Alium Bias, a beginning
My wardrobe spills out of its doors, on to the floor and across chairs, shelves and tables. Over the years it has filled cupboards, been packed in suitcases, lost, damaged and cut up. I have donated, thrown away and swapped; shopped impulsively, shopped when sad, shopped for a treat and when bored. I’ve bought new clothes, old clothes, second-hand ‘new’ clothes and investment clothes. This story isn’t exclusive to me and my wardrobe; it is repeated next door, down the road and across the world.
I’ve always fancied other people’s clothes, from my mum’s outfit at my own christening to the girls in Robert Palmer videos, Princess Di’s school run wares to anything worn by Cher, to me everything looks better on other people. This obsession over the wardrobes of other people has lead to hunts through charity shops, vintage stores and online pre-loved sites. The wealth of what is out there always leaves me thinking “why do we need more?”. Vintage clothes were once dusty, used for theme parties or for serious era-dressing, but now we’re appreciating them for what they are - clothes. Nothing more, nothing less. Just clothes that can easily fit into modern aesthetic wardrobes without the carbon footprint.
The impact the fashion industry has had on the world is monumental. Production, transport, marketing, sales. It all carries a heavy footprint that can’t be ignored. The onslaught of fast-fashion companies, spurred on by the advent of online shopping, has exacerbated an already troubled industry. Infamous £1 bikinis, outfits worn just once, same day delivery and questionable pricing has cast a dark shadow across a vibrant and vital sector. While reverting to a buy it, wear it, repair it industry would be the environmental ideal, we all know this is far from possible - I am the first to admit I love a new item, hunting for it, getting it, trying it out - the circular economy is a pretty decent second.
As I switched to a more circular way of buying my own wardrobe, I found what I wanted to do - be a part of this change. Inspired by other stores I have seen, and shopped from, this is what I wanted to do. And so, after a long bath and a few Dark & Stormys, Alium Bias was born.
It means ‘another/different inclination or outlook’. You don’t need a radical shift in fashion mindset, rather a twist in what we all do. My aim is to find pieces from decades gone by that fit seamlessly into modern wardrobes, filling gaps and quenching that need for the new. We’ll be curating drops of around 10 pieces of clothing and accessories, bringing seasonal basics as well as trend pieces, to help you find pieces you never knew existed.
For now, sign up for newsletters to be the first to see the new drops and follow us on Instagram (@alium.bias) for sneak peeks and announcements.
Welcome to Alium Bias!