‍Black Friday is now a firm fixture in the UK retail calendar, signalling the start of Christmas shopping. Yet, for a growing number of consumers, brands, and environmental advocates, it has become a symbol of rampant overconsumption. At Our Fashion Fix, we look beyond the immediate 'deal' to understand its true impact on our planet and the fashion industry.

‍Hands up if you love that warm, fuzzy feeling? That’s the feeling of kindness, and on Thursday, November 13th, the whole world tunes in for World Kindness Day!

Here at Our Fashion Fix, we’re turning our good vibes into genuine good. This #knowyourstuffnov is all about smart, tangible action. A smile is great, but a warm coat or a hot meal – makes a genuine difference.

Getting the Christmas tree is a big deal in our house!

My husband and kids follow the principle of ‘go big or go home’. If the tree doesn’t fit in the car, this is viewed as a very good thing. On the other hand, I always comment that it gets more ridiculous every year, however i secretly LOVE their commitment to making our Christmas traditions one of laughter and team work!

One thing that i have wrestled with over the past few years is actually how sustainable it is to purchase a real tree - because yes i’m a big fan of the smell, tradition and even the dancing around the car trying to get the tree home.

So we thought we would share our thoughts- a pros and cons list if you like for #KnowYourStuffNovember

The holiday season is fast approaching, and with Christmas events and special parties and gatherings filling the calendar, it’s easy to fall into the trap of last-minute impulse buying. That frantic pre-party shopping trip often leads to a new dress or suit that’s worn once and then forgotten.  Britons are projected to spend a massive £46.4 billion in total during the festive period, and fashion ranks as a top three spending priority for many. This highlights just how much money is poured into outfits that, for one in five people, might only see a single use.

So the lists are getting written and excitement is in the air for all the little’s ones in our lives. It’s such a magical time of the year and hopefully they are all on their best behaviour - because you never know who is watching!

But it can be stressful too, trying to balance getting the ‘right’ gift with doing the ‘right’ thing. So we thought we would give you a hand and pull together some planet-friendly presents for little dreamers.

This year’s children’s list is all about imagination, creativity, and care for the planet. Every piece here is designed to inspire and connect - from eco-conscious toys to creative family experiences — proving that sustainability and play go hand in hand.

Cash for Christmas - Time to recycle . If your wardrobe, bathroom cabinet or tech drawer is bursting at the seams, here’s your friendly festive nudge: it’s time for a clear-out - and this year, decluttering could literally pay. With major UK retailers offering cashback, vouchers and reward points for recycling, you can refresh your space and your wallet before that ‘All I want for Christmas’ list lands in your fire place- Yes Skint Santa’s are us. Here’s how to turn your unwanted bits into cash and credit - ( because not everyone has the time and patience to sell on the likes of Vinted and Ebay)

October is British Wool Month, a moment championed by The Campaign for Wool and supported by its Patron, His Majesty King Charles III. This year, as the campaign marks its 15th anniversary, the focus is sharper than ever: to educate consumers to #CheckItsWool and #ChooseWool - making a powerful case for nature’s most sustainable, resilient, and versatile fibre.

Halloween is growing fast in the UK — and with the fun comes a serious environmental footprint. Let’s face it: pumpkins, costumes, sweets, decorations… we’re generating more waste than we probably realise.

The spooky stats

• Each year in the UK around 22 million pumpkins are discarded after Halloween — amounting to roughly £32 million of food waste. Geographical+1

• Around 7 million costumes end up in the bin annually, contributing some 2 000 tonnes of plastic waste. NEN Press+1

• About 83% of Halloween costumes in the UK contain non-recyclable oil-based plastics. Waste Managed+1

• UK consumer spending on Halloween has surged — some sources estimate nearly £400 million on sweets alone and a total spend in the high hundreds of millions. The Guardian+1

It's here: Circular Economy Week, running globally from October 20–26, 2025. For an industry often defined by speed and disposal, this initiative isn't just a calendar event - it’s a necessary intervention.

The stark truth is that the fashion industry's reliance on the linear "take-make-dispose" model is ecologically and economically bankrupt. Every second, the equivalent of one rubbish truck of textiles is landfilled or incinerated. This global week of action is designed to flip that destructive narrative, showcasing the work being done worldwide to pivot toward a low-carbon circular economy.

