576090040274742noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-66847061665748725332021-07-14T07:25:00.620-07:002021-07-14T07:25:00.620-07:00Just started doing research on this, now and readi...Just started doing research on this, now and reading up on scholarly articles.<br /><br /><br />I cant boycott absolutely everything unethical, given I cant afford it, plus, there are some basic needs that I have.<br /><br />When it comes to ethical fashion choice, however, I have been considering doing it. I feel like I should know more about it, though.<br /><br />So far, Ive bought my clothes through Wish, Ebay and Dreslilly. I started thinking about this after I bought my first stuff online. <br />Marihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15857034015102267721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-8930243800347593402019-12-08T21:34:18.655-08:002019-12-08T21:34:18.655-08:00I am not thinking of starting a garment business m...I am not thinking of starting a garment business myself, so you might be making a sales pitch to the wrong personThe HouseCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07783576090040274742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-15623873465469581712018-06-27T09:46:33.699-07:002018-06-27T09:46:33.699-07:00It is hard to find transparency in the manufacturi...It is hard to find transparency in the manufacturing process for a lot of companies, alternative or otherwise. I think that's something a lot of companies need to improve on. The HouseCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07783576090040274742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-41364660468826312662018-06-27T09:45:33.320-07:002018-06-27T09:45:33.320-07:00Thank-youThank-youThe HouseCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07783576090040274742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-5625899906928658152018-06-21T16:18:53.737-07:002018-06-21T16:18:53.737-07:00Thank you so much for this post! I am trying my be...Thank you so much for this post! I am trying my best to avoid buying things that might have been made in sweatshops. I originally found Ironfist clothing through a cruelty free page, but have noticed their website has removed all mentions of being ‘sweatshop and cruelty free’ I’ve been struggling to find goth clothed that are somewhat transparent.<br /><br />Though I do shop second hand whenever possible. Miss Maushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11416520472592440746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-10073856769882584942017-11-13T02:47:50.635-08:002017-11-13T02:47:50.635-08:00I really loved reading your blog. It was very well...I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to understand. Unlike other blogs I have read which are really not that good.Thanks alot!<br /><a href="http://www.ebridalgowns.ca/296-bridesmaid-dresses" rel="nofollow">Bridesmaid Dresses</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10176476424205764748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-70874284784031147732016-12-30T14:28:22.952-08:002016-12-30T14:28:22.952-08:00This is a topic that's quite important to me :...This is a topic that's quite important to me :)The HouseCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07783576090040274742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-72832529164138493242016-12-30T14:25:04.436-08:002016-12-30T14:25:04.436-08:00A lot of the environmentally aware clothes are mad...A lot of the environmentally aware clothes are made to a certain demographic, certainly - either hippie or hipster a lot of the time! I'd certainly be interested in Goth-styled versions. Some of the hippie stuff comes in black in aesthetics that head towards the 'spooky forest person' aesthetic; something of the woodland elf, the dark faerie, the herbal witch, but sadly not enough, and I almost never see anything Victorian or historically inspired. <br /><br />I tend to look on Etsy and Facebook for independent craftspeople; there's a lot of them out there, but often you have to look internationally, and that comes with it the issue or carbon foot-print when it comes to how many miles your stuff has travelled. The HouseCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07783576090040274742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-73312296135134398522016-12-20T09:12:12.662-08:002016-12-20T09:12:12.662-08:00Thank you for this important post. We all need to ...Thank you for this important post. We all need to start being more conscious of where our clothing comes from so we can make better choices.Vulcan_Butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11347496680018156439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-64893580328153553272016-12-09T15:19:53.347-08:002016-12-09T15:19:53.347-08:00I like Sinister, Omen and Phaze's clothes; I d...I like Sinister, Omen and Phaze's clothes; I didn't know where any of those brands made their stuff - everything I have from them I have bought secondhand on eBay (I buy so much on eBay!). <br /><br />I think there's a lot of UK to Eastern Europe exporters of secondhand clothes; I see a lot of places that buy secondhand clothes by weight, and I think they then sort them and then sell them on the Balkans, Eastern Europe and elsewhere. I don't see anything wrong with it; I'm perfectly happy to buy secondhand clothes and think it's good that these places are paying people for their clothes because it encourages them to sell them rather than throw them away - reducing waste. <br /><br />There should certainly be more transparency as to the whole production chain for fashion (and other things)... <br /><br />I really try to protract how long my clothes last... Partly because I'm just clingy about my things and can't bear to part with them; I get too attached to inanimate objects! The HouseCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07783576090040274742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-74794801757702360742016-12-09T15:11:21.806-08:002016-12-09T15:11:21.806-08:00I tend to buy stuff with the intention of it lasti...I tend to buy stuff with the intention of it lasting me - it's cheaper in the long run to save up for something that is good quality than to buy cheap stuff and keep replacing it (but the hard part is saving up for it to begin with). <br /><br />DMs and New Rocks seem to last forever if looked after. My partner's New Rock boots have served him well for over a decade. The HouseCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07783576090040274742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-44570023973294957192016-12-09T15:07:13.525-08:002016-12-09T15:07:13.525-08:00If you're into Romantic Goth fashion, I really...If you're into Romantic Goth fashion, I really, REALLY recommend Holy Clothing - they're based in the US, but have their clothes made fair-trade in India. They do a lot of medieval/fantasy designs, and I think everything comes in black and dark purple and red options. They do everything in plus sizes, too. Lots of gorgeous dresses. The HouseCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07783576090040274742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-83312178896585210492016-12-09T04:50:19.681-08:002016-12-09T04:50:19.681-08:00A very good article. I must admit that I was never...A very good article. I must admit that I was never much of an 'environmentalist' but I absolutely hate to see waste. My general feeling is that as a first positive step to sustainability that we can all do is.... Not by cheap badly made stuff, clothing or ANYTHING for that matter, buy something well made then make it last a LONG time. It influences the way I shop, that I will take great care to find things that I like, and know I will not grow tired of. And that I know, particularly, like furniture and household items, will literally last a life time. I just can not abide the disposal of little used items, it is just a waste of time, money and resources. Similar with clothes. I have a pair of DM's now well over 20, that's years not days, well loved but still going !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-19657693609493584112016-12-08T08:32:17.466-08:002016-12-08T08:32:17.466-08:00As a plus sized person (size UK 26) I am limited t...As a plus sized person (size UK 26) I am limited to where I can shop. One unexpected advantage to this is that I'm sized out of the 'obviously' bad companies like H&M, Primark etc.<br /><br />I have bought a few things from charity shops before but in my local area things tend towards 'granny style' frumpy blouses and pleated skirts in horrible materials. It's not as if I can even buy shoes on any regular basis thanks to large size 9 feet. I did buy some cool Victorian style boots which I ended up re-donating since I had them for over a year and never re-soled them (they were very slippery without). I also bought some New Rock shoes once but I realised after a year or so that the style didn't go with my style and they were a bit too heavy. I think some of the thinner soled boots would suit me better.<br /><br />I do try and buy things on sale so I know I'm contributing less to bad trade and my clothes seem to last years - probably because I'm usually at work in uniform so my leisure clothes don't get worn as often. Because of my size my wardrobe isn't overly gothy at the moment (a few black basics, a couple of velvet things, things that are coloured but on the darker end of the spectrum) but I want to try and refine my style in the new year, support more small businesses etc. One Etsy shop I love the look of and definitely want to support is ExoUmbra based in Cornwall. She hand makes everything up to a size 5X (26-28 I believe).Stefanie - The Bookish Owlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11004639974051740750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-23177384243990136152016-12-07T19:51:17.730-08:002016-12-07T19:51:17.730-08:00Very thoughtful and well-written article, as alway...Very thoughtful and well-written article, as always ! (I've been reading this blog since a little while now, but it's the first time I'm leaving a comment)<br /><br />I agree that second-hand shopping and actually caring for our clothing (not seeing it as merely disposable like some people) are very good elements that show the goth community may be more conscious to the ethic issues around clothing, or, just out of habit and other reasons, less prone to be part of the fast-fashion problem. <br /><br />Personally, I like buying from local designers (I'm lucky to have a few in my area) knowing the items don't have to travel over an ocean to get to me, and that I encourage a local seamstress and help them earn a decent wage. <br /><br />I also believe building myself a goth wardrobe (mostly romantic/medieval) with in it delicate or complex pieces (with grommets, lace or other fragile bits) made me more conscious to how I’m washing my clothes, therefore they last longer then the things people just wash in the machine and throw in the dryer. And, as they are in good condition even after a few years of wear, if I grow tired of them I can resell them on a local Facebook sales group or give them to a charity shop and they’ll be useful to another person. <br /><br />The only one point I don't agree with you on is that I think the goth community has its trends, not only the foundation style (or, more accurately, its many recognizable styles). We like taking care and interest in how we dress ourselves, and we’re humans who simply like new things; at least in the Tumblr community, I think there's a discernible enthusiasm when certain elements become more popular in Etsy stores and in bigger popular retailers like Restyle and Killstar (like