Jo 21/04/2019 Jo 21/04/2019

A Slow Fashion Revolution

It’s Fashion Revolution Week & we’re turning two! Learn about the slow fashion movement and how we can stop 300,000 tons of clothes going to landfill

It’s Fashion Revolution week and the spotlight’s on the sustainable slow fashion movement. It’s also our second birthday this month and in celebration we’re giving away some upcycled loveliness.

We’re living in a throwaway culture where newness is KING. In a world of over production and over consumption – it’s time to live more simply and more slowly.

300,000 tons of used clothes go to landfill in the UK every year. Worryingly over the last 15 years clothing production has doubled and the number of times a garment is worn has decreased by 36%.

Once they hit landfill, decomposing clothing releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. But the good news is for every ton of discarded textiles that is reused, 20 tons of CO2 is saved from entering the atmosphere.

So where do we start?

Become a Conscious consumer

We’ve turned shopping into hobby, perhaps forsaking the pastimes of yesteryear like embroidery and art. Instead we’ve turned to retail therapy and it’s costing us all. Are we looking for happiness in all the wrong places? It’s not too late, we can choose to slow down and consume more consciously.

Being a conscious consumer sees us making eco-friendly choices alongside humane working practices. It’s about considering our impact on people and planet.

Shopping Vintage + Second Hand First

Shopping preloved is an adventure and more of an experience than a chore. When you shop second hand you’re supporting causes and saving clothes from landfill, so feel good factor is way up!

Shopping vintage develops your personal style. You soon learn what looks good on you and select garments on fabric and fit over seasonal trends. You can shop all eras at once and vintage pieces are easy to fall in love with as they’re unique and evoke memories.

• Be open minded and try pieces on

• Don’t rush, slow down and savior the experience

• Go for natural fibres like cotton, wool and linen

• Details and lining indicate quality

• Seek out heritage brands like Jaegar + Aquascutum

Check out Oxfam’s handy vintage clothes care guide

how to shop sustainably

Sustainable fashion is about changing our mindset and exploring new ways to shop. Again it’s about slowing down and stopping to think before we make a purchase. It’s quality over quantity, investing in pieces that will last and when they start to wear, repairing and restoring.

Support small business and companies doing good things, offsetting impact and helping people and planet. Apps like Good On You and Co Go and websites like Compare Ethics can help you make good decisions.

• Buy only what you need

• Aim for 30 wears per piece

• Fits into your current wardrobe

• Shop vintage and second hand first

• Shop sustainable and ethical brands

• Shop local, handmade and fairtrade

upcycled giveaway

In celebration of Fashion Revolution and Peep turning two we’re giving away an upcycled package for you and a friend to have your favourite frames completely refurbished.

We’ve also teamed up with the lovely Ella at Bear Shark Embroidery and she’s going to hand embroider the lucky winners a personalised glasses pouch made from recycled vintage fabric!

Scratches, dents and dinges will be a thing of the past. They’ll be looking like as good as new when we’ve finished polishing, primping and preening. Add a new prescription into your cherished vintage glasses or change them up and go for a coloured sunglasses tint.

Enter over on Instagram and tag in a friend here goes live Monday 22 April. Update: Giveaway is now closed.

Join the Fashion Revolution and show support by buying the Fanzine, reposting on social and asking our favourite brands ‘Who Made My Clothes?’

Jo 06/04/2018 Jo 06/04/2018

We Got Bottle

Did you see Blue Planet? Then you'll know single use plastics have got to go. Find out what we're recycling our plastic bottles into...

Did you see Blue Planet? Then you'll know single use plastics have got to go. For those that didn't, eight million metric tonnes of plastic is dumped into the ocean each year and it's harming both the sea creatures and the environment.

Soon our seas will be more plastic than fish.

Globally we go through a million plastic water bottles a minute. BPA is thought to leach into food, drink and harbour bacteria - the time is now to switch to a reusable bottle or cup!

We'll be upcycling those bottles into our new cleaning cloths.

