Hello friends, we always aim to improve OBLIVOUS? and ensure you are happy with the product you receive.  Alongside our strict quality control and professional dry cleaning before your Blazer is sent to you, we‘ve now updated our sizing so that the Upcycled Blazer you receive will fit just right (or at least will be much more likely to!).  This is what we‘ve implemented: Our new sizing tool is a short quiz that recommends the right size for you!     You'll find it on the product pages, where you'll also choose the Size of Blazer you want, as well as add your usual size in jackets / tops - through this we have more reference points when choosing your unique item.  Otherwise, always feel free to message us using the chat, send us an email or message us on social media!    All the best, Romi & Jacquie

We've got some great news - thanks to the lovely @vegan.stylist some of our pieces have been featured in a very cool article called 'Marie trifft..' (Translation: Marie meets..) by @regendelfin within the Welt Vegan Magazin. Not only did the images turn out great, but the article explores some really interesting topics related to sustainability and the personal experiences of @juleslw & @laraaylin.winkler - who look so cool in our Upcycled Blazers and White shirt! Featured Products: If not me? Cropped White Shirt with electric blue velvet print Who cares? Cropped Blazer If not me? Upcycled Blazer   Shop the Magazine here   A big thank you to the whole Team who worked on this project! CREDITS:Photos: @luiseblumstengelProduction: @einpaargenies (@regendelfin, @alex.diekmann) for "Marie trifft" in the current issue (01/24) of @weltveganmagazinHairstyling and make-up: Hair & Makeup School Creative Beauty Company, @creativebeautycompanyLocation: BMW plant @bmwgroupwerkleipzigStyling: Christianna Quack @vegan.stylistThe models are: @juleslw, @laraaylin.winkler, @regendelfin

The mother and daughter duo is back:  We thought we’d check in with you and give a little insight into why we created OBLIVIOUS? and some little facts and details that have been part of our journey so far! We created OBLIVIOUS? after an eye-opening conversation about the power of questions in our lives - how asking more of them can help us create closer relationships, harness our creativity, learn more about ourselves and the world around us (and so much more). Combined with our love for fashion OBLIVIOUS? was 'born': We wanted to harness the power of the ‘Slogan T-Shirt’ and its history (from political to cutesy statements), as well as the general psychology of fashion - the way we dress can very well be a reflection of ourselves, how we feel and what we want to portray or say to the world. OBLIVIOUS? Provides a twist to the typical slogan Tee - instead of a slogan, there’s a question, which can not only be interpreted freely, but also hopefully becomes thought-provoking, a conversation starter, or a simple reminder. Simultaneously, it underlines the power of questions in general - how they catch our attention and keep our focus. - Research actually shows how questions trigger a mental reflex that makes us automatically want to answer the question and look for answers. We think that’s pretty cool.    But - we didn’t just want to create T-Shirts, but casual wear that is elevated: by creating oversized items, A-line Flowy tops, straight cut & corset hoodies, which are all made responsibly in Europe (from organic cotton). We started adding in our Upcycled items, such as Blazers, shirts and shorts, a year after our launch - these are reworked in Germany and this has created a new way for us to work more responsibly.     We use a mix of questions for our products - some of which are very straight forward, some that act as statements and some which require a bit more attention. Our Bestseller ‘who cares what other people think?’ could definitely be seen as a statement, but our intention behind it was to remind you to actually ask yourself the question and remind yourself that others do not pay as much attention to you as you think, they are probably occupied with themselves or don’t care as much. Also, people-pleasing isn’t the end-all - you deserve to be your authentic self and not let others opinions hold you back.  We like to think of our items as minimalist and modern, while still making a statement.  As you know, it is also our aim to be ‘more’ sustainable - meaning doing whatever we can as a small brand to be less harmful to our planet. We are currently supporting this by using pre-order models, made to order and small batch production, as well as our 100% GOTS organic cotton fabric and our upcycling efforts. One step at a time. Our goal is to inspire you to ask more questions -  will you give it a try?   ________________________   Drawing by @byynancyy - please do check her out, we love her work!  

