Fashion and business musings

Fashion overload - the new big tobacco

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 04:16:55 -0700

It is very easy to blame one group of people for any issue. And when it comes to the damaging levels of pollution caused by the fashion industry, there is a hell've a lot of finger-pointing.

Yes, you can blame brands for producing too much, influencers for constantly pushing shopping hauls, and governments for not having clear recycling plans, raw materials guidelines and labour safety regulations. You can blame the middle class for not slowing down their buying of ultra-fast fashion, treating clothing as disposable. Social media has an obvious correlation to the uptake of shopping since 2008. We can even blame the downstream green businesses that are making it OK to buy, wear once and then sell on.

Now, I am not going to repeat well-printed stats about how much unworn clothing sits in wardrobes. That recycled polyester is damaging to the environment. That we have gone from 4 seasons a year of collections, to weekly drops by certain brands. It is a respected fact that fashion contributes to 20% of global water pollution and 7-8% of CO2 emissions. That last stat does not account for shipping and downstream emissions created from reselling and renting. Though, as we will see in the next section, the emissions from reuse avenues appear very low.

So let's unpick all the touchpoints of a garment to understand where the damage comes from.

Production

Approximately 90% of the total carbon footprint for any garment starts at production. There are variations on this number depending on where it is produced, but by the by, let's jump into what you should consider:

There is the processing of virgin natural materials: picking, dying, spinning, etc.
There is the sourcing of artificial materials - oil refining, processing, spinning, etc. Viscoses, for example, while for tree pulp, still have to go through quite a bit of treatment to make. ...Read More

Are we facing a new age for Influencer collections?

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 06:26:45 -0700

Preface - Many celebrities have added 'Influencer' to their carousel of income streams. However, a Gweneth Paltrow, Alexa Chung or Olivia Palermo is at a different level of fame. They either had a prominent platform in the public eye or an old-world connection in the fashion industry to springboard off. The Kardashians had the connections and a massive TV show.

So, I am concentrating on the self-made social media Influencers. They have built a following through years of perseverance and months of earning zero money to hit the necessary metrics to monetise their following. Many try and fail due to the credit card debt they run up. Or simply their main day job takes priority. it might look like a fluffy job, but it is hard graft. Yes, some have the bank of their trust fund, but to get followers to stick - takes a special skill.

Now on to the topic at hand:)

Holland Cooper has trotted out of its paddock their Lydia Millen collection this October. An influencer who has been a controversial figure. With millions of followers and the power to persuade a mass selling of Hermes bags in 2025, this lady has some serious influencer power. (You could argue this started with Canadian Niki Sky, but it has snowballed with Lydia).

Her Savoy Hotel stay (because her heating broke down in 2022) lives rent-free in the heads of her detractors. A somewhat perceived tone deaf post, as the UK was emerging into a major cost-of-living crisis. But this didn't slow down her growing empire and perhaps was a very calculated stroke of marketing genius. From grid girl to Lady of the manor.

Another aspect of her lifestyle brand evolution is her perceived falling out with other influencers, which is well discussed on sites such as Tattle/Life/tales (whatever it is called). Though I sometimes wonder for those bitching, how many of them are still friends with the girls they hung out with when they...Read More

Is hubris holding your business opportunties back?

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 02:54:34 -0700

Compromise is good

'No compromise' is a natty marketing tagline for a sports brand. It conveys strength, determination etc.

However, when growing a brand in general, you need to give a little. Be open to compromise.

I'm not talking about using cheaper materials or compromising on customer service. I mean those times when you need to eat a little bit of humble pie.

Pack away the Hubris

Doing posts on social media about how you will not change for anyone might get a lot of likes. Appearing to be a rebel of business - groundbreaking? Newsflash.... it has all been done before.

There is a business graveyard of maverick business leaders, hoisted by their own petard.

Deep down people might like to think of themselves as rebels, their deep-rooted dreams of being Han Solo or Ridley. However, in business meetings or any customer interactions, there is a point where you have to give a little bit of ground.

So, be prepared to be a bit of a chameleon. You may not want to wear a stuffy suit, but find a solution that works for you. Be colourful, but compromise on an element. For example, you can wear jeans, to a meeting, but make sure they have no holes. Wear a blazer or smart jumper. These can be colourful but tailored. You will look far more polished. Still showing personality but showing a bit of self-awareness that the audience is listening to your words and not wondering if you got dressed in the dark. (Or concerned about your hygiene).

