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Besma

@besmacc

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Finding kinder ways to live and dress
Co-Organiser @brightonfashioncollective
Studying MA Law @sussexuni

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Hi, I’m Besma 👋❤️ I’m a 32 y/o British-Iraqi woman, sustainable fashion writer, creator, and campaigner. It’s been almost 11 years since I started on this journey, so I wanted to share a bit about me and some highlights in that time!
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In 2014, I moved to Paris for my Intl. Business & French degree 🇫🇷 The French concept of provenance led me to start questioning where things came from - and I was shocked to learn about rampant exploitation of people and planet, especially in food and fashion. So, I started blogging...

In 2015, I graduated and moved to London. I would blog in the evenings and began connecting with people who felt the same - I met some of my closest friends online! 🥰

Cut to 2018, and I pivoted to working for myself. That summer, I launched @ethicalinfluencers, a free membership platform for sustainable creators. It grew to more than 1,400 members, supporting over 400 campaigns! 🙌

In 2019, I became an Ambassador for @defrauk’s Year of Green Action, engaging the public in environmental projects and climate action 🌿

In 2020, the world changed. I escaped the city to live in Brighton for the summer - and never left! My incredible boyfriend later joined me here. I began learning about intersectional environmentalism, and the importance of racial justice and climate justice.

In 2021, I took part in @thersaorg @ellenmacarthurfoundation ‘Make Fashion Circular’ course. My passion for circularity was born! ♻️

In 2023, I started volunteering with @bpecfairplanet to put on Brighton’s first Sustainable Fashion Week event, in collaboration @sewfabulousbrighton. 1,000+ people attended!✨

In 2024, I co-founded @brightonfashioncollective. Our Sustainable Fashion Week event saw 2,000+ attendees, and we won Event of the Year! 🏆

In late 2024, I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a non-cancerous brain tumour. It was a shock, and I slowed down, including the closure of @ethicalinfluencers.

In 2025, I enrolled onto the Law MA course at @sussexuni, with a view to create a greater impact in my career. Watch this space! taken in Brighton by @besmacc

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a year ago

Argyle is in for Autumn – but did it ever really leave? 🖤 Over on the blog today, my guide to styling argyle knitwear so it's timeless. Top tips:

1. Consider how argyle fits into your wardrobe 💭 Argyle is a bold, distinguished pattern. While I can’t pull off the maximalist print trend, you might want to match print with more print, or choose colours that you can pull out from the pattern itself and into your outfit. Personally, I prefer to play with texture rather than colour, so my black cardigan, which features a subtle, sheer interpretation of the pattern, stands out.

2. Distill the trend and make it timeless 🕰️ Argyle has been around since the 1600s, so it’s not likely to date, unlike other trends today. Really, think about whether it goes with your current wardrobe – do you wear a lot of knitwear? Bold prints? Colourful brights or muted tones? Consider how you already dress, and then identify pieces that match. Not only match, but are wearable together!

3. With knitwear, always check the label 🐑 By that I mean, look out for the fabric composition. Organic wool, recycled wool, and organic cotton are my favourite fibres for knitwear that’s kind to our planet. My cardigan is made with 93% RWS Wool, while the sheer panels are made from recycled polyamide.

For the full piece head to my site ✨

1.
Cardigan – @allsaints via @veryuk
Belt – @apc_paris
Jeans – @baukjen
Boots – second-hand from @thrift_plus_uk

2.
Cardigan – @allsaints via @veryuk
Skirt – second-hand and label-less!
Tights – @sheertex
Pumps – @jonak
Bracelet – @monarc_jewellery

📸 @chloeimbach taken in Brighton by @besmacc

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2 days ago

Back to university in @fabrique.official 📚 New on the blog today, my review of Fabrique’s Designer Collective, a novel pairing of world designers with quality materials and small batch production.

From the collection I’m wearing the Monti East West Shoulder Bag and Kaia Buttoned Cardigan, designed by Sophie Jousse and Mark Tan. Both are beautifully made and strikingly designed.

In a world where transparency isn’t always a priority, it’s great to discover a new platform showcasing designers and quality fashion. 💫

(P.S. Wish me luck with all this Law reading - it’s already kicking my butt!)

Outfit details:
Kaia Cardigan @fabrique.official (gifted)
Trousers @wolfandbadger
Monti Bag @fabrique.official (gifted)

📸 @chloeimbach taken in United Kingdom by @besmacc

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9 days ago

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11 days ago

Putting my feet up after a busy week! 💖 Ever since I visited Marrakech, I’ve aspired to have my very own Moroccan rug. These beautiful, handmade rugs are synonymous with the region, created by the indigenous Amazigh people of North Africa. It’s taken a few years, but with the help of @casaamar.it, my living room is finally home to a high-quality, high-pile, Moroccan rug. Head to my site for the full review of the sourcing process with Casa Amar – and why I’d highly encourage you to work with them if you’re looking for the same 🇲🇦

📸 @chloeimbach

(Ad - Gifted) taken in United Kingdom by @besmacc

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18 days ago

Had a ball wearing @dream.couture.club on the runway at Slow Fashion Week’s launch party last night! 🤍 Thanks to @adam__lawton for the hair, @marrenhager for runway management, @seachangewine for the drinks and @stanley_road_store for hosting!

