DISCOVER / Why food with fashion?

Sometimes it can seem an unusual combination! Here is a little more about why we champion the two as a complementary match.

When we found our two storey shop building on North Street in Wellington in 2016 it had perfect potential to combine two things we loved - food and fashion. Stefano could run his Italian deli from downstairs and upstairs would be developed into a style boutique. Very early on we realised comparisons could (and should) be drawn between the two fields, and so we sought to bring the same principles of the Italian slow food movement that inspired our deli into the fashion collection upstairs.

When following the principles outlined of Slow Food - good, clean and fair - these are some of the ways we aim to link them to the clothing side of our small business.

Good is about high quality, flavourful, and nutritious food, in fashion this translates to well made, cared for and timeless styles.

Clean is interpreted as support for sustainable means of food production that do not harm the environment, along with keeping food waste to a minimum. In fashion this can be seen as the use of natural fabrics and methods, slower and more responsible production as opposed to churning out trend after trend, along with a commitment to make use of and care for what is already in circulation.

Fair means fair working conditions and pay for those people who produce the food, and likewise the clothes that we wear. I am interested in the story of every garment I stock at the shop whether that be who made it or the life it has enjoyed with a previous wearer. Just as provenance is important with the food we choose for the shelves at Olive and Rosy, no new clothing is stocked unless we believe it has been made in fair conditions.

Also in the name of fairness, slow fashion choices should be accessible to all, something that can be particularly challenging at a time when many people have been struggling with the cost of living. We consider our Relove collection and organisation of community clothes swapping as solutions to this, both aspects that have grown over recent years.

Please get in touch if you'd like to know more about our clothes swapping events or to make use of our dress agency service where we can resell your clothing for you.

Learn more about Slow Food in the UK here