All things are woven together to make up a whole.
Please take a moment to center in on that very fact.
Wherever you are, feel into your body.
If you are seated or standing, focus on what muscles are holding you head up.
Where in your body is your weight being distributed.
Are you leaning to one side, or have some part of your body crossed on top of each other?
Leave it as is, for you are perfect as you are.
Now notice how each breath causes your chest to rise and fall.
Start to take deeper breaths.
Inhale…. then exhale with a sigh.
Now take a look around. Where are you?
What type of surface is holding you up?
The earth below your body, is it soft? Rocky?
What has caused you to be where you are?
What allowed your environment to form?
Imagine the amount of people it took to create and/or maintain the surroundings around you.
With every action there is a reaction.
It takes a community to come together to gift us the world we have now.
There are some issues that involve the way the world works around us. Most of these problems are due to fast fashion and over consumption. The best part is that there are solutions. These solutions are made possible only if we act together as a collective. Aligned with awareness that gives us eyes to see, will we be able to point out the problems and create sustainable solutions.
Nature Provides
PROBLEM:
SOLUTION:
- Wear natural fibers specifically: hemp, silk, wool, linen.
- Opt for natural dyed clothing.
- Check if the items you buy are organic.
- Ask if the worker who made your product are supported.
- Recycle and compost whenever possible.
- Go plastic free.
- Look into growing your own food.
Did you know?
Cotton cultivation requires large amount of pesticides, fertilisers and water. With the increasing use of cotton, 22.5 percent of insecticides are used globally for it. Subsequently, this increasing use of cotton requires approximately 257 gallons of water for one T-shirt.
– Fibre2Fashion
Cha-Ching!
PROBLEM:
Over consumption means over production. Over 85% of garment workers are women who have a minimum wage of $3/day. Also, one in every six of people in the world today work in the global fashion industry making it the most labor-dependant industry on Earth.
Solution:
- Ask where and how your fabric/clothes are made.
- Check out what a sustainable design process should look like here.
- Shop small and support local artists and organizations.
- Here is a curated list by Our Good Brands of sustainable products and inspiring people you can follow.
Rights and Revolution
Problem:
“Low cost means low regulation. Governments in today’s textile producing countries have little oversight into what happens in their factories.” (CNBC).
Solution:
- Sign this petition Do so as lives depends on it (because it does).
- Actively follow Fashion Revolution and Remake who are rallying with sustainable fashion advocates to bring awareness to this dark industry. Follow them on Instagram and sign up to their newsletters.
- Stay informed.
- Ask questions.
- Use your voice and your vote.
“Human rights and the rights of nature are interconnected and interdependent; we are part of the wider living world and our right to a healthy environment depends on the health of our planet. “
– Fashion revolution
What about all this stuff??
Problem:
According to the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, an alarming 92-million tonnes of solid waste is dumped into landfills each year.
Solution:
- Shop second hand.
- Support small brands and local artists who are transparent about their creative process.
- Don’t invest in something that has taken a pile of waste to then finally get made into the final product.
The Inside Scoop
I have spoken to two designers within the sustainable textile realm to gain insight on their mission for a more sustainable world.
Lucas Montenegro is knitwear designer from Chile. He is currently working in New York as the middle man, sourcing sustainable textiles for brands.
Professional Tip:
His tip for is to ask as much as you can and to conduct your own research. If there is a question you might have or something you are unsure about Google or Youtube it! Lucas also mentioned the importance of being well versed in fabrics. Knowing how textiles are made can provide infinite insight to the average consumer and designer. It is in the same ballpark as our food! If you are opting for only natural textiles, they too are grown just like our fruits and vegetables.
Lydia Wendt is a fashion designer and textile distributor for her company, California Cloth Foundry.
Professional Tip:
Lydia reassured me that everything within her company was made possible due to collaboration. It starts with the farmers who harvest the fabric, to the dyers who dye the fabric, to then final product. She, in collaboration with others, creates the textiles that she then designs into clothes that she sells direct to consumer on her website. She uses the zero waste method when she designs and sells the remainder of her textiles wholesale to other designers. By creating a circular system from start to finish, there is more control of the life span of a garment. Even as a consumer, once you buy a product you can then host a clothing swap to exchange it out for something else! It is a great feeling to see your clothes being re-loved by friends and vice versa.
In Conclusion
Everything is made possible due to creative collaboration. If we want to maintain the health of our planet and each other we must hold each other accountable. Use the above solutions to make lasting changes within your community. Below is also an infographic that you can also follow.
If you have any questions or would like to join forces
feel free to reach out!