Check out what else is on this week: @brightonfashioncollective ❤️

Photography by @malcolm.tam taken in Brighton by @besmacc

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a month ago

Mexico pt. II 🇲🇽 For the chicas!

1. A typical plandid
2. Rosaliaaaaa 🌹
3. Frida 🌹🌹🌹
4. Girls out on the ciudad 💃💃
5. 🦋
6. Ancient 🐈🐈‍⬛
7. A woven history
8. Mexican Queen
9. Mexican Queen II

Full travel guide now on my site 😘 taken in Ciudad de México by @besmacc

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a month ago

Mexico 🇲🇽 Part I ❤️

1. Summer outfit repeating with @heylola_glass
2. 👯‍♀️💔
3. Insurgentes
4. Green, white, and red
5. As above
6. Chilaquiles, as above
7. Caramello’s shop 🐈
8. Mexico, upcycled edition
9. Mexican Grackle 🐦‍⬛
10. Mexican love ❤️
11. @madocafemx
12. Piedra del Sol
13. El sol ☀️
14. Viva la vida 🍉 taken in Roma Norte Ciudad de México by @besmacc

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a month ago

Celebrating 12 years of Curiously Conscious 🤍 Thank you all for following my journey into the world of sustainable-everything these past 12 years! I had the pleasure of shooting with @chloeimbach last week so stay tuned for more content coming your way - here’s a sneak peek 😘
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Outfit details:
Top @ninety_percent
Skirt was my grandma’s
Tabis @woodchucksato_official
Earrings @wolfandbadger
Bag found in @martletscharityshops
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📸 @chloeimbach taken in Brighton by @besmacc

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3 months ago

Luxury is dead and anti-luxury is just another trend...

Over the weekend I watched @orenmeetsworld’s video on luxury regret and the ‘Rimowa effect’ - I’ll reshare it, go watch it if you haven’t seen it. He boils the world of luxury fashion and consumer goods into a three-part pipeline: Luxury > Anti-luxury > Quality.

This is because flashy influencer brands are featured within “luxury” content. Just like fast fashion, these viral brands are aligning themselves with millionaire lifestyles - jet-setting to Lake Como, strolling down Sunset Boulevard. Just look at these four brands - if you didn’t know the difference between Audemars Piguet, Boohoo, H&M, and Rimowa, could you really tell apart their price-points or quality?

Luxury used to justify its pricing in quality, heritage, and craftsmanship, but that has almost entirely been eroded away now: fast fashion invites you to “shop like a billionaire”, luxury fashion has been caught using exploited labour and materials, and shopping for an Hermes bag now pays for itself via a viral video.

So, you move to anti-luxury.

Except, anti-luxury is also a trend. Just like its predecessor quiet luxury, it’s an attempt to channel consumerist desires into what feels like “clever” purchases. It’s split into two camps: those that will switch to buying a 100% cashmere jumper from Uniqlo, or “classic” furniture from IKEA, and those that want an £800 pre-aged pair of jeans from Rick Owens, or a £3000 Prada bag with ready-made patina.

And that’s where I want to interject into this conversation in some way. What happened to craftsmanship? To artisanal techniques? To paying makers fairly? And wearing everything for years? Isn’t that the true luxury?

Value should come from values.

In what seems to be a more conservative time for fashion, luxury has truly gotten lost. Personally, I’m interested in quality, craft, and care. It’s the same schtick I’ve been on since I started writing about sustainable fashion 12 years ago. Call it whatever you like, it’s what really matters.

What do you think? Let me know in the poll 💭 taken in United Kingdom by @besmacc

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2 months ago

Ugly shoes are in, and tabis are the trailblazer. Why? Because something is *off* in the fashion industry.
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While I typically maintain a timeless wardrobe, these shoes have come to represent my own quiet discomfort that I feel, not just in my wardrobe, nor in the fashion industry, but in the world as a whole.
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A lot of fashion designers have reflected the uneasy political climate in their collections this year, but I also feel the sustainable fashion space is slipping. What was once full of vibrant, exciting, circular ventures has retreated into a more conservative, less auspicious, marketplace.
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At first I thought it was because my own viewpoint had changed - I took a hiatus to start on a Masters degree - but over the summer I’ve found myself less and less inspired, watching small brave brands shut down and my feed splitting into bland ads and videos of a world on fire.
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When planning my review of these @woodchucksato_official tabi shoes, I ended up spilling over into this sentiment. I even told my photographer I wanted to style this like The Stepford Wives; everything looks so polished and perfect on the outside, but it’s all a bit uncanny valley...
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Head to my blog for the review, or stay here and let’s discuss the state of the world... 🫠
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📸 @chloeimbach taken in Brighton by @besmacc

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2 months ago

All laced up 🤎🩵 My guide to sustainable sneakers has a fresh new update with these @sayebrand M26 Dawn sneakers and their retro style. Head to my site for the full review, plus my favourite plastic-free sneakers, running shoes, and more.

Outfit details:
Dress @ninety_percent
Bag @_alienina_
Sneakers @sayebrand (gifted)
Shirt @jw_anderson via @vinted via my boyfriend
Skirt is labelless, also @vinted

📸 @chloeimbach taken in Brighton by @besmacc

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2 months ago