SohoMuse Presents VOICES: Sustainable Fashion: Where are we now? Where are we going?
From May 3 to May 6, 2021, SohoMuse, the “social network” for the creative industry, hosted a virtual webinar for creatives hoping to recreate the fashion industry for the better. This panel was produced by the Parvati Foundation, a non-profit that is devoted to conserving our planet, and renowned couture label Celestino. Over the course of the four-day event, many scientific experts, artists, and designers, such as Sergio Guadarrama, director of Celestino, spoke about the future of fashion and how to assure we are producing sustainably, to facilitate a more optimistic future for generations to come. The panel covered enlightening topics regarding greenwashing, clothing waste, material sourcing, and more.
Each day the panel, hosted by recording artist Consuelo Costin and Rishi Deva, head of marketing for the Parvati Foundation, presented speakers dedicated to shifting the tide of the fashion industry. The Parvati Foundation, founded by Canadian recording artist Parvati, is committed to the Arctic Free Pledge calling on industries to keep all Arctic Ocean exploitation, including shipping, out of their supply chain for good. The phenomenon of Arctic Ocean warming is not only detrimental to our planet’s wellbeing, but it can affect the growing conditions of crops, leading to higher prices for certain materials. The panel discussed important matters regarding creating a more circular fashion industry, how to address the challenges of sustainable fashion, and the future of the fashion industry.
Two of the most resounding questions asked of the panelists were, “What does sustainable fashion mean to you?” and, “What are some of the sustainability trends that you have been observing in the industry?” These questions allowed the attendees to visualize multifaceted perceptions of what it means to be “sustainable,” and showed that there is no right or wrong way to make a positive impact on our planet. The desire to learn more and improve your habits is already off to a good start. Panelist Alysia Reiner, a sustainability advocate and actress, best known for her role in “Orange is the New Black” shared some insightful words about what sustainability means to her, stating “(It is) an evolving phrase … today it means pausing and thinking about the origin of everything before I choose anything … really looking at the full circle of things. Who is making your product and how is it getting to you?” When asked the latter question, panelist Sergio Guadarrama, director of Celestino couture, an innovative brand focused on sustainable production and positioned at the forefront of bringing political issues to light, spoke about his brand’s efforts to make a change in the fashion industry as a whole He said: “My company uses all deadstock fabrics. Biomimicry is something that is happening a lot now. We can look around in nature and see what things work. We have all the answers out there; we just have to pay attention and not destroy things before we can find all the answers.” Reiner, Guadarrama and the other amazing panelists emphasized looking for smart alternatives to the depleting habits that the fashion industry is so accustomed to, but it is inevitable that there will be challenges along the way.
Some of the other panelists were asked to provide insights into the challenges of sustainable fashion. For example, making such a drastic shift in production and consumption methods is a rigorous and detailed process. Kelly Drennan, panelist and founder of non-profit “Fashion Takes Action,” believes there are many ways you can participate in the sustainability movement: “… slow fashion, locally and fairly made clothing, circular/zero waste,” but she also acknowledged that there are some difficulties that come along with this transition, the most prominent being “Traceability and transparency.” As she confidently stated. Valeria Meliado, Senior Sustainability fabric researcher for Vivienne Westwood, supported her stance, commenting that, “The most sustainable clothes you have are already in your wardrobe. There is a lot to be done, but if we all do a tiny bit I think we can reach our goal.”
While making sure to address the challenges that may come along with enforcing more sustainable practices in the fashion industry, the panel also invited speakers to discuss some plausible solutions to these challenges. Dr. Karen Ho of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine weighed in on minimizing the amount of micro plastics that inevitably find their way into the ocean during the garment production process. She said, “I don’t know if we can completely eliminate plastic production. But we definitely need to consume less of it.” It is important for consumers to take an active role in bettering the world. Another solution, perhaps an imperative process in the future of sustainable fashion, is biomimicry. Beth Rattner, Executive Director of the Biomimicry Institute, told attendees about biomimicry, which is the practice of looking at nature for inspiration to solve design problems. Using this creative method, designers can craft materials that imitate nature itself, or use natural materials such as algae, seaweed, or even mushrooms. These materials are a lot less detrimental to the environment and produce less waste than traditional materials used for clothing.
When asked about what she thought the biggest challenge we face in normalizing sustainable fashion is, Parvati replied with a simple yet meaningful response: “Greed.” There are a lot of lessons to be learned from all of the wise and accomplished panelists, one of the biggest being that we, as consumers, should try our best to do our part in bettering the world. The panel wrapped up with the panelists looking to the future of fashion, hoping that the lessons and topics covered during the event can lead us to a cleaner and more conscious future within the world of fashion.
Celestino featured on actor, Billy Porter.
Article by Kayla Curtis-Evans, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Graphic Design, PhotoBook Magazine
