Sequins
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Just like the infamous Dogs Trust ad we are all so familiar with, I feel very strongly that there should be something similar for sequins especially after delving deeper into what happens to these sparkles once we’ve worn them & we ‘toss them aside’. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE a sparkly number, BUT covering a dress in plastic just cannot be justified, especially if it’s worn once & discarded! AND sometimes more than 200,000 sequins are used on just one garment ….
Because I DO LOVE A SEQUIN, I wanted to write about them & open your eyes, mind & purses into thinking more about these small plastic discs that definitely do bring most of us a lot of joy! I am a HUGE believer in sparkle & sequins being a year round wardrobe staple, definitely not just something saved for best, & actually wearing sequins in a more casual way is my favourite way to wear them! I’m here to educate you, inspire you & of course help you wear your wardrobes so here are my thoughts ….. would love to hear what you think.
“Sequins are definitely not just for Christmas” …..in fact if you aren’t choosing your sequins & sparkly purchases carefully, can sit in landfill for up to 2000 years, yes 2000 YEARS!
As Christmas approaches, you might be thinking about what to wear to your party, girls night out or family Christmas celebrations. But if you're eyeing up something sequinned - revelling in the opportunity to be a human disco ball for one night of the year - you might want to hit pause instead of 'add to basket’ & just stop to think for a minute.
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Christmas is a particularly prevalent time of year when you’ll be being sold (& enticed like a magpie) sequins & party wear left right & centre! I definitely don’t want to be a party pooper BUT have you ever considered the detrimental impact those purchases can have on our planet, and equally on your own health? Sequins are SO versatile, easily interchangeable between dressing up or down, giving you multiple outfits from just one item so having them in your wardrobe isn’t entirely sinful, BUT only if we are selective & then wear wear wear. My favourite looks are: head to toe sequins & knits in the same colour (green image above), or a sequin skirt or trousers with a graphic tee & trainers or boots with a leather jacket tossed over the shoulders. Alternatively to add some glamour to a cosy Christmas look pop on a chunky knit (cashmere if your budget allows) with your sequin skirt (elasticated waist of course to cater for all the mince pies).
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The great thing about sequins is they don’t really date or go out of fashion, there is always a way to update them through clever styling with the other items in your wardrobe. I have a skirt from Zara, I call my mermaid skirt, which is over 5 years old & gives me so joy to wear I get it out as often as I can especially in the summer months with a band tee & my textured sliders. It makes me so happy wearing it, & that’s the things with sparky sequins, they are an instant mood booster no matter what the season!
Another perfect way to dress down your sequins is to pair a sequin top back with blue denim - I personally like a medium blue wash boyfriend or straight leg jean, with white trainers or a buckle boot (or I’ll throw on a colour pop heel if I’m heading out for a drink). Equally you can do the reverse by wearing the sequin trousers paired back with a cashmere jumper or slogan sweatshirt for a high-low mix.
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It’s also really easy to find sequins, especially at this time of year, pre-loved & in amazing condition as many people will only wear them a couple of times, then donate them to their local charity shop or pop onto Vinted (as I am doing this week with many items I’ve been donated to make urgent funds to help the St Neots Foodbank). Never be put off rummaging through a charity shop because of the smell (I’ve definitely been there done that) because you could miss out on an incredible find that needs a simple hand wash & air.
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Sequin season INCOMING! BUT your favourite sparkly pieces are actually destroying the planet so choose wise ….. #partyseasonguilt
In recent years, we have bid adieu to the plastic straws, bottles & reduced plastic bag usage that were once entrenched into our everyday lifestyle. So can we start to reduce the love affair with sequins? There’s actually a much more sinister side to sequins that we must address in the same way we’ve addressed micro-beads (& successfully had them removed from our shelves) in our skincare ladies. And, unsurprisingly, it's their plastic nature that's the biggest problem although in fact, the waste & pollution throughout the lifestyle of a sequin is only just being recognised & discussed.
So how, exactly, are they harmful?
While you may not bin your favourite sequin mini, the chances of you sticking it in your recycling are even slimmer. And even if you're not ready to get rid (re-wearing is more sustainable? Right?), sticking it in the washing machine is a whole problem in itself as sequins will likely fall off & go down the drain. When washed they release thousands of microplastics into freshwater streams & this contamination of water sources is another HUGE environmental sticking point. If these micro plastics are not caught by sewage works, they'll end up in our oceans - as part of the 13 million tonnes of plastic dumped in there each year - and likely be gobbled up by some poor unsuspecting fish that thought it was a pleasantly easy-catch for lunch.
