INTERVIEW #100 HOLLY INDIGO

Name: Holly Indigo

Occupation: Lifestyle Consultant for American Express

Based in: Brighton, UK

Instagram: @hollyindigo_

Hello Holly, welcome to A Sustainable Closet, can you tell us more about yourself?

Hi, thanks so much for having me! I am a 26 year old from Brighton UK, who has grown up around vintage shopping and adoring secondhand thrifting. I am a bisexual woman and have a great love for queer fashion - I love the playfulness of personal expression that comes from viewing the world from a different perspective.

Can you tell us more about your interest in clothes?

For me clothing is about having a personal style rather than following trends, I have always enjoyed being quite experimental with my clothing and see it as making a statement rather than a necessity. I have tried to approach my love for fashion from an ethical standpoint, ditching fast fashion a long time ago and focusing on items I already own or are second-hand. 

How would you describe your style?

My style definitely doesn't fit into one box, but if I had to give it a title I would probably call it Lowkey Festival Vibes - I kinda feel like you could get away with wearing any of my outfits at a festival haha. There is always a slightly extra element to an outfit of mine. 

How often do you buy clothes and do you have any favorite shops?

When I started blogging my clothing journey back in 2017 I felt a lot of pressure at the time to keep up with the influencer world of ‘always having to have a new outfit’, but I soon learned that people have short memories. You can easily rewear items, or whole outfits, time and time again and people will react with the same amount of excitement. I buy clothes in dribs and drabs, I also resell a lot of clothing on Vinted, but probably only buy an item once a month at best, usually from Vinted.  

How would you describe your closet, is it crowded, well-organised or is there any item you have more of? 

My wardrobe is a complete mess, I am a bit of a chaotic person but I have dreams of being more organised. I own a lot of coats that take up quite a lot of space, my favourite being a 70s afghan coat that I found in a charity shop 5 years ago for £10! 

What is a sustainable closet for you?

For me a sustainable closet is looking to rewear a lot of what you already have or up-cycling where you can. I can’t really afford to buy from sustainable brands, so I focus my consumption of clothing on things that are already out there to be worn. But I do understand people approach the idea of a sustainable closet from different perspectives. 

What do you think about the fashion industry?

High fashion is absolutely a form of art to me but the question is how do you support an industry without contributing to over consumption? This more lies with the fast-fashion industry, where there are countless reasons why you should stop supporting this side of the industry. From the exploitation of garment works, to the mass of textile waste thrown in landfills, to the pressure on resources used to make the clothing. 

What do you believe needs to change?

The fast-fashion industry’s greenwashing and the promotion of over-consumption by influencers needs to change immediately. I think a lot more people need to stop ignoring the facts about fast-fashion and start taking action, even if it's only a small step, at least it's a step. 

What can one do that seeks to create a more sustainable closet?

I would start with trying to re-fall in love with the clothing you already have. There are so many ways to rewear items, and taking some time to play around with things you already have is not only fun in my opinion, but you might surprise yourself with things you forgot you even had. 

We spend so many hours scrolling through fast-fashion websites, Tiktok, and Instagram, so why not use some of that time instead to browse Vinted, Depop or eBay? You can filter searches so well nowadays and it’s always exciting when you find a great deal on an item. And if you’re really unsure, don’t be afraid to ask for measurements of things etc, people are happy to DM usually. 

Also, diversify your social media feeds! Follow accounts who share sustainable fashion brands, give tips on thrifting and how to upcycle stuff! There are so many great creators to follow and get inspired by!