Hello Londoners (& everyone visiting over the next two + weeks), We‘re part of the @00.thestore Pop Up at 7 Rathbone Place until the 10th of May!We are very excited to be alongside other amazing independent and more sustainable brands - come see for yourself 👀 Open everyday, but find more info on their instagram page here. You will find our T-Shirts, Long Sleeves, as well as our Upcycled Blazers & our newest Daily Jacket (Linen + Organic Cotton mix) in store! Can‘t wait to see you there, x Jacquie & Romi

Hi, Let us (re-)introduce ourselves, we're Romi and Jacquie, a mother and daughter team from Stuttgart, Germany & we're the people behind OBLIVIOUS? Funnily enough we've heard quite a few responses to that, ranging from 'oh really that sounds so cool' to 'I could never work with my mum!' & that is understandable. For us, it works!   We actually do have a lot of things in common - after all our similar style, interest in Fashion and curiosity (we do both ask a lot of questions..) brought our Brand to life. Our relationship is tight-knit, but leaves space for individuality. Seeing the same vision, but adding & mixing our individual ideas, makes our Brand what it is - a way to inspire others to ask more questions, act as conversation starters, be thought-provoking and deliver fashion-forward items that are comfortable, stylish and are more sustainable & also.. make you feel good just being yourself. Here are a few fun facts about us:     We'd love to give you a bit more insight into our journey and hope to 'see you soon' - sign up for our Email Newsletter to follow along and to get to know us better. xx Romi & Jacquie

As you might know - we are all about the power of questions. But we’ve all held ourselves back from asking a question before..     So, basically we fear rejection from others based upon our assumption that we seem incompetent.     Can we be inspired by our younger selves?   Anyway.. the real question here is:  - amongst other reasons why asking more questions is good for you (e.g. creating closer connections, harnessing your creativity etc.)   Can you relate? Make sure to be brave & ask your questions.  

Valentine’s Day is around the corner - this is what we’re considering to wear for the ‘day of love’ (no matter your opinion on the holiday, we’ve considered the right question to go with it):   1. 'Can we just skip the small talk?' White Flowy T-shirt. 100% GOTS Organic Cotton. Flowy A-line cut. Oversized. Made to order.   2. 36 Questions for Closeness T-Shirts: Boxy Tee in White or Black or our Easy Tee in grey/sage green. Both are oversized. Printed with the full 1997 study by Aron et al. that inspired the New York Times article 'How to fall in love with anyone?'. Made from 100% GOTS organic cotton.   3. Upcycled cropped White Shirt with 'If not me, who? If not now, when?' print. Made to order. Reworked in Germany.   4. White Loose T-Shirt with 'Do I look like I care?' print on the front and back. Oversized T-Shirt. Unisex. 100% GOTS Organic Cotton. All T-Shirts are from our Cut&Sew Production and are made from GOTS Organic Cotton. While we have a small amount of 36 Questions for closeness T-Shirts in stock, the other two are made on demand. The Upcycled white shirt is also made to order. We manufacture in Portugal and rework items in Germany - combining two different ways of working more sustainably as a fashion brand.  What will you wear? Get 14% off our V-Day picks* with code: LOVERSASK *all products in this blog but the upcycled cropped shirt P.S.: No matter how you spend your day, don't forget to show yourself the same love that you show others.  

We truly love giving gifts and putting a smile on someone's face, but that does sometimes involve some stress - finding the right thing that they would love and don't have, not just something to gift for the sake it. If you're still looking for a gift or two for someone that is into fashion and loves a statement piece, let us make some suggestions:    For your Best Friend: Whether that is your platonic best friend, the love of your life or one of your family members, this Tee is sure to make a statement and show that you care. Based on the 1997 Study by Aron et al. researching how to increase feelings of closeness between two people, this T-Shirt is printed on the front and back with 36 Questions. Available in Black and White in our Boxy Cut Tee and in Grey / Sage Green in our Loose Tee. 100% Organic Cotton. For the 'Cool Girl' - or really anyone in your life that is the coolest person you know: They might like one of our Upcycled pieces that we rework in Germany from pre-owned items. Our Blazers are embroidered with one of three questions and available cropped or in regular length and order via a pre-order model. Our White Shirts are available either cropped or in regular length and are printed with one of three questions - made to order.     For the Hoodie Lover in your life:  You can never go wrong with a Hoodie.. oversized, comfy, soft and these make a statement too, while still being minimal. These three Easy Hoodies are our best sellers, but some might prefer one of our Velour Corset Hoodies for a more elevated look that doesn't compromise on comfort. For the Confident one: For the one who always has the coolest outfit, the one that doesn't worry about other people's opinions and loves to make a statement, but in an understated way. Our Do I look like I Care Tee & Everyday Jacket really make a clear statement. The Dark Green Where will I end up today? T-Shirt is perfect for someone that takes everyday as a new adventure.  For the 'Overthinker': We've all done it - getting stuck in a cycle of overthinking and it sucks! While we're always happy to listen to a friend, this top could also be a comfy reminder for them to check on on themselves (- and prompt anyone that sees it to do so as well). This Long Sleeve Top is oversized, has thumb holes and is the perfect cross between a sweatshirt and a long sleeve top. For someone you love, to make any of their Grey Days better: We all know someone that sees the best in everything, the glass half full type of person. These Grey Tops are for them - with questions that will underline their personality and their positivity. The Flowy 'What if an impossibility is just a possibility you don't understand yet?', the 36 Questions for Closeness Tee and the 'If not now, when?' Tee. And lastly.. A gift for the 'loves to choose their own present': One of of our Gift Cards - choose the amount you'd like to gift and give your loved one the chance to choose one of our products that they love the most & identify with.     Wishing you happy holidays - Team OBLIVIOUS? xx 