Why is this an urgent dilemma? At our current trajectory…
By 2050, our oceans will contain more plastic (by weight) than fish as our annual plastic production will have increased by 500%. This is the result of the 13 million tonnes of plastic that are dumped into our oceans each year. The consequences of also polluting fresh water streams leads to the harming of marine ecosystems as many of the organisms consume and ingest sequin particles or glitter.
1/3 people in the UK already consume fish that contain microplastics
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If your heartlessly shrugging your shoulders right now, how about acknowledging that this problem is also to our own detriment. The fish we eat are harbouring unprecedented levels of toxins due to the plastic in their environment, while the water we drink has most likely been contaminated by plastics which contain harmful chemicals able to disrupt & cause havoc with our hormones. Stopped shrugging?
Sequins are made from petroleum-based plastics such as PVCs that contain toxic chemical additives including carcinogens & hormone disruptors (they are added to give sequins their flexibility & durability). Their composition also means that they’re indestructible = they’ll literally sit in landfill for thousands of years!
In production, a high average of 33% of the material is wasted through the punching process. In addition, their material composition means they can take thousands of years to fully decompose.
Seeing celebrities on the red carpet is couture gowns embellished with sequins creates a “desire” by the rest of us to replicate = creates the desire for a HUGE number of cheap, imitation dresses that will be worn a few times, then potentially disregarded. So, whilst imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, when it refers to the embellished pieces we are able to readily purchase from fast fashion retailers or even at the higher end of the high street, it is unlikely those that have individually stitched each sequin will have been paid a fair wage. This draws attention back to labour behind the label and who really made your clothes?
Let’s start with my choosing sequin top tips:
If sequins are still on your radar, here are my top tips for selecting your sequin styles; I personally wear them at any opportunity to maximise their cost-per-wear!
Find sequins that don’t scratch your skin - you’re not going to wear them over & over again if uncomfortable & damaging your skin & SO many out there are scratchy!
Choose a stretch sequin fabric for a flattering silhouette, as well as comfort! I always seek an elasticated waistband to be sure they’ll fit more comfortably & no matter how many mince pies I decide to eat over the festive period
Wear ‘daytime’ sequins to maximise your purchase & make your money go further
Ensure your sequins work with all footwear options; heels, boots, trainers or even wellies for those summer festivals
Check your sequin style works with everything from graphic tees to chunky knits, with leather jackets to your winter coat, play with it before cutting the tags off
Don’t go for cheap options, after reading the above you don’t want those sparkly discs coming off in the wash or falling apart whilst your dancing you leopard print heels off
SO what else can we do?
Choosing to make ethical, considered, decisions through our wardrobe purchases is one of the most powerful means to inspire change.
Don’t get drawn in by Influencers paid to entice you …. Remember we aren’t magpies, they are paid to encourage consumerism & who knows where these items may end up (obviously I am NOT referring to all influencers, but many are paid to wear and sell the products we get sucked in by, even me (I am only human)
Increase your cost-per-wear, sequins aren’t just a festive season staple, they are a year round joy to wear & evoke happy vibes!
In addition, high street stores need to take responsibility too, e.g. Boden has eliminated sequins & glitter as part of the business' commitment to sustainable change; they listened to their customers & wanted to be brave making a make a firm decision & incredibly unique stance. Although they knew sequins & glitter do drive sales at this time, they got creative & thought of other ways to excite their customers over Christmas.
So, what would an environmentally sequin look like & is this a possibility? In a ideal world it would be natural, produced with renewable energy consisting of materials organically grown & abundantly available (even the colouring would also deploy animal-friendly dyes & ones which don’t harm water sources)….so seems impossible BUT… Innovating this space is the Sustainable Sequin Company founded by Rachel Clowes. Rachel has created sequins that are created utilising recycled PET plastic. Rachel’s work should inspire investment and innovation in the eco-friendly sequin sector, let’s see how 2023’s sequin story continues.
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The bottom line? Christmas might be the ultimate time for glitz and glitter, but not if it's going to cost the planet well after the fairy lights have gone down for another year. It's important to pay attention to what you're putting on your body, whether it be your makeup or your shiny New Year's Eve dress. Looking great in your party photos doesn't have to come at the cost of the environment.The future can be sustainable & still sparkling with a bit more education & thought process.
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