Making fast fashion history with sustainable shopping | Arts And Entertainment

What we choose to wear matters.

“Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world,” informs Redress, an environmental nonprofit with an aim to initiate change in the fashion industry. “Making our clothes uses significant amounts of natural resources … and if they are not used properly, they can endanger the health and wellbeing of people, animals and our planet.”

According to the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, sustainability considers social and environmental issues during manufacturing, such as improvements in working conditions and the reduction of the industry’s waste stream, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

What we wear matters because our consumption of cheaply made goods causes harm to our environment.

Merriam-Webster defines fast fashion as “an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers.”

Unlike fast fashion, which is made to discard after a few wears, vintage fashion was created with higher grade construction and made to last. It parallels designer fashion in quality and style yet for a much lesser price. Shopping vintage helps keep clothing out of landfills; it sustains small businesses; and it reduces demand for fast fashion.

Inspired by Gucci advertisements, this fashion expresses such a sentiment, combining patterns and textures to evoke creative style that stands out from the crowd. Eclectricities, DeTails (two boutiques located in Glenwood Square) and I joined forces to curate looks fit for a magazine to prove sustainable shopping is a tangible life choice.

Fast fashion takes inspiration from designer fashion trends, and so did we. But there’s a difference. We have the Earth and our well-being in mind. Fast fashion does not.

“That’s one thing I hear most from clients,” said Eclectricities shop owner Geneatte Strosahl.

“Clothes these days are made so cheaply. People are impressed with the quality of garments in my boutique.”

Many don’t realize vintage fashion can be found in a variety of sizes. Eclectricities carries garments dating from the 1900s to the 2000s for men and women ranging in size from XS to XL.

As evidenced in the featured photos, vintage clothing from various decades can be combined.

Model Grace Haughton wears a 1930s silk gown paired with a 1980s Pendleton wool blazer, a 1970s leather belt, a 1940s hat and modern shoes from Eclectricities.

Thrift store merchandiser, Sarah Matson rocks a 1950s evening dress, a 1960s fur stole and 1980s leather cowgirl boots from DeTails. We paired it with a modern designer blouse, a 1910s parasol and a 1940s hat from Eclectricities.

Artist Mary Carpenter, of Give Paper Flora, dons a Dolce & Gabbana-inspired ensemble comprising a 1960s coat and purse, a 1970s lace dress and shoes, and a 1980s silk scarf from Eclectricities. Her look is accented with a paper flower she made.

Not sure where to start in styling an eclectic outfit that reflects your style? With her master’s degree in Apparel Design, Strosahl can help curate a thoughtful outfit from her collection.

“I like connecting an item of clothing to a person. It’s about finding the right thing for a person to help them feel good,” Strosahl said.

Jan Noyes, owner of DeTails, is skilled in unifying diverse materials to style a memorable look. DeTails specializes in upcycled fashion, furniture and original artwork. She also carries vintage clothing, cowboy boots, purses, fur stoles and hats.

“I like to create art with old, discarded pieces to give them life. It’s nice to put a new twist on clothes that have such nice fabrics and designs that are timeless,” Noyes said about creatively reusing items.

Noyes encourages others to, “get in the mindset of reusing instead of discarding.”

There is no need to sacrifice thoughtful style or your budget when buying vintage and recycled fashion. Eclectricities and DeTails specialize in unique pieces to last for many years.

With holiday gifting, festive parties, and New Year’s resolutions in mind, we hope you’ll strongly consider the importance of shopping sustainably. Join us in the manifesto, “What we choose to wear matters.”

Carly Holtzinger works at Eclectricities and submits occasional columns for Explore. Contact her at [email protected].