As a tribute to NYC Fashion Week:
Looking longingly into the Neiman Marcus catalog reminiscing about hours spent snipping my new favorite must-have items out of Seventeen and YM Magazines. My collages seemed to never end in my pre-teen and teenage years. And then one day it became trivial to me. It was no longer worthy of my time to aspire to own the same pants everyone else was sporting that season. I found myself connecting with that past version of myself today and I liked it. The one where the most important thing in my life was the clothing and accessories I wore the next day. It was comforting to return to the familiarity and fall in love with wearable design again.
I have always been drawn to fashion, wearable art, and see it as the best way to express yourself for all the world to see. Fashion brings art to every day, each moment, and makes lasting memories. I still remember what I wore 15 years ago on my first day of high school. Who doesn’t know this? The right shirt, pants, dress or shoes sets the stage for the next four years. I know both men and women who will never forget this clothing choice.
Now how to make fashion more sustainable. The problem is new trends. New trends come out every season calling for new fabric, meaning more raw materials: cotton, silk, synthetics. Many designers acknowledge the wastefulness and have developed sustainable methods of design. Using less harmful materials like bamboo, soy-based or plant-based dyes, the industry is innovating and evolving.
Looptworks is changing and challenging the industry to go even further. This Oregon company only produces clothing made from the clothing industry’s pre-consumer excess. 11.8 million tons of textile waste is generated each year in the U.S. That’s 10 pounds for each person! Looptworks is crafting one-of-a-kind garments. No two pieces are the same since they only use materials that are currently available to them. (Personally, I love this. It guarantees that you’ll never be caught in the same dress as your friend.) It is Looptworks’ mission to rid the world of waste while inspiring a generation to reduce their impact on the planet. And it’s totally stylish!
Naka Wrap Skirt by Looptworks
As the next spring’s trends hit the runway this year, I’ll have my eye on the ones taking the biggest risk of all, sustainable fashion.
love the lettuce dress. susty is the new black!
I can so relate. When I was just a tiny tot, my mother claims I would sit in my closet and lay out my outfits for the week! My interest in fashion continued into adulthood, albeit less so in recent years for the very reasons you mention.
Sustainable fashion seems like a great solution though… It will be interesting to see what kind of impact eco-conscious designers have on the industry as a whole.
It is definitely a challenge and an ongoing battle I have with myself. I often do not buy things anymore if I don’t know how they are made.