I'm having a blast preparing for this afterschool program that starts January 11 and runs for 8 weeks!
I spent 25+ years working in the fashion industry, and frankly, there's a lot that needs fixing. In my program, we'll be looking at Canadian designers who are shaping a better future for the industry, for people and the planet.
"Of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. To put things in perspective, this means that the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of clothes ends up on landfill sites every second. If the trend continues, the number of fast fashion waste is expected to soar up to 134 million tonnes a year by the end of the decade. (Earth.org)"
Diana Coatsworth is a Toronto designer working to buck the fast fashion trend. In fact, she calls what she does "Slow Made Fashion" and she creates one of a kind pieces from repurposed textiles like blankets, bedspreads and sweaters. She even made an incredibly cool coat from moving blankets!
Want to learn more about slow fashion? Check out this podcast episode where Diana talks about her passion for sustainable fashion.
For more about Diana Coatsworth, visit her Instagram and her website.
Another independent designer who is focused on sustainability is Carissa McCaig of Copious Fashions.
"Slow Made & Upcycled Clothing consciously Made in Canada
It is a hard balance between loving fashion and making sure you are supporting companies that love fashion AND the environment. As my company grew I saw how damaging fashion could be to our world and made the decision to do everything I can to make Copious as environmentally friendly as possible." - Carissa McCaig
Carissa sells online and through local shows like the One of a Kind show.
"Each step in my Copious journey has led me to understand my responsibility as a fashion designer. It has made it clear what slow fashion is; well-made clothing produced in small quantities with awareness of the environment, as well as the creativity to manage and use your waste materials."
"This stance was ingrained in me when my dad gave me his denim to upcycle. Jeans that he had worn for years, and because the original fabric was so well made, it was easy to repurpose and create the Hunter Jean Jacket. While going through the design process, I saw again, as I did at the start of my career, that smaller and smaller pieces of denim get created. They were too small for this project, but they were saved and set aside for future ideas. The Denim Carryall & Bucket Hat were created, all as a result of finding useful ways to turn waste into beauty."
Carissa takes a stand against over-consumption in her marketing as well, encouraging consumers to think before buying, even when the sale price is tempting. Over-consumption has a bigger cost than what's on the tag!