Our exclusive Peep branded cloths are made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles and are the perfect way to keep yourself smear free. Soft, durable, anti-static and washable on a low temp - everything you could ask for in a cloth.

Clean your glasses while saving the planet.

All in a day's work,

You're welcome.

Jo 16/03/2018 Jo 16/03/2018

Coming Clean

Eyewear can last a lifetime if looked after, so treat these babies well. Here's our how-to guide just in time for Spring...

You've spent time selecting the perfect pair, agonising over shape and colour. Help your glasses last by looking after them and treat these babies well. Here's some hints and tips to help...

Store it

Store in the case baby - it's their natural habitat and not only keeps dust and dirt away, stops them becoming bent or broken. Protect from handbag hazards and stow in the glove box on a summers day - don't leave them on your dashboard - they can't take the heat.

Always place your precious eyewear lens up - otherwise it's just asking for trouble.

Clean up your act

The cleaner you keep your glasses, the less your eyes will strain to see through dust and dirt.

Clean with the cloth people - only the cloth.

NEVER dry your lenses with paper towels, tissues, napkins or the end of your top - you know who you are! These materials have a textured surface which can scratch the lenses.

You can keep your frames and lenses looking good by regular cleaning with simple warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid scented soaps or ones containing dyes. After rinsing dry your frame thoroughly with a smooth, clean, lint-free cloth like the one you get from us.

You can use lens cleaners, which work well, but make sure they're suitable for coated lenses before using.

Be sure to avoid harsh chemical cleaners on your frames or lenses!

Damage control

If your frames do suffer some scratching don't panic, we offer a polishing service for acetate/optyl frames to remove scratches and restore lustre.

If your frame or lenses have sustained serious trauma or if you just fancy a different tint or prescription, get in touch, we're here to help.

Jo 15/02/2018 Jo 15/02/2018

Peep + Trees for Cities

For every pair of glasses you buy - we'll plant a tree! We team up with tree charity Trees for Cities to breathe life back into urban areas...

For every pair of glasses or sunglasses you buy...

we plant a tree!

Perfect Partners

We've been searching for the perfect partner for Peep since we launched last April. We knew we wanted to create a business that 'did no harm' to both people and planet. Now we want to go one better and give something back.

Match made in heaven

Sustainability is at the heart of Peep's ethos and we're committed to preserving the environment. Our dream was not only to show people how beautiful vintage glasses are and save frames from landfill, but also to do good and now we can. We've partnered up with the guys at Trees for Cities to help breathe new life back into urban areas.

See the wood for the trees

Trees are vital to our ecosystem and remove tonnes of air pollution, including carbon dioxide, dust and other gaseous toxins.

Climate change has caused an increase in pests and disease, which had never previously affected the UK. The impact has been an unprecedented threat to some iconic tree species, including ash, horse chestnut and oak. Planting a range of tree species builds resistance to pests and disease.

For every pair of glasses sold, our new friends at Trees for Cities will plant a tree where it's needed most. This way, we not only help regenerate our tree population, we can bring communities back to nature.

Charity begins at home

We wanted to work with a charity closer to home. Sight charities like Vision Aid Overseas do a fantastic job and are well supported by the optical industry.

We've chosen to work with a smaller greener charity, making a difference on our doorstep.

If you're interested in donating your old glasses to be recycled, visit our Donate page.

Tree Love

Trees for Cities are a brilliant charity that work both within the UK and overseas to create greener cities.

From urban forests to the creation of edible playgrounds, Trees for Cities strengthen communities by creating green spaces through volunteering opportunities.

Inspiring children to grow and eat good food while connecting with nature.

Trees are an excellent remedy for improving our mental health and wellbeing. A growing body of research is showing that spending time around trees and nature including 'Forest Bathing' reduces depression and anxiety, especially when combined with exercise.

Trees for Cities have planted over 800,000 trees in cities and we want to help them achieve their next target of 1 million urban trees by 2020.

Help us help them meet this exciting milestone by shopping with Peep or making a Donation here.