Sustainability
KLEKT: The Sneaker Resale App That’s Not Just For Sneakerheads
Fashion resale is at an all time high, and one part of the industry that’s seen a huge rise in resale is sneakers. Thanks to apps like StockX, events like Crepe City, and an increased awareness around sustainability and pre-owned fashion, resale platforms are the most popular form of buying and selling sneakers. One platform that aims to bring more women into the resale industry is KLEKT, an online marketplace that promotes safety and inclusivity. We caught up with KLEKT’s CEO, Sally Scott, to talk about the app and the future of sneaker resale. POPSUGAR: What can you tell us about KLEKT, for those who haven’t heard of it? Sally Scott: KLEKT is an original sneaker marketplace. We bring buyers and sellers of sneakers and streetwear together to help create a community of li...
Ivory Coast says chocolate traders failing to pay farmers living wage premium
Major chocolate traders in Ivory Coast are failing to pay a $400-per-tonne premium on beans aimed at curbing farmer poverty, the country’s cocoa regulator said in a draft letter seen by Reuters on Friday. The Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) said companies including Mondelēz International Inc(MDLZ.O) were offsetting the Living Income Differential (LID) by offering a negative country differential – normally a premium of 70 to 150 pounds ($99-$212) per tonne to reflect the quality of Ivory Coast’s beans. Mondelēz said it was paying the full LID. “(Mondelēz) does not offer or have any influence over negative country differentials,” the company said in a statement to Reuters. Buyers have been pressing for the country differential to be turned into a country discount, so farmers receive the extra...
The Best New Sustainable Swimwear to Shop for Summer Days by the Sea
Fashion has a complicated relationship with plastic. As much as we pass laws to reduce it and march in the streets to get it out of our oceans, plastic fashion (like PVC shoes, clothes, and accessories) continues to be one of the industry’s biggest trends. It’s a funny paradox where our fascination with transparent pieces is subverting the actual transparency that we need from big brands. But what if we used the demand for this trend as a way to reduce our plastic problem? The word “sustainable” was once tied to an underground and overpriced market. Now that the eco-fashion revolution is in full swing, there are tons of fresh brands like Mara Hoffman, Reformation, and Chromat that are gaining loyal fan bases while influencing mega retailers, like H&M and Zara, t...
Burberry Is the First Luxury Brand to Pledge to Become Climate Positive by 2040
Burberry officially pledged to become climate positive by 2040, but what exactly does that mean? While being climate neutral means reducing the amount of harmful greenhouse gases released into the Earth’s atmosphere (the protective layer around the planet that keeps us from overheating), being climate positive means that Burberry will reduce more greenhouse gases than the brand’s production and supply chain creates. Burberry plans to achieve its 2040 climate positive goal by cutting emissions across its extended supply chain by 46-percent and launching special projects with climate conscious groups that share the brand’s vision. Burberry will also support the Fashion Avengers, which is a collective of global fashion organisations that are working to achieve the UN’s...
“Trashion”: This Woman Picks Up Your Trash at Music Festivals—Then Makes Art With It
Music festivals are some of the most magical, exciting, and glamorous spaces in the world. For a few days, music fans can come together for an indelible experience. They can dance to their favorite music, make new friends, fall in love, and live their lives to the fullest. But what happens when the festival ends? After festival-goers pack up their stuff, head out, and move on with their lives, people like Sophia Nielson are left to clean up the mess. At just 26 years of age, Nielsen operates her own company, WEgenerative, with the aim to educate people about waste. She promotes sustainability at music festivals by designing and implementing waste infrastructure, contracting with events, managing volunteers who pick up trash (usually the largest crew on the festival grou...
Nigerian government mulls deployment of GPS to monitor constituency projects, expenditure
The Federal Government, yesterday, considered the deployment of Global Positioning System (GPS) across the six geopolitical zones, in a bid to monitor constituency projects and expenditure. It also considered a bottom-up approach in the siting and location of zonal/constituency projects to enhance and ensure ownership by the constituents. This was contained in a communiqué issued at a 2-day stakeholders’ interactive forum organized by the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, yesterday in Abuja. The communiqué which was signed by Simon Tyungu, a Special Adviser to the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, George Akume, added that ICT platforms should be created for monitoring and evaluation of projects to reduce physical exercise. According to him, “...