There are a lot of Sales coming up.. Black Friday, Green Friday, Cyber Monday etc. - You name it. We will be taking part in the Black Friday Sales this year. This is the biggest Sale period for the Fashion and Retail industry. And let us tell you - it is competitive. In order to grow as a small business, we need to be able to compete within our sector and be a valid option to customers during this time - our hope however, is that you buy better, not more. As a counterpart to all the fast fashion that will be heavily reduced, you will be able to vote with your money by buying from us, a small & more sustainable brand - for minimalist statement pieces that will seamlessly fit into your wardrobe and bring that little bit extra. At OBLIVIOUS? we work with small-batch production, pre-orders and made-on-demand items to avoid overproduction. We will not be producing any extra items for this sale, but only produce what you order or sell pre-existing stock - like always.  In case you didn't know, our items are either made responsibly from a 100% GOTS certified Organic Cotton or are Upcycled from pre-owned items - making them more sustainable from the get-go. None of our items are ever sent to landfill. Our aim has always been to be more sustainable: to produce items that are less harmful to our environment, to avoid overproduction, to use as little plastic as possible and weave sustainability throughout the whole brand, from product to packaging -  and to continuously evolve. This won't change. Alongside our aim for sustainability, our main focus lies on highlighting the power of questions - which we hope to increase by taking part in this Black Friday Season.   HOW TO SHOP CONSCIOUSLY DURING BLACK FRIDAY: The sheer amount of choice does beg the question: what impact does 'Black Friday' have on our environment? We believe in buying less but better, especially when events like these try to lure us in to buy things we might not really need. Thus, we need a conscious attitude towards shopping: It is understandable, that many try to snap up things with a discount that they have been wanting for a while - no harm in that. It's more about not buying things that you have no need for. When it comes to Black Friday Deals, these are the questions we ask ourselves: Is this something I need? How much wear / use will I get out of it? Quality and composition: Will this item last long and what is it made of?   It's a competitive season, especially for small businesses and independent brands - some completely condemn taking part in the Black Friday Sales, some do participate in hopes that consumers might be more inclined to buy better - in Australia, the day is called Green Friday, which "encourages Australian consumers to avoid getting caught up in the shopping frenzy, and instead, to shop sustainable and ethical offers with consideration and mindfulness." Both sides have strong arguments. Not taking part shows a stance against overconsumption and mindless buying. Taking part gives customers the chance to still get a deal, but have the choice to buy better and more sustainably. We encourage you to only buy what you need & to shop consciously - now and always.   P.S.: If you have been eyeing up one of our products, we'd advise you to sign up to our Newsletter, where you'll be first to hear about any of our discounts + other fun things related to the power of questions.   

If you're based in London, don't miss this: OBLIVIOUS? is part of 'The Conscious Edit' Pop-Up Shop by Lone Design Club and The Crown Estate - find us with our Organic Cotton & Upcycled Collections alongside some incredible independent and more sustainable brands. Alongside these you will find a bar, Rotaro Rental pieces, as well as selected events (see more here). We are part of the Pop Up until the 14th.   Can't wait to see you there !

