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A woman in a purple jumpsuit stands in front of a yellow wall

5 minutes with: Nicole Salgado

Nicole Salgado is the creator and founder of Donna Colori, a platform that shows how playful, colorful and exciting sustainable fashion can be. The platform offers readers the chance to discover color combinations and get conscious style inspiration.

What prompted you to start your blog? Why did you decide to focus on color tones?

I have always had a passion for fashion and a close connection to nature. That's why I created my blog to help fashionistas out there dress stylishly while considering sustainability, the environment and ethical aspects. The fashion industry owes its bad reputation to fast fashion and competitive pricing. And that's why I've made it my mission to show all the great alternatives and teach people about sustainability in a positive and fun way. It's not about making them feel guilty.

For me, fashion and creativity go hand in hand. And this creativity is expressed through design and color. I keep noticing that people buy far too much without thinking about what they really like. By discovering color combinations and getting personal style tips, my readers can make more conscious purchasing decisions. That's where the theme for my blog came from. It just makes sense to talk about color and how color shapes personal style.

View of the upper body of a woman wearing an orange blouse with a beige jacket over it and holding a flower in her hand

The vast majority of clothing worldwide is mass-produced and literally disposable. Slow fashion prioritizes clothing with a longer lifespan, which is achieved through the use of higher quality materials and a timeless design. In addition, the slow fashion principle favors repairing garments over buying new ones. This is why slow fashion is so important. It helps us to conserve resources instead of producing waste.

Speech bubble with a quote from Nicole Salgado "Take care of your clothes and wear them as often as possible. It´s the most susatinable thing we can do for our planet"

Why should everyone make more conscious choices when buying clothes?

The more carefully people choose their clothes, the fewer items they need. That's why it's much more worthwhile to invest in pieces that you really love and will treat with care. Buying something on impulse is not a good sign. These pieces only take up space in your closet and are hardly ever worn. This creates the feeling that we have nothing to wear. But if we think carefully about whether we really like something and then buy it, the item is more likely to suit our lifestyle and personal taste.

A brunette woman in a red sweater and dark green jacket carries a light-colored handbag and looks towards the ground

What are the best tips for sustainable fashion?

Buy your clothes wisely and think carefully about what you wear. It may take a while before you get the hang of it, but practice makes perfect:

  1. Go for high-quality and timeless designs - in concrete terms, this means buying something made from high-quality fabrics on your next shopping trip. Then the item will last longer and won't go out of fashion so quickly.
  2. Make sure that the items in your closet are color-coordinated - that way, you won't find it difficult to combine them all.
  3. Read the care instructions for your garments carefully - careful care will prolong the life of your clothes. I can still wear vintage clothes that once belonged to my mother and sisters because they are well cared for.

What has been the biggest success of your blog?

Seeing how my articles inspire people to express their personality without compromising their morals. It makes me incredibly proud to see my readers and people around me asking about quality fabrics and where they can store for ethically sourced clothing and great second-hand fashion.

I also encourage people to take care of their clothes and wear them as often as possible. That's the most sustainable thing we can do for our planet. We should also always be looking for new ways to transform the clothes we already own. For example, we can challenge ourselves to wear the same item of clothing three different ways in one week. To do this, it is also important that we know basic techniques to repair our clothes and read the care instructions. There are so many ways to support sustainable fashion.

Image credits:
Header image: Nicole Salgado (PR)
Image of one of Nicole’s many beautiful colour combinations: pastel orange and tan: Nicole Salgado (PR)
Image of neutral tones that are majour feature in Nicole’s curated wardrobe. Here she wears a combination of forest green, copper and ivory: Nicole Salgado (PR)

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