Conscious Fashion: An Introduction
adelewechsler.com – db4wildaid.com – ybpguide.com
I love fashion. I love fashion magazines, fashion blogs, heels and great bags. But, for a long time, a hobby was all it was for me. I never considered a career in fashion though because, besides the fact that 5’1″ is just a hair too short to be a runway model, I never thought fashion was important. Fun, yes. Important, no. But I’ve met a lot of awesome people in college and since I graduated who have taught me that I’m wrong. Fashion is extremely important. Not just that people should learn how to dress well (though I could write a hefty bit about why this actually is crucial in post-college, job interview life and beyond) but that fashion is an industry that permeates many facets of our world. The fashion industry is a powerful one and utilizing its sphere of influence has made many people and many causes successful.
It impacts us everyday, sometimes negatively, through ads that promote unrealistic body types, or images of a society that is wholly focused on looks. For good or bad, its influence is undeniable. But fashion does not always incite negative body image, etc. Many campaigns and causes in the industry have made a significant positive impact.
For instance, Gap’s Red campaign has generated over $160 million to help people in Africa inflicted with AIDS afford their medication (JoinRed). This year’s Ethical Fashion SOURCE Expo was attended by about 800 buyers, designers and sellers interested in ethical, eco-friendly fashion (ExpoNews). Actress and style icon Kate Hudson’s hair care line, David Babaii for WildAid encourages being beautiful to your hair and to the world (D.B.WildAid). Even the wedding industry can be a venue for conservation, with designers like Adele Wechsler, who uses organic materials, vegetable dyes and remnant fabric pieces for her couture wedding dresses.
I am not here to tell you that fashion industry leaders have an obligation to the betterment of society and the planet. I am not telling you that they should use their influence to do good. I am only showing you that some actually are.
My goal as a writer for Carbon is to spotlight how fashion impacts the world through conservation, humanitarian and charity projects and partnerships and how designers and companies are tailoring (no pun intended!) their business designs and philosophy toward conservation. This is what I care about: conscious fashion.
Is there a conscious fashion topic you want to see featured? Submit to carbontheblog@gmail.com!
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