You may think you are too good to explain your image to a room of strangers. But think for a moment what your attitude is giving off. Why should someone trust you with their hard-earned money, if you cannot take 10 minutes to brush your hair and look put together? You can be unique without being obnoxious.

Another act which comes across as self-absorbed is ridiculously long business plans and decks. A...Read More

Avoid the hunger games approach to management

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 03:21:33 -0700

Setting the scene

No one wants to go to work and be faced with a 'Hunger Games' style leader. Forcing people to duel with colleagues for credit. This is a very antiquated management theory. Centring around creating conflict to get the most out of performance! Thankfully, those days are coming to an end.

However, it has started to rear its ugly head again within certain industries.

When you hire strong people, they expect a level of professional respect. They expect to be allowed to get on with their role. Not to have people floating around second-guessing them. Talented people will build relationships with their peers and find their niche. They will have bad days, don't we all, but overall they have the skills and intelligence to pick up new things and be a huge asset to your business.

What they don't want is to feel is undermined. This can happen a few ways, but the one that I hear people complain about more and more is the 'shiny new penny' effect.

Sometimes it is OK not to pick up the penny

Some leaders will meet someone once and without any due diligence hire them or invite them to important meetings. One or two new pennies may happen, but when it turns into several people muscling into meeting. It can play havoc with team trust and motivation.

The value added by all these people is often negligible. The laws of diminishing marginal returns kick in. The other thing Hunger Games leaders do is waste time at a meeting raving about someone they meet not realising that the skills that you are raving about are already in the room. Be mindful of how you motivate people.

With the growing awareness of mental health and stress triggers - why do leaders do this? How can you make sure you do not fall into this trap as a leader?

Becoming more self-aware

You may not realise that you are doing it. You get excited by meeting new people. You want to create a...Read More

How to avoid the trap of constructive dismissals

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 07:19:26 -0700

Introduction

Constructive dismissal was a term coined many years ago to manage people out of their jobs, who were not performing. Usually when the probation period has passed. However, over the years this has evolved into a nasty form of bullying.

We have seen a bit too much of a culture of - "Don't like a person - use constructive dismissal that's fine". No, it is not:).

Avoid the trap

Prevention is better than cure. As you hire people and scale your business - make sure you have a probation period. The more senior and technical the longer the period should be. Have very clear job descriptions to help you.

There may be local laws to consider, but 6-8 months is standard. It doesn't have to be complicated. Make sure you have clear training goals and targets for new employees. Have a checkpoint once a month, to make sure they are performing as expected. Give feedback and find training resources to solve any gaps. Halfway through probation inform the person on how they are getting on. If below expectations, issue them a verbal warning. Then, give them another month, if no improvement issue them a written warning.

At this stage, a few things can happen. The employee is self-aware and will leave as they realise they are out of their depth. Or if the performance issues are around attitude and laziness, you can let them go. Or you might uncover they have skills, that would benefit a different part of the business. So you move them to that team and restart their probation.

Once a person finishes probation, you still need to monitor their performance and make it clear to them, that they now fall under the company's standard disciplinary process. If you do not have one, please set one up. It doesn't have to be war and peace and should be part of the employee handbook.

Post probation

The standard people management activity of a 1-2-1 with a line...Read More

Risky business - the need for a risk register

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 05:12:57 -0700

Risky business

There isn't an aspect of any business that doesn't involve risk. The risk of losing a big order, the risk of a key team member getting sick or leaving, etc.

These might be nigglings living rent-free in your head. You think you have a plan to manage these, but when the time comes, have you really thought these through? What happens if two or three unexpected risks come together, what is your priority?

This is where the unglamourous, but incredibly useful management tool of a risk register comes in.

Who owns this

Well, in large organisations the compliance and internal audit functions own this. With key leaders feeding in from Finance etc. The board will have oversight over this via a form of risk and audit committee.

However, in a scaling business or even a start-up, it may have to be in the remit of the founders to get this started. Then to find a team member who can look after the administration. You can ask your board to help, but it is often the case they do not have the capacity due to them being voluntary.

No matter your size you can build up the register over time. Setting aside an hour a month could potentially save a lot of time and resources by having some structure around managing and mitigating risk.

