Veja Nova Trainers Review

Veja trainers seem to be absolutely everywhere at the moment, and for once, this is a trend that I find myself getting 100% behind. The brand Veja are helping to make sustainability cool. No longer are the days where sustainability is synonymous with hemp clothing or making your clothes out of old curtains. Instead the term has been given a whole new lease of life thanks to brands like Veja proving that you can have fashion without compromising your morals.
This hype surrounding Veja is all well and good, but are they more than just a few buzz words? So, on behalf of all fashion lovers, I have taken the plunge and jumped right into a pair of Veja Nova Canvas trainers!

Who are Veja?

So I have realised that not everyone knows what exactly these trainers are and why they are so special. Basically the company prides itself on its transparency. It claims to provide the workers who make the trainers with a fair wage and ethical working conditions. In addition to this, they use materials which are all ecological, such as wild rubber, sourced from the Amazon rain forest, organic cotton, and recycled plastic bottles to create part of the soles of the trainers. All of this equates to what has been hailed as the most sustainable trainers on the planet!

The Choice

Veja offer a wide range of shoes for you to choose from, ranging from leather, vegan leather, to canvas. You have a lot of choice. The styles are all classic and are far from what I would describe as a 'trend' item because of their timeless look. I personally chose to go with a pair of canvas trainers because I don't currently own a pair, and I liked that they were vegan friendly. After choosing a style, I was left with the task of choosing a colourway. I know, a bit of a standard Erin choice, but I went with the burgundy because I find that it works with most of my wardrobe which I already own.
They are available from most places now, I bought mine from Net-A-Porter.

Comfort

After wearing these for about six months, I have found these to be so incredibly comfortable! I have had absolutely no problems in regard to blisters, rubbing, or anything of the sorts. They have fit me really well, as a true size 4. I have walked all around Stratford exploring the land of Shakespeare and Warwick Castle in them and found them to be just as comfy at the end of the day as I did at the start!
The shoes have held up really well against rain and bad weather, never letting any water in, which my feet were very grateful in to say the least, but I did notice that there was some dye transfer from the red onto my laces and slightly around the eyelets, which is a tad concerning but I will just waterproof them again as the website suggests and see if this sorts the issue.

My Issues

Unfortunately, over the course of the six moths that I have had these trainers, I have had a few issues. Firstly, the issue regarding the red dye transfer, I tried to clean this several times, but have never been able to quite get rid of this staining fully. It isn't terribly noticeable from far away, but it does bother me, especially because of the price of the trainers. Another issue that I had this week is the laces in the trainers breaking, I realise that this isn't a major issue, but again, for trainers at this price, I did expect a little bit better quality.


The Final Verdict

Basically, since I bought them, they haven't really been off my feet. They work with every outfit I own, whether they be to dress down a pair of work trousers, or to wear with a basic outfit. I really love the detail of the red V on the sides, because it adds a really nice touch to the overall look and makes them a bit more distinctive. These truly are a great pair of trainers and I do recommend them. They are comfy, durable, and look great! There are some issues which bother me such as the staining and the laces breaking, neither are massive problems or enough to stop me loving the trainers, but they are enough to make me question whether I would buy another pair.



For more information and stockists, check out the Veja website here!

Outfit Repeater

Is there really anything worse than being an outfit repeater? Turning up at a party in a dress that you wore, dare I say it, to another party?
Well, yes, there obviously is. But it is hard to remember this sometimes when we live in such a throw away culture, with social media making it a sin to wear the same outfit twice, and brands constantly encouraging and tempting us to buy something new. I know that I have felt this way so many times before, second guessing what I was wearing to a party or an event simply because I knew that I had been seen in that outfit before, and I'm gong to be honest, more often than not I would give into this thought and make the order...
Fast fashion brands like Boohoo, Missguided, and Pretty Little Thing, make this all the more simple a trap to fall into with their ridiculously cheap clothes. It really is so easy to do, falling into the cycle of ordering something new, having it delivered straight to your door, ready for the party, for it to ultimately meet the same fate as the outfits which have gone before them, to live in the back of your wardrobe, never to be worn again...
Like I said, I have done this about a million times before, because it has become the norm, to do so, and I have never really second guessed this process before, but now, after doing this for several years, I've now been left with a wardrobe of clothes and I'm now in the process of trying to sell all of these sadly unloved, and once worn outfits, hopefully giving them a new lease of life!

