Mindful Consumption in 2025: How-to Shop Sustainably
In a world obsessed with the constant consumer cycle, how can we maintain unique self-expression while balancing overconsumption? How do we “push the boundaries of what shape can be” in forming our visual identity and reject “what we have been told to conform to”?
A collector and enthusiast of vintage fashion for years, Maddi Samuel — a Fresher-certified style icon — has always felt a connection with clothing revival,
“I started working in vintage fashion… and that gave me a deeper appreciation for fashion — how delicate it is but how much it lasts.”
She “invest[s] in pieces because [she] know[s] they’re gonna last since they’ve already lasted 50 years.”
In discussing Issue #4’s theme, Maddi and I agreed that conformity was the enemy of Form. Where form utilises shape, texture, and history to translate our complex identities into a visual form, conformity seeks to force people to “fit into standards” and destroy this delicate exchange.
Further, in a world littered with fast fashion, the search for our perfect style is limited to slave-made plastic. Even frequenting op-shops risks overconsumption due to the lower prices. Maddi’s tip? Buy what “tick[s] off all your boxes” so that you “really love what you’re wearing”. The cycle of consumption is inescapable, so think critically about your purchases. Maddi recommends, “Only buy natural fibres, like cottons, linens”, rather than “buying plastic and putting [it] back into [the world]”.
We tasked Maddi with creating an outfit on Form from her closet of sustainable and vintage fashion. She wanted to “play with shape” through “asymmetrics, triangles and patterns”. With the asymmetrical hemline, gorgeous burgundy diamond-pattern and stand-out blue suede boots, it's clear she did just that. It is a masterful recreation of an authentic ‘70s feel, and although it only consists of three pieces, it is an incredibly creative outfit. The best part, however? It screams MADDI.
“You need to look at the mirror in the morning and tell yourself ‘not everyone is going to like what I’m wearing today, but I feel so beautiful right now’”
That “bravery and confidence”? The sexiest thing a person can wear.
See Issue 4: Form