Have you ever thought about or even attempted journaling, but never stuck with it?  It's common. It can feel daunting and overwhelming, having to sit with oneself but also figure out 'how' to journal. However there are many studies that show how beneficial it can be to journal & it's a tool that is easily accessible and cost-effective. The more obvious ones are: reduce stress increased well being / mood helps process emotions, thoughts and events gain more clarity on what you want / the future deepens self-discovery but research has shown that it even 'lead to better sleep a stronger immune system more self-confidence and a higher I.Q.'     Dr. Pennebaker has found that journaling helps organize an event in our mind, and make sense of trauma. "When we do that, our working memory improves, since our brains are freed from the enormously taxing job of processing that experience, and we sleep better. This in turn improves our immune system and our moods; we go to work feeling refreshed, perform better and socialize more."  ______________ If you would like try your luck again with journaling, here's a little guide on how to start and 5 Questions you could ask yourself: First of all you should establish if you want this to be a daily habit or just something you do every once in a while with specific events or feelings.  Research shows that journaling even once for 15-20 minutes can be helpful, however daily journaling can be a great too for continuous self-discovery. There are benefits to both journaling in the morning and evening - the best is to start with what seems most achievable for you. When can you best spare 5 minutes and just write? Decide on one and try to stick with it. Depending on your answer, we've curated 5 questions each - just because the difference in timing favours different questions, that all have the same great potential of reflection. Starting with only 5 minutes will make it easier for you to get into journaling - after all, it's only 5 minutes right? It's a good place to start with to make it less intimidating. Set yourself a timer if you like or if that is too much pressure, have a look at the time before you start. After researching and going through many many questions, we think these questions will not only be a great start to get into writing into your diary, but also help you be more mindful of your own life and understand yourself better. Here are 5 questions each, depending on whether you want to journal in the morning or evening: 5 Questions to ask yourself in the morning: How do I feel right now & why? How do I want to feel today? What am I grateful for today? What can I do today to get closer to my goals? What is one thing that I can do today that will bring me joy?   5 Questions to ask yourself in the evening: How do I feel right now & why? What is one thing that made me smile today? What do I need to let go of? Did I make someone else smile today? What did I take for granted today?      Good luck - and if you miss a day, start again the day after. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to work for you. Or just journal whenever it feels good.   

"Journaling is good for your mind" - you've probably heard that before... but why is that? It lets you destress, deal with and organise your thoughts, set and accomplish goals, be more mindful, improve your mood, gain more clarity about your own wants and needs and overall improves your mental health. Research shows it even boosts your immune system.  To many of us, it seems very daunting to sit down, be with our thoughts and just write - about what? how long for? Does it have to have a certain structure? There is no one perfect way to journal. However, it can help to establish the basics first: - When are you going to journal? Morning or evening? Right when you wake up or while you're having coffee? Be specific - we are more likely to follow through with something when we plan it out.  - What materials are you going to use? Are you going to use a notebook and pen or would you find it easier to do it digitally, e.g. on your phone on an app? - How long are you going to journal for? If you're just starting out, try and journal with at timer set to 5-10 minutes, that way you're starting small and can become a habit more easily.   Lastly, try and let go of any judgements before you write. This is just for (!) you, it doesn't matter what your writing is like - no one else will read it. If you're too self critical, you might end up not journaling authentically, which would be defeating much of its purpose.  If just writing down anything that comes to mind seems difficult to you, you could start with a couple of different approaches. How you feel -  Is something bothering you or making you feel upset?    Write about your day - what you did, who you saw, how you felt, what made you happy?   Gratitude: What are you grateful for? Have you been taking anything for granted lately?    Find a few questions you want to answer everyday e.g.: what made me smile today? what did I do for others today? what do I want my day to look like tomorrow? This could give you great insight into how things evolve over time.   Something you would like to happen / Set goals - write about what you want to achieve.  

  Let's start with this: You're probably wondering what a 'better' question is.. A 'better' question = a question that either fuels a conversation, helps you think about something more deeply. When you're asking for directions or instructions, as well as clarifications, it's good for your questions to be clear and concise and for the other person to instantly understand what you mean and avoid confusion. However, in other situations, an even better question would get you more information - it would give you insights for problem solving and show you opportunities you weren't aware of before. It would fuel your creativity & help you learn new things. So how do we ask better questions? There is no formula, but we can still make it easier for ourselves to ask better questions: 1. It all starts with actually listening. - Listening to what someone else has to say without judgement and while trying to not get lost in your own thoughts. - Listening to yourself and what you think needs more of your attention.   2. When you really listen, it unlocks another feature of better questions: asking follow up questions. When we ask follow up questions, we keep the conversation going, make the other person feel heard and show that we're interested, which creates more trust.  Asking follow up questions has actually been found to make others like you more by Harvard Researchers.   3. It's also good to know that there are different type of questions: - Closed questions: limited number of answers, often yes or no. <-- only needed when you need a clear answer right away e.g. instructions - Open-ended questions: allow space for discussions and often need more explanation <-- use these! - Follow up questions: expands the conversation and lets you find out more (as discussed above) <-- use these! - Leading questions: steers a conversation in a certain direction. <-- these should probably be avoided in more casual conversations   4. Another piece of advice would be to be curious and open-minded & have courage to ask questions. After all, the fear of 'looking stupid' doesn't beat the fact that you will learn something and create better connections with others. Maybe this quote will help remind you:   “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.” ― Confucius    