Sustainable Teams: Why People Are the First Step to Any Strategy

Before we can talk about sustainability in retail — the materials, the sourcing, the supply chains — we have to start with something far more fundamental: the people who make it all happen. Right now we can see sustainability and ESG teams being reduced- sustainability being pushed to the ‘too hard’ box or ‘not top of the agenda’ but lets think about why this is happening and how we can help teams with challenging remits to deliver.

Mend, Don’t End: Why Repairing Our Clothes is the Coolest Act of Self-Care This International Repair Day

On Saturday 18 October, the world celebrates International Repair Day — a global movement dedicated to keeping things in use, valuing craftsmanship, and empowering people to mend rather than discard. In a culture that too often equates newness with worth, repairing a garment is quietly radical — and deeply rewarding.

The urgency of the climate crisis continues to intensify, yet in the heart of Europe, we are witnessing an unsettling series of sustainability U-turns.   The momentum for mandatory corporate environmental and social accountability, once seemingly unstoppable, has hit a political wall.

But what exactly does this latest shift mean for the fashion industry, and crucially, for your business?

The Countdown to 2050: Are We Truly Ready for a Circular Textiles Future? The 8th of October, marks World Circular Textiles Day (WCTD), a global moment dedicated to reporting, reflecting, and celebrating the progress being made towards a fully circular textile ecosystem. For those of us dedicated to finding sustainable solutions, this day acts as both a benchmark of success and a critical check on our collective ambition.

Today is World Cotton Day, an opportunity to focus on this natural fibre that forms the foundation of modern life. Cotton's versatility is unmatched: it’s the resilient backbone of your reliable denim and favourite T shirts, comfortable bedding but also used in sanitary products and medical supplies, and even a crucial component in banknotes. It's a commodity that supports the livelihoods of roughly 100 million households globally.

Want To Buy Better Products On Pre-Loved Sites……………………………………  

Why Adding Filters by Certifications Benefits Consumers, Second-Hand Platforms and Brands That ‘Do Better’.

As sustainable fashion continues to grow, both consumers and second-hand platforms stand to gain from a simple yet powerful tweak to their filter drop drowns: the ability to filter garments by trusted certifications like GOTS organic cotton, BCI, Fairtrade, or brands that are Certified B Corp. To note this is currently not available – however here is why at Our Fashion Fix we think this is a must.

Global Goals Week is a powerful annual moment when the world mobilises for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - a set of 17 universal targets aiming for a peaceful and prosperous world by 2030. While often associated with governmental policy and international bodies, this week of action, awareness, and accountability holds a uniquely urgent relevance for one of the world's largest and most impactful sectors: the fashion industry.

For a long time, the burden of fashion waste has fallen on councils and, by extension, the taxpayer. But Europe is changing the game. The EU Parliament officially gave its final approval in September 2025 to a revised Waste Framework Directive, making Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles mandatory across all member states. This is a seismic shift, and for UK-based fashion brands, it’s not a regulation to be ignored.

If your brand sells into Europe, you will be considered the "producer" under these new rules, regardless of where your company is based. The EPR framework operates on a simple, yet profound, principle: the polluter pays. This means you will soon be responsible for the financial costs of collecting, sorting, and recycling the products you place on the EU market.

What if a simple decision - to buy something pre-owned instead of new - could help save the planet and your wallet, all while making you a style pioneer? This is the quiet revolution of Second-Hand September, a movement championed by Oxfam that's now reshaping the global retail landscape. No longer just a month-long challenge, this initiative has blossomed into a powerful movement reflecting a seismic shift in consumer behaviour and a burgeoning, sustainable retail landscape. The global second-hand market is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by environmental consciousness, economic prudence, and a desire for unique style. This isn't just a fleeting trend; it's a fundamental re-evaluation of how we consume fashion and other goods, with significant implications for both consumers and businesses.

As summer holidays come to an end, a familiar feeling of dread often washes over parents: the dreaded school uniform shop! It’s an annual mission, even more so this year as my daughter is starting a new school, and we are very conscious to ensure our shopping habits have minimum impact on people and planet.    

Part 3: Tiny Bottles: Big Problem – The Truth About Travel-Size Toiletries

Single-Use Plastic Stats:

• Travel-size toiletries make up a huge chunk of hotel and tourist waste.

• Globally, over 980 billion plastic toiletry items are discarded annually.

• Most of these are non-recyclable due to size and end up in oceans or landfill.

But It’s Just a Tiny Bottle!

That’s the trap: one tiny bottle doesn’t seem like much. But multiply that by millions of travelers, and suddenly your miniature shampoo has a not-so-mini impact.