By working with the BBC, Niomi starred in a viral documentary on the topic of sustainable fashion, and took it a step further by working with UK based charities to reduce the amount of clothing waste.
What are your go-to brands for sustainability? Do you have any sustainable wardrobe staples you can’t live without?
I recently discovered the brand Armed Angels based in Germany, which is great for basic essentials made from high quality, sustainable materials including recycled and natural fibres. Jeans are a staple in most people’s wardrobes, and I have found there are plenty of sustainable denim products on the market from brands such as Iden Denim, Monkee Genes, and Mud Jeans, all of which have a variety of shapes and styles made from innovative, recycled materials. I love the sustainable collection from Selected Femme, sold on Asos, which is growing more and more every season, and for a bit of luxury, Mother of Pearl have an inspiring ethos.
We really admired the action you took to advocating shopping consciously after your involvement in BBC’s ‘Fashion’s Dirty Secrets’ documentary. Can you talk us through how that changed the way you saw fashion and how that encouraged you to be more sustainable with fashion?
I was interested in sustainable living before the documentary, and knew we as a society needed to make a change with our buying culture, but speaking to Stacey on the documentary really opened my eyes up to how the fast fashion industry is hugely impacting the environment. This was a great affirmation to the direction I was moving in, and made me even more conscious of my lifestyle. I am still learning new things every singIe day, including how it’s almost impossible to be 100% sustainable! But I’m finding it exciting and somewhat rewarding to know that I am doing my bit and hopefully spreading a positive message. I love fashion as much as I did before, I am just now making more conscious decisions with what I buy, meaning I am actually feeling far more connected to the clothes in my wardrobe than I ever have done before.
How has your approach to sustainable living evolved alongside your career an influencer?
I am speaking openly and honestly about sustainability and how we can all do our bit. As with any topics I am interested in, whether it’s plant-based eating or fitness, I take the approach of spreading a positive message about it, rather than preaching about how everyone needs to change because they’re making ‘bad’ decisions and killing the planet! I also believe the brands, manufacturers, and corporations need to be making the major changes, instead of the consumer feeling guilty about their choices. It’s important that we make little changes in our lives, but we also need to use our voices to target the large corporations we’re buying from too.
How has living sustainably improved your overall quality of life?
Honestly, I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I had been hearing for a long time about the impacts of fast fashion on the environment, and the way workers are treated, but I never knew how to deal with it and how I could make a difference. I would find myself still buying clothing frequently, but feel guilty about it. Now, I know that I am doing as best I can with my choices. I’m most definitely not perfect, and I have a long way to go yet, but I am excited to learn more and continue to move in the right direction.