The Sustainable Winter Coat, all time best investment

To discuss Winter Coat Trends this season doesn’t make much sense, does it? However,  what I find relevant to talk about are sustainable winter coats made of recycled fabrics, winter layering and styling even in a time when many of us have made it a priority to stay at home, safe and sound to avoid catching the flu, or worse corona. In such a time even more relevant to me seems to highlight timeless winter style, how can we achieve it and build a wardrobe of more sustainable iconic pieces in our wardrobe without trying so hard. 

Truth be told, If I tried to describe how these “Corona times” have influenced my style I can only describe it as becoming more eclectic, bohemian and nostalgic. I’ve started wearing all my favourite pieces at once, layering them and creating socially unconventional looks, which feel very natural. It’s odd, considering none of us have been very social in the past 10 months.

I feel being forced to spend more time at home and not being able to travel, has awoken the nomad in me and nomadic style is all about mixing without matching, layering and choosing oversized pieces. In other words my has started to reflect more the inner yearning for freedom, for traveling and simply living more with every breath that I take.

If you’re not familiar with nomadic style, it developed as a result of the nomads and gypsies travelling often. They would constantly travel from one place to another, which meant it was necessary to travel light. This led to wearing a variety of clothing layers that could be well adapted to different environments. A combination of these layers created an iconic nomadic, ethnic visual look and feel. 

It might feel like the meaning of trends are lost in the times of this pandemic, as most of us have nowhere to go. This explains the nostalgic feeling, as we search through our closets to use some of our favourite pieces, things we already have. The pandemic has stirred up a wealth of emotions, and while style and trends may seem like they don’t mean anything during this time, it is actually a time to be inspired to create, re-create, recycle and to be grateful for the things we already have. Despite the turbulent times we have all had to face this year, I’ve drawn inspiration from people like Olga Mul, a fashion designer who I found thanks to my work with By Adushka. 

Olga Mul is based in Italy, a work from home mum who in the times of pandemic started reusing old sofas fabrics and other clothes to make her sustainable handcrafted coats.

I found her thanks to my recent work with By Adushka as we share the same passion for craftsmanship, storytelling and eclectic bohemian style. 

It is a beautiful thought that even if we can’t travel as often as we would like during this pandemic, we can express our desire to see the world around us through the things we wear, or the trends that we can choose to keep alive. 

Even more so, I recognise in Olga Mul’s sustainable coats a reflection of our humanity sense of belonging to the planet Earth, a sense of peace, heritage and connection between each other.

As for styling Olga Mul’s coats – I’ve always loved layering and I am the kind who loves wearing all my favourite wardrobe pieces in one look. Especially now when there is nowhere to go and dress up for. So here are a few tips and ideas to share with you about sustainable winter coats styling and layering:

• Use a faux-fur vest or any vest over your favourite winter coat. 
• Double up on your jackets by wearing a long, heavy coat with a smaller jacket underneath. 
• I sometimes wear a poncho or a big scarf over a long coat to feel warmer and always a more sophisticated knee high boot since I like to look elegant and tall. 
• A favourite style combo is a turtle neck, an elegant suit layered with a winter coat. 
• Another fresh look, if you are a fan of Bohemian style, which I favour very much in the last couple of years, is choosing slightly oversized jackets, coats, and kimonos with handcrafted trims and decorative fringes. A simple knit dress with cowboy boots under such outwear will look chic and very bohemian!  

These are just a few examples. The most important is to play around and remember the beauty of winter layering is that there is no real structure to it. You can look and feel good, by simply using your favourite hoodie, shirts, and using your favourite winter coats over it. If you can grab onto a few handcrafted, recycled coats, like the Olga Mul sustainable coats, or discover good quality velvet coats and kimonos from other brands, or simply your local thrift store. You’re guaranteed to feel a sense of deep connection, warmth and timeless luxury. 

Finally: I think more than ever, the pandemic has us re-think our spending habits and how fashion has affected our planet’s health. As a result, we have started looking for items that have no expiration date, clothes that have nothing to do with seasonal trends, that remain relevant and cool through the years, clothes that we connect to, clothes with stories that touch our hearts, clothes made by hand, unique and long lasting. But more importantly: Let’s not forget that luxury is not just an expensive Brand name. For me Time is Luxury and that’s why handmade pieces that take days and special skills to be made are luxurious. For me, without a doubt, a piece of luxury preserves know-how and enhances manual skills, plus, it is made with care for the planet and humankind.