“Curiosity means we are open to learning something new,” says founder Jacqueline Mozanowski as she tells us about the unique, introspective ethos that informs OBLIVIOUS?" - what an intro! We were so happy to be featured by House of Coco last year and wanted to share a bit of the article with you. If you'd like to read the whole thing, please click here.   The interview was a lovely way for us to introduce OBLIVIOUS? Jacquie (one of the co-owners) answered the questions and spoke about curiosity and what we aim to do with our Brand: "Curiosity means we are open to learning something new and openness leads to a more positive mindset and hopefulness. Curiosity helps us grow and develop and to not get stuck in a routine that we might not even be entirely happy with, but to be an active participant in your own life. We seek to inspire others to ask themselves more questions, to understand themselves better, but also to ask others more questions. Research shows that our relationships can be improved by asking more questions and it’s such an easy tool to show interest and create a closer bond with someone. " The interview also touches on how and why we started OBLIVIOUS?, our sustainability approach, why we use questions and what's good and bad about working with your mother / daughter.  

Last year our Co-Founder Jacquie was interviewed on the Menswear Style Podcast  and subsequently featured on their website. In the Episode we introduce you to OBLIVIOUS?, who we are and what we aim to achieve with our focus on the power of questions, as well as being a more sustainable fashion brand.  As a brand creating Womenswear and Menswear, it was great to be able to speak to someone in the Menswear space and introduce OBLIVIOUS?. We believe most of our clothing is unisex, however base it on Menswear or Womenswear sizing. "When we are children we ask so many questions, and as adults we ask much less in fear of looking like we lack knowledge. What happens when you're asked a question is your brain is stimulated and you release serotonin to make your brain relax and think about an answer. This is so powerful that unless you consciously decide to disengage with the question, you will want to answer the question. This is the power of questions; it makes you stop and think about something, and we can utilise this so much in our own lives to make better connections with other people. Asking questions helps us learn more about ourselves and the world around us.”   Thank you to Menswear Style for featuring us and giving us a platform for our small brand. If you'd like to listen to the episode: Spotify Apple Podcasts

'The grass is always greener on the other side.' - a saying we've all heard before. But what does it actually mean when you believe that other's peoples' grass is greener?:   it seems like other people are in a better situation than you you can't focus on what you already have, because you're always wondering about the next 'better or bigger' thing - It’s never enough.   Clearly, it seems that we humans have the tendency to compare ourselves to others and believe that they are simply better off than us - even if this isn't the case..Most of the time, we only see what people want us to see, we only get a glimpse of their lives and those are most likely going to be positive. Research has found that we mainly only share the positive moments of our lives with others, especially when it comes to social media & this 'social media highlight-reel effect' can really affect the way we perceive others' lives. This may lead us to think other peoples' lives are better than what they might actually be and conversely, make us feel worse about our own lives. However, we need to remember that we are prone to coming to this unfounded conclusion and that we might not know their hardships or struggles - basically, none of us have it all figured out. It has been suggested that, as we are constantly being showered with information and advertisements, we can start to feel restless and the endless array of choices keeps us looking for 'more'. It can feel as if we’re wasting our lives if we’re not doing something more important - but even that could just be our 'grass is greener' thinking making itself known. How can we go against this mindset? Being in the present moment. Feeling grateful for what we already have and what we have 'achieved'. Enjoying what is happening right now - or at least making the best out of it. Doing this can help you come back to feeling more at ease, less stressed and give you a less biased view on the world.  Feeling grateful for what we already have is just as important as feeling grateful for who we are: our insecurities and worries often lead to us thinking we are doing worse than we actually are. Go easy on yourself - you're doing your best. Another thought: Maybe we don't need to 'compete' with others and compare ourselves - what if there is enough space for all of us to go for what we want.  What if we focused on watering our own grass instead of wondering whether other peoples' grass is greener?   Take care!  

What a statement!  We're so excited to have been featured on Luxiders.com - an online magazine that focuses eco & ethical stories about fashion, design and lifestyle and combine the areas of independent designers, as well as high-end luxury brands, as well as more progressive brands. We love their approach and content and wanted to share snippets from the article. Click here to visit the Article on Luxiders directly and check out their other content while you're there. Luxiders has nicely condensed who we are and what we aim for answering their own 'Why to buy?' question for customers. "Why to buy: The inquisitive nature of new unisex label OBLIVIOUS? uses questions to add purpose and impact to the fashion industry. OBLIVIOUS? is a brand passionate about providing the curious with responsibly produced, as well as fashionable garments that highlight the importance of asking questions, both in our relationships with others and ourselves." We're not surprised that Luxiders were keen on our 'Overthinking' Long Sleeve - one of our bestsellers and a personal favorite of Romi and Jacquie, the Co-Founders of OBLIVIOUS?. Flowy, oversized, soft and with a question that truly makes a statement. Best of all, Luxiders saw what we have been aiming for since day one: "The brands ‘What Are You Overthinking Right Now?’ top not only makes the wearer stop and refocus but questions others to stop and take a moment to reflect."  ..to inspire you and those around you.   Thank you to Luxiders for the feature.  

