2019 is here! This means new projects, new fashion weeks, new collections and new trends.
The Business of Fashion (BOF) has shared on its report that fashion sustainability will be one of the major trends of 2019.
What does it mean for you?
I’ve listed 6 tips for you to follow in order to relate better with this important trend.
FASHION SUSTAINABILITY TIP N° 1: READ!
Learning about fashion sustainability shouldn’t be boring or difficult. There are lots of cool and entertaining books and articles about this topic that you can use to become more aware of the current situation.
I suggest you this book: Rise and Resist – How to change the worldby Clare Press. Clare is an amazing writer and she also has a podcast series where she talks about eco fashion and other cool stuff.
FASHION SUSTAINABILITY TIP N° 2: TRAVEL!
If you’re about to go to Amsterdam you have to visit the Fashion for Goodmuseum.
It’s the first fashion sustainability museum in the whole world and it provides lots of interesting activities and workshops to take if you want to learn more about recycling, eco-fibers ecc.
You should also follow its Instagram since it’s very helpful and informative!
FASHION SUSTAINABILITY TIP N° 3: LEARN!
There are lots of interesting courses about fashion sustainability, that’s because fashion schools need to provide up to date resources for their students and they’ve understood how important is to talks about this topic with them.
I suggest you this course by the Kering Group and Ual on the Future Learn platform. It’s free! FASHION AND SUSTAINABILITY: UNDERSTANDING LUXURY FASHION IN A CHANGING WORLD COURSE
FASHION SUSTAINABILITY TIP N° 4: SUPPORT!
Dive deeper in your fashion environment. Are there any brands near to you who work in a sustainable way? For example, here in Italy we have the PROGETTO QUIDthat was born in Verona and produces fashion clothes by the fabric surplus of other brands, that means there’s no waste.
Actually there are lots of brands who produce their products with a sustainable point of view but they’re often little projects and they don’t have enough budget to compete with big companies like Zara or H&M. Looking for this little realities and helping them by buying their products or spreading their message it’s a wonderful way to make the difference.
FASHION SUSTAINABILITY TIP N° 5: SUGGEST!
If you’re already working in a fashion company you should try to write your own sustainable manifesto with tips to suggest to your boss about fashion sustainability.
For example, during an internship, I noticed that my coworkers didn’t recycle anything they used. I solved the problem by creating a little space near the door with multiple garbage cans, each one was a different color, green for plastic, yellow for paper ecc. My coworkers got used to these colors and so it became easier for them to throw away in the right tank their garbage.
It was so simple, so easy, but I made a difference. If I can do it, you can too!
FASHION SUSTAINABILITY TIP N° 6: BE PRESENT AND PARTICIPATE!
Nowadays there are lots of great opportunities to network with other people who have your interests and share your values. Things like the Fashion Revolutionor #whomademyclothes are places where you can learn from others and create projects and startups. I highly suggest you take a look at them.
Learning about sustainability is great for your work too since the future of the fashion industry goes in that direction. Soon companies will start to look for people specialized in that field and you could be one of them!
What are you waiting for? Let’s start this 2019 with the right foot, looking at the future, living in the present and helping our planet.
Words by Beatrice Mazza
