Eco Stylish: the Vision Lives On

Lina Vaz
Jul 27
4 min read

It’s bittersweet to share that I’ve decided to close Eco Stylish Ltd on Companies House, less than a year after formally registering the business (to apply for a grant that wasn't successful). This isn’t a decision I’ve made lightly. Eco Stylish has been a passion project and vision I’ve nurtured since 2019, when I first shared a video under the original name Swap and Buy.

Back then, I knew the fashion world needed better alternatives. I saw the problem clearly: our encouraged addiction to newness is driving relentless production, harming both people and the planet. I wanted to offer something beautiful, sustainable and social — and I still do.

Where It All Started

After being turned down twice for another grant, I chose to move forward without external funding. I designed a website, built the brand identity, and started putting the idea out into the world. Last year, I organised four events in London. By the second event, momentum began to build: we sold tickets, merchandise and the feedback was encouraging.

But the third and fourth events didn’t generate much interest. Despite all my best efforts, I found myself almost begging friends to attend. Still, the concept resonated with those I spoke to: a place to refresh your wardrobe, through a curated selection of secondhand fashion, without fuelling fast fashion’s destructive cycle.

What Makes Eco Stylish Different

The alternatives to fast fashion are growing: renting, buying from certified sustainable brands or shopping secondhand. Eco Stylish fits firmly into the third option, but with a twist.

We’re not Vinted, nor are we Vestiaire Collective, which specialises in luxury labels. Eco Stylish goes beyond brand names to focus on style and substance offline. Each piece is selected for its fabric, cut and timeless appeal: sexy, chic and seasonless. Everything is dry cleaned (so no questionable smells) and curated (so no digging through endless rails of uninspiring items).

The clothes are only part of the story. The real core of Eco Stylish lies in its events: intimate, elegant gatherings where members can swap pieces from their own wardrobes and everyone can shop unique items. These events aim to build community, spotlight people working in fashion in different roles, and inspire creative collaboration. And even with just four events, that already happened.

The Challenges Behind the Scenes

Of course, there’s another side to running a business, the side that doesn’t show up in polished event photos or social media stories. Organising each event came with hidden costs: venues, cab fares, minimum spend requirements, freelancers, website hosting, and even a business address (as I couldn’t publicly use my personal one).

Each one cost upwards of a couple thousand pounds, not to mention the time. I spent many weekends glued to my laptop, updating this Media Hub, finding event venues, writing emails, and trying to keep up with social media.

Despite sending dozens of invitations to journalists, celebrities and influencers, responses were minimal. One influencer quoted a fee that exceeded the cost of the entire event. Social platforms are no friend to small businesses that don’t pour money into paid ads, so building organic traction has been an uphill battle.

This year brought a series of personal challenges too. It took a while to regain my momentum and the first event of 2025 is only scheduled for next month.

Will the August Event Still Happen?

Possibly, if there’s enough interest. Although Eco Stylish won’t be trading, I’m happy to host the August event as a community-building experience and a marketing investment. I see it as a way to keep the Eco Stylish spirit alive and continue raising brand awareness.

This means the event may still go ahead, even without sales transactions. My goal now is to drive as much visibility and engagement as possible, with the longer-term aim of reopening the business on Companies House when the time is right, ideally with the right investment to support it properly.

So Am I Giving Up?

Absolutely not. Closing the company simply means it's not possible to continue trading at this point in time. But Eco Stylish as a brand, community and vision is far from over. I still believe we can change the way fashion works, starting with how we shop, how we share, and how we connect.

Yes, I’d love to run this full-time. Right now, like many founders, I’m juggling other work to pay the bills while trying to bring this dream to life. But it’s not sustainable without financial backing. I’ll be actively seeking an investor who shares my values, someone who sees fashion not just as commerce, but as a cultural force for good.

A Bigger Picture

If you’re unsure whether fast fashion is a problem, take a walk down any high street. Look at how many clothes are on the shop floor, and how many more are in the stockroom. New stock arrives not every season, not even every month, but every week. Now multiply that across cities and countries.

Think of what doesn’t sell, often incinerated or dumped in landfills. Think of the chemicals used, the water wasted, the people underpaid and overworked to make it all happen.

Then think of the CEOs, raking in unecessary billions. Not millions, billions. All while the planet suffers and workers struggle to have a decent life.

At some point, we have to ask: is there a better way?

A Request

If you believe in Eco Stylish, here’s what you can do:

Follow and engage with us on social media (algorithms work against silent followers).
Share the brand with friends who love fashion but hate waste.
Visit the Join the Action page to find ways to get involved.
And if you know someone aligned with the mission who invests in purpose-driven brands, please send them my way.