What should it be?

Excel is usually the best way to keep this record (other branded spreadsheets are available:)).

You could use your SWOT analysis as your starting point (guide here). This highlights internal and external threats to your business, which are an important starting point.

If you don't have a SWOT no worries (though no harm creating one first). Then in your spreadsheet of choice:

1. Simply list all the risks your business faces (not all the details). Look at your operations, customers, competitors, finance, HR, technology, natural disasters,...Read More

Networking goals

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 07:08:55 -0800

You are not an island

You might be starting on your journey or about to do a big pivot/refresh in 2024. No matter your stage, it is incredibly important to continuously build your network. You may find over time you have to bow out of some organisations, to free up the time you need. Or your business has matured and you need more specialised support.

Whatever you do, stop thinking 'Oh they won't help me' or 'Someone else said they were rubbish'. Your business is unique to you. So you will have different chemistry.

The attitude to have as you network is - not to knock a gift horse in the mouth. Start close to home. What is available to you for free? Millions of taxpayer monies are given to councils, the Mayor's office, and innovation & business hubs to help small businesses. Each council has an economic development office team.

That office will and should snowball other help available to you.

Below is a pathway to use. You could set aside 2 hours to research and email several of these in one sitting. Then have an hour a week (or more in your dairy to find more people to reach out to).

The reality of business is that you are multitasking. You are managing multiple activities at once. You will have different turnaround times from different groups. Therefore, contacting one is not always dependent on another contact. You'll be surprised how many people know each other.

Paid groups of course will be quicker to respond:). With peer groups, you can build these via social media. Do your research. Avail of free events to get a feel for the group. If you don't get a good feeling, don't waste your time. But you may meet one person who recommends another group that is far more up your street.

Takeaway

It is easy to think 'Oh I better wait until 'X' is done, to speak to 'Y' person'. That just isn't feasible. You...Read More

New Year - New Acronym

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 02:12:28 -0800

Happy New Year

Yes another business acronym! But let's keep this simple. There are several strategy tools such as SWOT's and Pestel's.

But why not consider New Year to kick off your year?.

So consider -

Numbers - Costs, funding, grants, etc. Make sure you get a handle on this and get help if needed.
Environment - Your business impact. Don't claim things you cannot substantiate and note consumers and clients are making more considered purchases.
Work - It is going to take a huge amount of effort - have you set up organisational tools to help you juggle multiple balls? Set up support structures?

Yardstick - How are you going to measure progress? Are there KPIs you can set for yourself to keep you motivated and ready to pivot as you grow and learn?
Economic - Who is your target market, pricing strategy, etc?
Accountability - Take responsibility for your decisions. Do not fall into the victim trap. It might get likes, but it will turn off customers and investors.
Research - You have to research and learn for all of the above to work.

The last point is the foundation here. You can have all the ideas and energy in the world, but running around like a headless chicken is not productive. So if you have to priorities these go with 'R' first. Then N.

Avoiding the trap of false economies

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 08:36:36 -0800

Introduction

There will be a plethora of money experts talking about cost savings online. However, when running a business, some costs are not as easy to cut as you think. Compromising on quality can drive valued customers away and the cost of getting them back could be far more. So, it might instead be time to consider targeting a new segment of customers and rising your prices.

Either way, it can still be a very valuable exercise to do a mini-assessment to make sure you are getting the maximum bang for your buck.

Where to start?

General Overheads

When it comes to overheads you should once a year do a bit of shopping around. You may set this review, around key periods when companies do deals. E.G. Cyber week in November or New year deals in January. That way you may find savings with insurance, utilities, and other services.

Or as is often the case, your current supplier might offer a better deal, if you ring up and say you plan to move your account. If you don't threaten to leave, they won't be proactive to offer you a better deal.

Do you have to travel? Can the meeting be done remotely, or can you plan more strategically to pick days to pack in a few meetings in a central location?

Marketing and Advertising

Depending on the marketing services you use and the analyses you can gather, investigate which advertising platforms are working best for you. Divest from those channels that are not giving you an ROI and increase spend on the channels that are working. Assess this every month if you can. Or at least quarterly.

Do weigh up the pros and cons of outsourcing marketing services, if you are finding it hard to dedicate the time to get the most out of your advertising spend. You may find you get a better return overall, by...Read More