Article Source: Sioda
Last Updated: 12 May 2021 13:31
‘Sioda’ (Gaelic for silk), is the first business in Scotland to provide a monthly subscription service where women can rent stylish daywear and occasion-wear from high end designer labels such as Reiss, Whistles, French Connection, Hobbs, Coast and Jaeger in sizes ranging from 4-24.
With a strong environmental ethos, the business has been launched to counter the throwaway fashion culture that exists and ensure that women of all shapes and sizes can still look and feel fantastic in stunning key wardrobe pieces in a cost-effective way.
Managing Director, Naomi Ross, was inspired to launch the business with Commercial Director Alex McKenna after seeing a gap in the market in Scotland for women who want to be fashionable and shop ethically but are time-poor to source these quality investment pieces themselves second hand.
Naomi said: “Team Sioda is determined to disrupt the fast fashion industry’s ‘make, wear once and dispose’ approach and offer women a mainstream alternative - to rent beautiful high-quality clothes from our website, via affordable payment models.
“We are committed to bring widespread change to the way society consumes fashion and to tackle some of the image-based challenges inequality can bring.”
She added: “Many people don’t have the time or energy to spend searching in charity shops for key pieces. Our team at Sioda have done the hard work for them, so they can visit our site and browse a range of gorgeous timeless fashion items from their sofa then have them delivered to their door to wear for 4 weeks.
“With key pieces of quality luxury clothing and tailoring, we can give women body confidence - whatever their size - in a cost-effective way whilst helping the environment.
“With our Sioda subscription service, customers can try out items of clothing to see if they like the style or fit of something without the commitment and large financial outlay for an item which may otherwise have ended up relegated to the back of their wardrobe after a season. This helps reduce the number of ‘fast fashion’ items of clothing being purchased which may end up in landfill.”
Customers can be confident in Sioda’s green credentials. Worn returned items are cleaned with a steam closet care system (certified against COVID), using environmentally friendly products and everything from the packaging to their bank has been carefully considered for its own environmental impact by the Sioda team. Sioda has also been certified by The Good Business Charter which recognises responsible business practices.
Naomi and Alex are already looking ahead to how they can use profits from the business to start a foundation focussing on social justice and ethical causes, and they are investigating ways that any items can be reused positively in other ways at the end of their Sioda life.
One positive initiative already underway is a partnership with Funeral Link to provide garments in kind to women accessing funeral support for loved ones.
Alex added: “At Sioda we have a real drive to be part of that societal change and take people along with us. As a society we need to do more to tackle the environmental crisis and be able to give assistance to people in our society in their time of need.
“At Sioda we feel really passionately that if we all make small steps to make a change, we can make a big difference.”
The innovative nature of the business to tackle the pollution-hungry fashion industry has already attracted support from Women's Enterprise Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, 2050 Climate Group, Scottish Enterprise, and Zero Waste Scotland.
Martin Valenti, Head of Climate Enterprise at Scottish Enterprise said: “The passion for style and sustainability is evident, Sioda UK is ahead of the game and if anyone can make a difference in the fashion industry it is them.”
Find out more HERE
Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns to the town this weekend for a two-day feastival with plenty for everyone to sample and enjoy.
READ MOREWith a staggering 14 million adults in the UK unable to swim, the team behind The Learn to Swim National Framework has launched a new campaign to encourage adults in Scotland to learn the life skill.
READ MOREStirling Highland Games and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum Forge Historic Partnership to Commemorate Stirling's 900th Anniversary.
READ MOREStirling’s Remembering Together project is set to host a celebration of community, creativity and the changing seasons on Thursday 2nd May in the heart of Cornton.
READ MORENow in its 30th year, the show is the go-to exhibition for any self-builders or renovators looking for practical tips, expert advice, or the chance to view 1000s of products.
READ MOREStirling Council is thrilled to announce the creation of Stirling Studios, which will be among the biggest film studio campuses in Scotland.
READ MOREFamilies have been following a fascinating trail featuring life-size brick models of sea creatures around Stirling at the BRICKLIVE Ocean tour which runs until Sunday April 21st.
READ MORELatest investigations by National Trust for Scotland archaeologists at Culloden Battlefield have recovered a wide range of artefacts.
READ MOREThe Stirling Highland Games Committee is thrilled to announce that former Scotland International hooker Kevin McKenzie has been appointed as the Honorary Chieftain for the 2024 Games.
READ MORE17 year old Brodie Brown from Stirling goes head-to-head for ‘Song of the Year’ at The John Lennon Songwriter Awards despite life-long physical and mental health battles.
READ MOREThe Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair (SGF) is back for 2024, celebrating its 35-year anniversary at Scone Palace.
READ MOREDobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is inviting plant enthusiasts and foodies alike to a brand new Afternoon Tea and Planting Experience at its stores nationwide.
READ MOREThis year's Springfest, set to take place this weekend, has been postponed due to forecasted high winds.
READ MOREHistoric Environment Scotland (HES) has announced that over twenty sites across the country are set to reopen their doors to visitors this weekend.
READ MOREJoin Diabetes Scotland for a virtual event about an exciting new programme supporting children and young people 11 - 25 living with type 1 diabetes - Together Type 1.
READ MORENoughties stars The Cheeky Girls, Gareth Gates and S Club 7's Bradley McIntosh have taken a sip back in time to mark the release of IRN-BRU's new 2000s-inspired flavours!
READ MOREMacdonald Hotels, one of the UK’s most popular independent hotel groups, invites you to join them for an Easter break to remember.
READ MOREA mass gathering of heavy horses assembled at the home of Scotland’s iconic Kelpies structures today (Tuesday, March 26) in celebration of the forthcoming 10th anniversary.
READ MOREDobbies is welcoming families along to 68 of its stores this Easter to enjoy an array of free activities, including its Little Seedlings Club workshop and Easter Holiday sessions.
READ MOREThe search is on to find the best of the best in Scottish tourism as the Scottish Thistles Awards returns.
READ MOREThis year's FREE Springfest is playing host to two great Scottish chefs – Niall Murray and Rohan Wadke, who will inspire visitors with their FREE cooking demonstrations.
READ MOREA host of brand-new family favourites are landing at Vue this Easter, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to spend quality family time at the big screen during the holidays.
READ MOREA range of Stirling’s outstanding independent business owners were rewarded with trophies last night at the city’s annual Business Awards.
READ MORESpring is in the air and with it comes the return of one of Scotland's largest outdoor food and drink festivals to Paisley!
READ MOREFull cast and creatives announced for the tour of Maggie & Me, the first stage adaptation of Damian Barr's award-winning memoir touring UK in May and June!
READ MOREDobbies today launches Dobbies Community Gardens, to offer support for community and charity groups across the UK to help transform, restore or start their indoor or outdoor green spaces.
READ MOREA sinister story involving 'stovies' and a grisly tale about the strange sheep of Greshornish have been chosen as the winning and runner-up stories in The Glencairn Glass crime short story competition
READ MOREThe National Trust for Scotland is going hopping mad for Easter and hosting a bumper 35 Easter egg trails at the special places in its care this spring.
READ MOREStirling’s business community is getting ready to celebrate at the city’s annual awards for independent traders.
READ MOREExcavation work on a Pictish stone of potential ‘international significance’, discovered buried in a cemetery near Doune, will begin within the next fortnight.
READ MORE