Nigerian governors to meet Wednesday over financial autonomy for state legislature, judiciary
Governors of the 36 states are scheduled to hold a teleconference on Wednesday to deliberate on the executive order 10 which grants financial autonomy to the state legislature and judiciary. In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, head of media and public affairs of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), there will also be discussions on measures to prevent a third wave of COVID-19 infections in the country. Bello-Barkindo said the forum will take updates on the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability And Sustainability (SFTAS), among other issues. “The meeting, which is the 30th of its kind by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, commences at 2pm prompt but Governors are expected to start logging-in from 1pm,” he said. “The meeting will cover lessons for States ...
The 10-Piece Summer Capsule You Can Feel Good About Buying
It creates curated 10-piece collections which are designed based on direct requests and feedback from its community. Each collection is created as a capsule with a focus on timeless design. The second edit just launched and includes summer staples, such as a breton top, navy jumpsuit and printed midi dress, for example. Unfolded only then begins manufacturing once orders have been placed, so it is based on actual demand, ensuring product doesn’t end up in the landfill. Of course sustainability requires careful consideration across all aspects of a business. Unfolded pays close attention to its materials, such as using Eco Liva Sustainable Viscose, and for every order donates to the non-profit organization Pratham, which gives millions of children in India access to education.&nb...
What Makes a Sneaker Sustainable? We Asked the Experts
Sustainable sneakers and trainers have become increasingly popular as more and more people are considering their impact on the environment — especially when it comes to the products they buy. Sustainability has become a bit of a buzzword in the last year or two, and it can be hard to know if what you’re buying truly passes the test and has a positive impact on the environment. We spoke to a few experts at the forefront of the sustainable sneaker industry, and this is what they had to say. Colin Vernon is the founder of Slow Factory Foundation, an educational institute and research lab specialising in climate and culture. A large part of the foundation’s research in this space centres around raw materials. “Most raw materials used in most footwear are extremely toxic and d...
Senator Tinubu: Terrible people want to break Nigeria’s appointment with destiny
All Progressives Congress chieftain, Bola Tinubu, says terrible people and strong forces want to break Nigeria’s appointment with its greater destiny by attacking “agricultural players” in the country, thereby creating food scarcity. He spoke on Saturday on the occasion of the 23rd to 25th convocation ceremonies of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Tinubu was also awarded a honorary doctorate at the event by the university Senate and Governing Council. The former Lagos State governor said, “We approach a defining moment as a nation. A reckoning of special importance beckons. We must decide whether to give the truest meaning to our national motto “peace and unity” or we allow the agents of destruction and merchants of violence to have their way with us...
I Just Found a Sustainable Fashion Brand That I Can Actually Afford
With accessories starting at £15 and ready-to-wear pieces from £55, the brand roughly sits in the same price category as the likes of & Other Stories, Whistles and Arket. I was instantly sold on the brand’s nostalgic take on wardrobe basics, which included cropped-flare dungarees, ruffle collar blouses and high-waisted denim. I was kindly sent a pair of the brand’s Suki Dungarees and have been wearing them constantly with both ribbed roll necks and collared blouses. Seventy + Mochi is dedicated to producing its collections out of recycled materials in limited quantities at its own facilities and selling direct to customers to ensure minimal impact on the planet. The brand is also part of the Jeans Redesign Project, an initiative launched by th...
Understanding the strength of small businesses
The number of small businesses keeps growing in the formal and informal sectors of the Nigerian economy, due to the role of small businesses as the live-wire of any economy and the backbone of major developed economies the world over. Though Nigeria rely majorly on oil and revenues derived from it, from context observation the economy is largely supported by small businesses covering almost all spheres of activities within the country, ranging from Nano, kiosk, and Micro businesses most importantly. A visible reference usually includes the vulcanizers, corner shop owners, single retail marketers, repairers, painters, business center operators, restaurants, market women, and men in the various open markets, among others. and the formal operations such as the law firms, accounting firms, con...