FASHION
FILM AND FASHION: SUSTAINABILITY ON SHOW In a world built on fast fashion, designer Lalita Lowe is defying the norm by focusing on sustainabilty. We chatted with her about her woolly work and an upcoming film. You focus on fashion that is ethical, sustainable, and traceable. How does this come to life in your work? When I create, each part of the process is important. I enjoy working with every single person involved. Learning about their specific expertise and collaborating to produce the highest quality clothing that we can. It’s important to me that all materials are sourced and made in a way that has the least impact on the environment. And of course the clothing must be beautiful, timeless and elegant. At the beginning of designing my latest collection, my intention was to source and produce it entirely within Tasmania, from farm to fibre to fashion. Each piece in the collection was made with the most angelic super fine local merino wool. Each hand knitted dress took 122,274 stitches to make from talented women with at least 50 years of individual experience.
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Why use wool from the Tasmanian Midlands in your products? I was drawn to Nan Bray’s White Gum Wool from Oatlands after I heard about her focus on biodiversity as well as the ethical treatment of all her sheep. Nan treats her flock like family. When I was designing my recent collection of knitwear, I drove up from Hobart to meet Nan and talk about my vision for the pieces. Nan gave me a tour of the farm where I met some of the sheep and got to see them wagging their happy tails while they moved around eating native weeds and grasses. I chose Nan’s wool because it is super soft and of exceptional quality. How can we as consumers make more sustainable fashion choices? In my first book It’s Time to Rethink Your Fashion I speak about this. The main thing is that rather than buying more we need to be thinking long term. Let’s ask “how can I fall in love with the clothing I already own?” This could mean learning how to style our clothes a new way, repairing damaged items by fixing holes with invisible mending, taking them to a tailor
and adjusting a hem or waistline so that it fits properly. A majority of clothing is available at cheaper prices than ever before. This makes us believe that we are getting a good deal. What really happens is that most of this clothing is unsatisfactory and often gets worn only a few times. Why not see if you can find it in a preloved or secondhand store? Look for the best quality you can afford. Choose natural fibres like wool, silk or cotton because over time they perform better and are more likely to break down in the environment if they end up in landfill. You’re hosting a screening of the documentary Fashion Reimagined at the State Cinema. Tell us a bit about this film and why you wanted to host? This documentary aligns with my values and tells a story similar to my farm to fashion collection on a larger, international scale. It really is an eye-opening and engaging experience. It tells the story of Amy Powney, creative director of UK Label Mother of Pearl. Raised off-the-grid in rural England by activist parents, Amy always felt uneasy about the devastating environmental impact of her industry. She created a sustainable collection from field to finished garment, and transformed her entire business. Her own personal revolution becomes the precursor of a much bigger, societal change. The documentary will be showing at the State Cinema on 17 April at 6:30pm. There will also be a short panel discussion at the end. This film has been brought to Australia by a company called Fanforce, to book tickets you can head to their website.