Slooooooooow Down your Fashion BY TABATHA RENGAR
Way back in the day, circa 1987, my high school friend Mitzi and I used to go on clandestine missions to find stylish treasures at the local Salvation Army thrift shop. When someone would ask where a particularly cool outfit or accessory came from, we would tell them “Sally’s” as if it were some fancy boutique because we didn’t want to reveal our secret. Sifting through donated clothing wasn’t quite as acceptable back then. Little did we know that we were actually early participants in the Sustainable Clothing movement! Sustainable Fashion, sometimes referred to as Eco-fashion and ReFashion, is the long overdue movement meant to create change in the world of “fast fashion” where for decades the almighty dollar has been the driving force. Fast fashion is the term for our propensity to order inexpensive clothing items online or from big box stores like Amazon, H&M, Target, WishApp, etc. We like the instant gratification factor but often the quality is disappointing so the items are worn a couple times and then thrown away. These discarded items are not only filling our landfills but the conditions that these clothes are made in are often deplorable. Sustainable Fashion means to altar the whole system of how clothing is produced, who produces it, and how long the life span of a product is before it reaches landfill. This means dealing with interdependent social, cultural, ecological, and financial systems. Here in the Triad, you will be delighted to learn that some of your favorite shops are taking this issue quite seriously. From partnering with sustainable companies, using recycled materials, empowering women and simply highlighting the benefits of the customer service you receive locally, they shared their thoughts about the value of Sustainable Fashion with Forsyth Woman.
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GEORGE BAM BALIS, PRESIDENT OF NITSA’S APPAREL:
The three major areas of sustainability are environmental social and economic. In the clothing industry the one place where much of the clothing is manufactured seems to ignore these issues of sustainability. Of course, I’m speaking about China where their abuses of their people and their human rights are unconscionable and where their concern for the environment is virtually nonexistent. Unfortunately, for many clothing designers and manufacturers, it is an economic reality that they must do business China. At Nitsa’s, our approach to sustainability is to source as many products as we can from companies manufacturing in nations committed to well-being of their employees and to the environment.
EMILY S. DAVIS, OWNER OF FLEET FEET:
Many of our apparel brands are produced from recycled plastic and use less fabric dyes. Some brands are also starting to get away from each unit being packaged in a plastic bag. Brands that are really working on this are Rabbit, Oiselle, and Vuori. The fast fashion brands are mostly produced in low income manufacturing and can’t afford to focus on recycled plastic fabric or less waste.
EMILY SMITH, OWNER OF ELLIE RAY BOUTIQUE: One of my favorite brands that we carry at Ellie Ray Boutique is She & Sky. They offer a great selection of clothing from sizes small through 3xl. She & Sky is constantly on a mission to provide unique clothing that empowers women and celebrates the female form.
As a business owner, product quality is extremely important. If you have a great product that is well made, fits good and you believe in, it really helps build your relationships with your customers. Customers will spread the word that your clothing holds up, the type of customer service they received and even how beautiful they felt in that cute outfit we put together. Supporting a local small business in your hometown is super important, especially nowadays. The difference between us and “fast fashion” places is you get to experience a service and let us help put that “perfect” outfit together for you. Whereas other “fast fashion” places you are just ordering from a big company, you have no clue the fit, the quality and even sizing.
MARCIE APPELT, OWNER OF STYLED GATHERING:
I carry a jewelry line by a company called Tagua designed by Soraya Cedeno. It’s fair trade, sustainable, and handmade from 100% natural materials. The jewelry collection is carved from a sustainable nut called Tagua which grows from a palm tree found mainly in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Handmade by skilled artisans, maintaining the traditions of past generations in order to provide life changing opportunities for their families and community.