spirit board patterns, alchemy imagery and skulls/bones jewellery, in the last few years) and when we can see other people making outfits with them on social media, and it makes me feel like there is a sort of temporary popularity for certain patterns or elements, that fades to let another trend take its place a few months after. But, I don’t believe, as it’s so in the mainstream, that someone wearing something that was very popular a year or so back would be seen as unfashionable in the goth community. We simply don’t have this weird imperative pressure to move on from trends like mainstream fashion imposes, falsely making perfectly good items not wearable anymore, which is the main issue of fashion. The trends may result in impulsive buying, but it’s nowhere near the mass-production, consumerism and at last waste caused by mainstream fashion. (Or maybe I just spend too much time looking for inspiration online and get influenced by bloggers and such, and that it’s not a real issue with most people, but I felt like I should share these observations).<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for this article, it’s always a pleasure to read your work !<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-26293295848837339242016-12-07T17:02:14.357-08:002016-12-07T17:02:14.357-08:00I really enjoyed reading this post it well-execute...I really enjoyed reading this post it well-executed post. It highlights so many factors and some I wasn't aware of. <br /><br />Recently, after learning about H&M using the labour of Syrian children and now anything owned by the Green Company. I will admit I purchase some things in Primark but after the clasp of Savar in Bangladesh, Primark offered aid and compensation to the workers and families. <br /><br />But , I try to make my clothes last long as possible, and I reuse old shirts as nightwear. I mainly source clothing from second clothing. If I purchase new items I try to purchase good quality items.<br /><br />Most my alter clothing Sinister they produce beautiful quality clothing that produces to an ethical standard. I have few things by Omen and Phaze whose clothing were produced in the UK<br /><br />A few years ago, when I went to Bosnia I saw a lot of British Brands of clothing were being resold for v.cheap prices it was to see the clothing being resold rather than going to waste. <br /><br />I also enjoyed your part, particularly about sewing .since I'm a sewer I often go to the market to purchase fabric it's very to know the line of it and comes from. <br /><br />I do believe it's time we take more responsibility for what we purchase and large corporations do as well. There should be a clearer outline of where and how things are produced, where currently it's hard to know.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05306376518336141023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406319356659344188.post-6606841162425857962016-12-07T13:06:27.225-08:002016-12-07T13:06:27.225-08:00I'm very glad that you posted on this topic as...I'm very glad that you posted on this topic as I often think about the very points that you make so well here. Sweatshops, pollution, and the carbon footprint are definitely matters that we should all seriously consider. Here's how I handle these matters: <br /><br />I do a lot of shopping for clothing at a nearby vintage clothing shop. Everything there is used, but in quite good shape when it is brought in. Generally, I'm a t-shirt kind of goth and in cooler weather, wear these under an open jacket. I have found some wonderful t-shirts at this particular shop as well as leather jackets, belts, and hats. So, my first go-to place. <br /><br />I do go to the occasional metal concert and admittedly, I have a hard time resisting some of the band shirts I find at these shows. So, I must admit to a certain amount of violating my own ethics when I purchase these items. I also occasionally buy the same from Black Rose out of London. They have an excellent selection that again, I find hard to resist. <br /><br />These purchases are relatively rare however, and when I do add these items into my clothing lineup they are placed into my highest tier of shirts. In other words, I rarely wear them, using them primarily for special occasions. The main reason or this is because I value them so much that I don't want to wear them out. Still, there are some environmental pluses to not using or buying often. Purchases from the vintage store are generally place in my middle or lower tier and do wear out faster, but since I didn't buy them new, I don't feel as responsible for any pollution their manufacturing may have caused. Of course, I have dressier items, but these don't get worn very often either.<br /><br />As for accessories, I do sometimes buy items at Hot Topic, Spencer's, or some other venue. There are local crafts people here set up and sell their wares at various events. I would love to support them instead of the larger venues but lately, they've been specializing mainly in steam punk, which is simply not my style. <br /><br />It's possible to find environmentally friendly clothing here, but it's too expensive for my budget and quite frankly, strikes me as hippie clothing. If the creators of these items would run a goth line or something I could use in that way, I would be happy to support their efforts, but in general, I find goth clothing much more attractive--and it's the way I prefer to dress, with a bit of metal thrown in or good measure.<br /><br />I do appreciate your informing us as to which vendors of goth items sell worker and environment friendly clothing. I know that Black Rose sells some of their material, so I will definitely look for those names in the future. <br /><br />Thank you or such a good and informative post!Nightwindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07148270720593016700noreply@blogger.com