Ophelia, I hear you on "the bridge too far" sacrifice. I'll hold on to my optimism for the both of us

As Gaylene suggests and I've shared over and over again, there are not ideal solutions. Personally, I don't see there being any in my lifetime (Ophelia - there's my less optimistic side). Almost every sustainable and ethical wardrobe decision is compromised in some way. The socio and economic implications are staggering and very complex. You simply have to pick a side and run with it. Do what you can manage and feels right to you.

I was not aware of the sequin and glitter issue. But I don't wear garments with these decorations. As others have said, there are no ideal solutions.

A note on leather—most leather is coming from a variety of unknown animals in China & ironically, India. (Cows in India are driven into Pakistan for slaughter as they can’t legally be killed in India. Illegal slaughter does happen there though.) There isn’t much sustainable tanning going on. There also isn’t a way to know where leather comes from, i.e. “made in Italy” only means the item was created there, not that leather is from an animal in Italy. China has no animal welfare laws.

Angie I agree. A diffused & diverse focus on environmental issues is likely a good thing overall even though perspectives will collide, as it means individuals & groups focus on one issue & others on other issues; hopefully less will slip through the cracks. Some will research labor abuses, others plastics, others on air pollutants, & some on the animals.

I first heard about the glitter issue about a year ago when it was found in the water and food supply in very secuded areas of national parks. I have bought two Guppies Friend bags for washing anything with polyester in it. Third includes my granddaughters fancy dresses which she loves. Third should be " this". My old computer is difficult . I avoid buying anything made of plastic. I lived in the days before plastic. Ilk came in glass bottles. Cottage cheese was distributed in reusable colored aluminum bowls and drinking glasses. I sometimes wonder how the pioneers made it across the country with no plastic. We had no plastic toys. Milkweed down filled most of my dolls that were made from discarded socks.

I’ve never heard of Guppies Friends bags, Joy. What are they? How do they work? How did you learn about them?

This has been such an interesting informative thread. I'm shocked, shocked to hear that sacred cows are driven across a border so they can be slaughtered. I don't think either sequins, leather, fur purchases will die out just because they disappear from the runway. It's like the Biblical account of the generation that had to die out before the slave mentality could die out. Too many folks have grown up wanting and wearing these things. Though I suppose the price of used items will be driven up. I do remember a younger woman making a point of coming up to me at a Christmas function at my kid's elementary school (he's 35) on a bitter cold night and chastising me for wearing an old fur coat. Told her straight away that the animals died long before either of us were born - my college roommate had found it on top of a trash pile next door on pickup day.

Ophelia, you are eloquent and said that perfectly. Thank you

I saw a National Geographic documentary 5/6 years ago about the very unsustainable and unethical tanning process in India. It was a mind blow, and most of the world's leather tanning occurred in India then. That has since changed with leather tanning occuring in China, Turkey, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, and parts of the US now. It's my hope that this process becomes more and more eco friendly and ethical, like many more of the manufacturing processes have become.

Rachy, I think Joy means putting certain items into a mesh bag when you wash them in the machine.

Cardiff Girl, you are right! There are sequins all over the High Street and M&S can't keep their sequin items in stock. Carla, on that note, I don't think sequins will be banned any time soon.