Whilst I am currently trying to embrace my new life as an outfit repeater, I do sometimes find myself feeling a bit self conscious about it, worrying -irrationally- that people are judging me, for wearing something twice in one week. What I am wearing is clean, fresh, and in good condition so that isn't the issue, so what is? What is so wrong with wearing an outfit which you love and makes you feel good about yourself? Radiating confidence for all to see. And ultimately what I am trying to get at is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, and most likely nobody else really cares that you have worn the same outfit twice in one week, or that you decided to make that pink dress your go to party look!

So what I'm trying to say, in so many words, is don that outfit you wore only the other day because you felt great in it, and wear it with pride, as you adopt the title of 'Outfit Repeater'.

Everyday Changes to Tackle Climate Change

So I think that we are all aware of the current situation regarding climate change, what with the national climate strike which took place last Friday. Although I agree that this was a really great way to bring the conversation into the home, I don't think that we should be leaving the situation entirely up to the Government. This attitude of placing the onus entirely upon someone or something else is honestly, quite irresponsible. 
So, what is it that you can actually do to make a difference in your everyday life?

Eat Less Red Meat

As preachy as I may sound, it is now official: Cutting out red meat, dairy, or even going fully vegan, is one of the best ways to help tackle climate change. The report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said that switching to a plant based diet is an effective way to both free up land and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. So many people are put off a meat free meal because they think that it has to be expensive, complicated, or a bit weird. In reality though most people eat meat free meals without even noticing. A bowl of tomato pasta is vegan, so is a jacket potato with beans, a vegetable curry, and so many more simple meals where you wouldn't even miss the meat. So maybe have a think about what you eat, and consider going meat free one day a week to start, or instead of 
having a meat chilli, have a vegetable one. Who knows, you may even enjoy it!

Buy Fewer New Clothes

Again, I probably sound a bit like a broken record here, but it is a pretty simple way of cutting down on your consumption of new clothes. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean no longer buying clothes, but maybe before you buy that new dress, consider whether you really need it, or maybe even check out eBay or Depop first to see if you can grab yourself a bargain! There is an awful lot of water and chemicals that go into creating clothes. I myself was shocked when I found out that it takes 1,800 gallons of water to make just one pair of blue jeans. 

Bring your Own Bag

This isn't anything new, but another super simple way to cut down on your plastics is to remember to bring your own bag rather than buying a plastic bag every time that you go to the shops! This is such an easy thing, get a fold up bag and just pop it into your normal bag and keep it in there in case of any unexpected buys. I've started doing this the last few weeks and I can't deny the little thrill I feel when I whip out my little cotton tote and say, I don't need a bag. Personally I'm loving using cotton tote bags because they still look cute and they are so easy to pop on your shoulder! I recommend checking out LouiScott, there is a great range of sustainably sourced, ethical, cotton tote bags!

Cut Down on Single Use Plastics

Around 300 million tonnes of plastic are created each year and only half of it is actually recyclable! 

So what can we do instead? Say no to plastic straws, and instead pick up reusable metal straws or easily recyclable paper straws. Switch over to a biodegradable toothbrush instead of the standard plastic one, buy a reusable coffee cup or water bottle, there are so many incredible options out there now for you to use instead of plastics, and more often than not, they end up saving you money!

So there you have it, some simple ways for you to tackle climate change in your every day life, without even noticing it! I would love to hear if you have any tips or tricks!