Thread Lightly: Sustainable Solutions to Fast Fashion

Fashion trends used to follow seasons that would be debuted in quarterly magazines, but now trends are being updated on Instagram feeds. Social media connected the world and our closets. In order to keep up with overnight viral fits, clothing companies began producing clothes cheaper and faster. This gave rise to Fast Fashion. 

To keep up with consumer demands, many brands relied on exploitative labor practices, including unsafe and unhealthy working conditions that resulted in modern forms of slavery. Additionally, the fashion industry is only growing and already producing 100 billion garments a year. And with the help of consumers, 87% of those garments end up in landfills. That's over 40 million tons of clothes in the trash.

The waste was impossible to ignore, and people began questioning the impact of their purchases. Who made my clothes? Where did they come from? Why did I even order this? It's questions like these that sparked a movement of sustainable fashion. Sustainable fashion is not just recycling and reusing, but rethinking the way we put clothes on our bodies entirely. 

Sustainable fashion isn't an entirely new concept. It dates back to the hippies in the 60s and punks in the 70s as part of counterculture. It became about giving clothes (and yourself) a second chance. Every thrift haul, every hand-me-down, and every failed project adds to the story of your wardrobe.

Being mindful doesn't mean giving up style. Upcycling can create a more unique style than any other mass-produced look. In this series, I will be showcasing all kinds of creative projects and techniques. I hope that sharing my own work and spotlighting helpful creators will inspire you to take on projects of your own.

What project are you looking to do? What can you do without immediately burning a hole in your wallet? 

Let's take a look at common upcycling techniques. 

1. Dyeing: The use of fabric dye or natural dyes to change the color of fabric.
2. Embroidering/patching: Adding decorative embroidery or patches to make clothing stand out.
3. Sewing: Transforming fabric or other materials into clothing or household goods. 

There are countless more specific techniques we will be discussing further in this series, but it's a good idea to get familiar with the basics when you're getting started.

Helpful tools: 

1. Sewing Machine (Optional but very, VERY helpful): Your hand might cramp up as a beginner. Either way, it's a sure-proof way to turn a 4-hour project into only half an hour. I recommend brands like Singer or Brother. 
2. Fabric Scissors: Cutting clean and sharp lines is a must. 
3. Measuring tape/ruler: Better safe than sorry.
4. Pins, needles, thread: To actually hold the look together.
5. Fabric: Make sure to look into the type of fabric you are buying. Whether that's texture or stretch, those little things are essential to consider.
6. Seam ripper: For when mistakes happen… and they will happen. 
7. Fabric chalk: To get the perfect fit by marking proportions. 
8. Patience: There is no "right" way to be sustainable; do what works for you.

Content creator of the week: @msetfashiondesign on TikTok! For the how-to basics and refreshers.

Outside Sources:

 https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/sustainability/fashion-garment-workers-safety-rana-plaza/

https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/style-thats-sustainable-a-new-fast-fashion-formula