This isn't just any second chance: we're talking about White Button Down Shirts. To be exact: Upcycled Pre-Owned White Shirts - we alter them, you give them a new life. We all know the fashion industry has a problem: its environmental impact. Not only the materials used, the processes & natural resources needed, but also the sheer amount produced is overwhelming. While the industry is starting to be more mindful, there is still a lot to do and a lot of greenwashing (overstating 'eco-conscious' details). We, as a small brand need to stay true to our aim of being more sustainable. You, as the consumer, can try and remember a few simple things when you're buying something: - What material(s) is it made of? - Is it made neatly / well made? - How much wear will you get out of it? - Where was it made / Was it made ethically? - Is this something you will be able to wear for a long time to come? - Do you have something similar? As a small brand & one that is working more sustainably, we continuously seek out how to create something that has less of an impact on our environment, but also shines with its quality, design & uniqueness, while highlighting our main purpose: the power of questions in our lives. With overproduction being ripe, we wanted to extend our Upcycled Collection: after our Upcycled Blazers, we're so excited to introduce our Upcycled White Button Down Shirts. We've carefully selected pre-owned White Shirts that fit our standards (oversized, good condition, simple style, mainly cotton based), which is why there is only a limited quantity available for now. These Shirts will be Made-To-Order, as we have different options for you to choose from, but also to add another layer of responsibility: to only produce what is ordered and combat overproduction on another level. Your choices: You can order these in a regular length or cropped. As always with our items, there are questions involved: these shirts are printed & available with 4 different questions. The Shirts are cleaned beforehand and all the upcycling is done by us in Germany. The label is printed inside. Oversized fit, but available in 3 different sizes. All items are unique, which is why length, fit and buttons can vary.  White Shirts are not far from a staple in any wardrobe, especially in the summer. We wanted to make them a bit more fashion-forward & cool, but also a mixture between minimalism and a statement-piece.  Hope to see you in one soon, x Team OBLIVIOUS?  

Be honest: Are you overthinking it? It’s hard to realise if you are overthinking when you are in the middle of it. Also, how are you supposed to come up with an answer without thinking about it.. right? We think it helps, however it actually might not help as much as you think. “Analysis paralysis” is real. The more you think about a problem, the worse you feel and this makes it hard to take any positive actions as the thought will have clouded your judgement. When you’re overthinking, you’re either thinking about the past or worrying about the future - in a negative way. Overthinking means you’re dwelling on the problem, while healthy problem solving means you are thinking about a problem when you need to and coming up with possible solutions. Self-reflection is also different, as this would help you gain new perspectives, instead overthinking often means considering what you don’t have control over, which doesn’t give us any insight into the problem at hand. Time spent thinking is only productive if you are coming up with creative solutions and learning from your own previous behavior. So how can you try and learn to stop overthinking? the first step is to realize you are in fact overthinking, thus ruminating and worrying about something over and over, which will affect your mood - try and pay attention to the way you think  When you’re overthinking you’re either dwelling on the past or trying to make predictions about the future - you could ask yourself if whatever you're thinking about will matter in 5 years.  Try and be compassionate with yourself, acknowledge you are doing your best and consider positive outcomes Nonetheless, telling yourself to not think about something won’t work, instead try to distract yourself by engaging in a different activity, which will make you focus on other things.  Studies show that planning time to think about something is more beneficial, as it decreases overthinking the rest of the day: try to find possible solutions or when you have no control over a situation, consider different coping strategies.  Adding to that, practicing mindfulness can keep you from staying in the present instead of switching from the past to the future. Try and change your perspective. Instead of asking why did this happen? ask yourself what can I do about it? Instead of fearing the future, can you try and be excited for it?  

