Black Friday is Broken: One-woman Fashion Brand Says ‘No’ to the Chaos of Overconsumption

Image: @spencertookthis

News just in: Black Friday is officially out of style; and in its place is the humble force of slow fashion. 

Independent label Fingsbyfloss is one brand taking a stand against flash sales, mass production, and relentless consumerism, with its ethically-made statement pieces and accessories. But in a society leaning on a culture of ‘shop ‘til you drop’, why would a brand choose to opt out of one of the busiest shopping weeks in the calendar? 

Scroll, click, buy, repeat - let’s admit, we’ve all been there. It’s precisely why 22-year-old Fashion Design graduate Floss Tuppen is on a mission to break the cycle, after building her brand in university halls back in 2023. From striped, earth-toned balloon trousers to button-adorned scrunchies, Floss has been paving an alternative path for those who believe fashion shouldn’t come at the planet’s expense - single-handedly crafting funky, wearable classics from second-hand and recycled fabrics. 

Image: @spencertookthis

This week, Fingsbyfloss unveiled a counter-campaign to the retail rush, launching the ‘Black Friday Sucks’ collection. Rejecting discounts and high-speed production, the collection embodies the slow-fashion ethos, with Floss releasing just one stylish handmade garment a day in what might be the slowest Black Friday drop yet. From a scarlet Bob Top to a polkadot Pratt Hat, the collection offers a small but mighty lineup of garments. Speaking on the movement, the up and coming designer explains, “This campaign is my way of showing that there is another path. There is a light at the end of the tunnel - and the fashion industry can change.”  

While most large fashion brands are gearing up for the oncoming purchasing stampedes - and the inevitable wave of waste left behind - Fingsbyfloss offers a more intentional vision. Driven by one woman, a bedroom studio, and her two feline assistants, Reg and Eric, Floss speaks on finding the balance between long-term financial stability and ethical commitment, admitting that “it was very tempting to drop prices and increase production, but it just felt so incorrect to pump out those messages alongside the morals of the brand. I’d prefer to work all the other jobs I currently do while slowly churning out positivity, than sacrifice the brand's ethics just for a heftier pay cheque.” 

Image: @fingsbyfloss

In this tug of war between quality and quantity, and value and vanity, Fingsbyfloss provides a brighter way forward. Not just through sustainability alone, but through pieces quite literally stitched with the stories of others, and shaped by a desire to protect the planet. From her grandfather’s old shirt to forgotten scraps rescued from a fabric bin, Floss shows that style doesn’t require waste - just knowing how to elevate what we already have.

It’s a reminder that modern fashion shouldn’t be defined by excess, but by community, purpose, and a forward-thinking attitude.

Image: @fingsbyfloss

When asked to choose her favourite item from the collection, Floss tells us, “I think The Lauryn Skirt has to be my favourite. I named each piece after a musician I love, and the idea of Lauryn Hill and this playful, crisp, and historical skirt being merged makes me so happy. Buttons from my Granny and fabric my Mum found in a scrap bin - it feels like a plainly perfect Fing in all areas.”

So, if you’re looking for a more empowering way to fill your everyday wardrobe, maybe it’s time to swap the impulsive purchases for clothes that grow with you.

Explore the ‘Black Friday Sucks’ collection at your own pace, over on the Fingsbyfloss website.

Image: @fingsbyfloss