fashion and conservation
Think you’re too small to make a change? I’m not fast fashion with intentional timeless designs that stay in your closet for a long time. And because you’re reading this right now means you’re probably making smarter decisions by investing a few more dollars into well made items that have strong stitching and fits you well. That’s a piece of fashion conservation.
We look for things that are labeled recycled (convert waste into reusable material), repurposed (adept for different use), upcycled (old to new) and dead-stock (obsolete material) fabric. 73% of fabric used in fashion ends up in landfills with less than 1% being reused according to Ellen McArthur Foundation. In the last 15 years clothing production has double yet we use each garment 40% less. Shocked or just disgusted? Well we should be because that is fast fashion with $4 t-shirts and leggings for $7. We all love Target, Forever 21 and H&M but those are prime resources that thrill and delight us for inexpensive prices on our wallet but devastating for the children we are raising and mother earth who never ceases to heal us.
The canvas I use is from Spoonflower that utilizes on demand printing meaning there is no excess fabric produced. The fabric isn’t treated with toxic chemicals like formaldehyde so the fabric is safe. No excess ink needs to be disposed after fabric has been printed because the ink colors are mixed as fabric is being printed. So when you buy a canvas purse I’ve made that means you’ve also chosen slow fashion while reducing the environmental impact.
The wool I use is a mix of scrap, dead-stock and some new material that is being produced at the retail level as fabric yardage. Every ounce of wool I use goes through so many cycles of use, starting by making the largest bags first, excess makes the next smaller size of bag to the point there are only tiny scraps left that I regularly send to other makers to make jewelry, felt ribbons and miscellaneous crafts. To put this into perspective, after I make 48 purses in a batch I have less than a tiny waste basket (think itty bitty bathroom size) of refuse.
Big companies have to “develop” business models that keep clothing in use. But the beautiful thing about being a local small business is that as a hometown maker I have all the tools at my finger tips to fix what I had once created. A zipper or rivet goes bad? Adopt a fixer’s manifesto in reaching out to me and I’ll repair your purse to ensure it’s ongoing durability. It’s as simple as messaging me on social media or emailing me and then we’ll coordinate from there on how to handle the repair. Here’s my email, landandkamp@gmail.com.
Items that are to be tackled in the future. Packaging. Each item is shipped with minimal wrapping due to the soft nature of the material and not needing a big production. Phew, thank goodness. However, I’ve been in search for waterproof packaging that is environmentally friendly. There have been a lot of test runs but I have to be able to guarantee when your purse is sitting in the rain on your front porch that it will be pristine and dry when you finally are able to bring it inside to unwrap it. I would LOVE to do compostable but it looks like 100% recycled, 50% consumer waste is where packaging is going. Which means less water, oil and energy used to create that item, refuse is kept out of landfills and allows raw materials to be reused.
But what about supplies that are wrongly order, excess and are obsolete for the current product I am making? Well the nice thing is I’ve made very good friends with many local makers so what I can’t directly drop off with another maker I can usually ship it to someone for a second chance at life. Reduces the clutter, reduces the need for someone else to resource that item, doesn’t end up in the landfill and contributes to a sustainable creative community.
Do you have any other ideas or input on an action that would help become more sustainable? I have a huge herd of nieces and nephews that are going to need this planet to survive so I’m willing to put in the effort. Drop me a line.
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Take care-Jessie