Upcycling: using something already made (in our case pre-owned blazers) and giving it a new life by reworking the item, helping it remain in circulation and not head to landfill. We’re so excited to have launched a new product and one that incorporates another way of working more sustainably: Upcycled Blazers. After selling out of our limited run of these Blazers and the interest by you guys, we have opened up pre-orders for our upcycled Blazers with our most popular embroidered Questions from the first drop. We have had this idea for a while, but didn't want to rush into such a different range of products right away.. It has been nearly a year of running OBLIVIOUS?, which is why we felt more confident to introduce a different product, with a different sustainability approach. Adding to that, like the rest of our products, an oversized Blazer is an easy to wear and easy to style item that can be taken from day to night, while being comfortable and fashion-forward - so we felt it fit right into our collection. Fashion waste & clothing going to landfill is a huge problem - especially since many items are often still absolutely fine, might actually be recyclable or weren't of good quality in the first place so people feel they are more disposable. Whatever the reasons, we wanted to find a way to highlight this. Instead of creating something completely new, we always loved the idea of working with something that is already in existence and adding a twist & Blazers just seemed to be our ideal project. As we are using Pre-Owned Blazers, each item is unique. We aim to source Blazers that are in excellent condition, to be able to create a long-lasting and unique items for you. Our Blazers are meant to fit oversized, however you can choose an approximate size for pre-orders (read more in the item description). We use plastic free embroidery thread, as we try to avoid using plastics as much as we can.  Introducing an alternate way to be more sustainable, upcycling these Blazers enables us to create unique pieces for you with a message, that are cool and kind to the planet. 

If you're looking to create better relationships, platonic or romantic, being a good listener and asking more questions will be essential and will help you build a foundation for a genuine relationship. In order for this to be easily implemented, we think this is the main thing to keep in mind:Try and ask questions about things you are truly curious about and that can't be answered with a simple yes or no to invite the other person to share more openly and suspend judgement to let the conversations flow.     So, what exactly are the positive aspects of asking more questions?   Also, research by Harvard Scientists suggests that asking more questions (especially follow-up questions) is linked to increased liking. Asking more follow-up questions signals the other person that you are listening, interested and that you care, which will better the conversation and strengthen or build up your relationship with them. Humans like talking about themselves, so asking questions helps others talk about themselves and will make you seem like a great conversationalist. Obviously, asking questions helps build up new relationships, as it helps to learn more about the other person and what you have in common and creates more understanding, however this also pertains to existing relationships and can deepen those. 

NEW PRODUCT: 'What's on your mind?' Beanie made from Organic and Recycled materials - read more about our choice in this blog post!

So, asking more questions can help create closer relationships, but how can you benefit from asking yourself more questions? Questions can be a great learning tool. The brain's neuroplasticity allows it to continue to reorganise and evolve as new information, new ideas or new skills are stored and create new neural connections or completely new neurons. In order to ask great questions, we have to foster curiosity, but also conquer the fear of embarassment or not being right at times. We all know children ask a lot of questions but it seems the older we get, the more we tend to hold back from asking questions, due to fear of judgement. However, asking a question and / or finding the answer gives us a feeling of reward - so conquering our fear might actually help us learn, especially as we tend to remember information better if it's related to an emotion. Checking in with yourself and what you value can truly help you lead a more content and fulfilled life. Instead of going through life according to the world around you, turning inward and asking yourself questions will strengthen your connection with yourself and increase your well-being.  

Gifting is not that easy - sometimes having someone choose their own gift can be just THE solution! So, are you looking for Christmas gift ideas that are not boring? Are you looking for a sustainable gift?   Either way, we've just launched our own E-Gift Card in our shop for the following amounts: 25€, 50€, 100€, 150€     Whether you know someone that has been eyeing an OBLIVIOUS? piece, want to show someone a new small brand, know someone that loves asking questions or someone that should ask more of them or just want to shop small this Christmas, this could be the gift option for you.  For any custom amounts, please contact us on instagram.     Happy Holidays from the OBLIVIOUS? Team xx      

Renoon Gift with Purpose E-gift Card: Spend it on OBLIVIOUS? amongst 20+ other sustainable brands.

If you're looking to create better relationships, platonic or romantic, being a good listener and asking more questions will be essential and will help you build a foundation for a genuine relationship. But why exactly does asking more questions help create closer relationships?

This weekend is a big one for a lot of companies and most of us know it as Black Friday Weekend - discounts and reductions are everywhere.  Some more eco-conscious and sustainable company have created their own term for this Friday, to reclaim it and do some good: Green Friday. Lots of companies opt to donate to certain projects or charities with every order, so that if people do consume and buy, they are also giving back.  Some companies that are eco-friendly do not participate in Black Friday or Green Friday activities and they have good reason: They do not want to support overconsumption and people buying without truly needing the items.  At OBLIVIOUS? we spent a good amount of time contemplating what our stance would be this weekend and have come to the following conclusion: The idea of Green Friday really appeals to us, as we like how we can flip the script and do something good for the planet. In our case, we've chosen to work with earthly.com and support their Charlotte's Wood project. Part of every order between today 26th and Sunday the 28th will thus go towards planting a tree.  We do agree that we need to consume and buy more mindfully, however also consciously. Being a brand that truly aims to be more sustainable throughout, means that we do feel we can be a better option to buy, so we thought that we'd offer a small discount as well, in case you've been eyeing something up and want to buy a gift for someone from a small brand.  GREEN FRIDAY OFFER: We've chosen to work with earthly.com and support their Charlotte's Wood project. Part of every order between today 26th and Sunday the 28th will thus go towards planting a tree and on top of that, we are offering you 15% off every order as well.      

Yes, our brands purpose is conveying the power of questions, however we are also a fashion brand that wants to create their own pieces with their own distinct style. We design and create all of our pieces in conjunction with our manufacturers in Portugal.    To describe our style, we'd say it's based on easy basics with a twist, providing comfort while being modern and minimalist and aiming to be more eco-friendly as a fashion brand.  We wanted to create pieces that could be worn day to night, at home or out for lunch, due to their quality, comfort and style and of course the message: a question on each item to inspire more curiosity and inspire people to ask more questions, to make a statement and spark conversations.      Let us illustrate with a scenario that one of our Co-Founders found herself in recently: "I went out for dinner with a close friend that was visiting me and met up with two of her friends. After making some initial conversation I was asked about what I do on a daily basis, so I shared that I had started a fashion brand with my mother. My friend was quick to point out that I was wearing my own shirt. We started talking about the '36 Questions for Closeness' T-Shirt that I was wearing and I explained it was based on a study in the 90's by Aron et al about accelerating feelings of closeness between people, that some people claim it can make people  fall in love, which it was featured for in the New York Times in 2015 with the title 'To fall in love with anyone, do this'. This then led to these 3 woman wanting to read some of the questions. I tried to show them my T-Shirt and one of them suggested we ask each other some of these questions and everyone answers. We ended up doing this for a good hour and learnt so much about each other even though we hadn't all met each other before. It sparked some super interesting conversations that we probably wouldn’t have had otherwise. This is an example of what we want to inspire with OBLIVIOUS? - all while helping you look cool at the same time.    Oh, also! While we do carry women's and men's pieces that are different in sizing, we do not believe fashion has a gender. Our pieces are all slightly oversized and while our sizing is currently still limited, we feel that the sizes available cater to a bigger spectrum than usual.            

What happens when we're asked a question? A little dive into what happens to our brains when we are asked a question and why this is so powerful.

When our brain thinks about the answer to a question, we can’t contemplate anything else.⁠ Learning how to ask better (& more) questions can help us in many areas of life: ⁠building closer relationships, self-reflection, understanding & learning more about the world around us, making better decisions.

OBLIVIOUS? is a new small sustainable fashion brand focused on the positive power of questions. Responsibly made in Europe from 100% GOTS certified Organic Cotton & Upcycled pieces reworked in Germany.  The idea behind OBLIVIOUS? was created during an evening conversation between the two co-founders: mother-daughter duo Romi and Jacquie. Jacquie and Romi, Co-Founders of OBLIVIOUS? Starting a fashion brand has always been desire of ours – even when Jacquie was only about 7 years old, we frequently spoke about ideas and how we could bring them to live. However, not only did the time and circumstances never align until recently, we also hadn’t come up with an idea that we believed in as much as OBLIVIOUS?. The idea was born out of a conversation we shared about how powerful questions are in our lives, whether it comes to our relationships with others, ourselves or how we see the world around us. We felt that this positive power of questions did not get the recognition it deserved. There were some factors that played into this: both naturally curious and creative types, with a tight-knit relationship, as well as very similar taste in design and fashion. To us, fashion is a creative tool that can be used to express our identities or what we value, but can also impact our mood. Aside from our personal interest in fashion, we were aware that it provided a very potent platform for our message: wanting to inspire more curiosity and highlight the positive power of questions. We knew from the start, that by putting something new out into the world, we wanted to try and be as sustainable as we could be as a small brand. With a brand ethos that prides itself on the power of asking questions, we felt it was necessary to question the standard processes and try to do better. We use a 100% GOTS certified Organic Cotton for all of our products, steer clear of plastic as much as we can, use more eco-friendly inks, as well as recycled and/or recyclable packaging. Our aim is to improve these efforts continuously to become a greener, more eco-friendly fashion brand. (More info here) We launched in February 2021, after some delays due to the circumstances of 2020. We can’t wait to see how we progress and what we can create next. Do you want to come along for the ride and learn more about the power questions hold? Sign up to our newsletter here and follow us on Instagram! Love, Romi and Jacquie

We are excited to announce the launch of our official website www.areweoblivious.com, as well as this blog for our new brand OBLIVIOUS?   MORE INFO COMING SOON!   While this website provides a little sneak peak into our brand, you can also follow our journey on Instagram.