T- SHIRTS.. AND A GREENER PLANET
Fashion students join conference
Do I really need that t- shirt?
Does this coat honestly need washed when I’ve only worn it twice this week?
Is my one- time wear outfit worth adding to the millions of discarded garments in landfill clogging our environment each year?
These were just some of the questions teens and talented trend- setters were faced with at Fashion Council Germany and The Prince’s Foundation’s first Sustainabilty In Fashion Conference last week.
Some of the world’s leading fashion gurus, including Vogue Germany’s Christiane Arp, Nadja Swarovski and The Great British Sewing Bee’s Patrick Grant, descended upon Dumfries House to share their knowledge with more than 120 young people about the importance of sustainability in fashion and manufacturing.
Auchinleck Academy and Ayrshire College were amongst attendees, soaking up skills and knowledge of topics such as using natural dyes, finding new ecofriendly ways to produce crystals and how to shake off that ‘ outfit repeater’ mindset.
Students were told 150billion clothes are made annually and it takes a staggering 2700 litres of water to make just one t- shirt.
A key aim of the conference was hearing from pupils about their views on fast fashion and giving feedback to the brands on what the industry can do to make sustainable fashion more appealing to them.
Scott Lipinski, CEO of Fashion Council Germany, said it was important to educate the younger generation but their voice was valuable to leading fashion brands too.
“They’re also sharing their knowledge with us,” he said.
“It’s about teaching the younger generation about what sustainability is; where are the products made, what does it actually take to produce clothing garments but also it’s absolutely crucial that the established generation and brands finds out what interests the younger generations.
“It is about the product, that’s the core part but it’s about satellites around it; about how you treat y o u r e nv i ronment , your community and yourself.
Scott, who grew up in Cumnock and attended Cumnock Primary before moving to Germany, said sustainability is a lifestyle.
He said: “There has to be a balance. In Germany the food industry is very advanced.
“We see a huge trend of people questioning where their meat comes from and if it’s okay to eat meat everyday.
“And it’s the same trend the fashion industry has taken – people are being more aware.
“Just question yourself – do I need that? Will that garment last more than a week and will it last 100 washes and not one wash.
“And I think creating that awareness and discussing those things are absolutely the future.”
Scott said being back in his home town after a five- year break and seeing Dumfries House thrive gives him goosebumps.
He said: “Sustainability is about community.
“I saw Cumnock when I was young and it was my home and it was nice. And then over the years when I’d come back in the summer, it felt sad with shops closing down.
“But now, seeing what’s happening here in this community, that there are textiles centres and education and people who come here from the local community, it sends shivers everywhere. It’s amazing.
“So I hope it won’t be the last time here in Dumfries House. We’re creating this change.”
Joey Blacklock, at Ayrshire College studying for a HND in Fashion Design and Production with Retail, said the event helped shed new light on the big brands aiming to make a difference.
Joey, 23, of Ayr, said: “I’m interested in going into factories in Bangladesh and India and trying to fix things from the inside out.
“I want to be able to hopefully make a change in working and living conditions.
“The event has been so interesting and very useful to my studies. I had no idea how sustainable certain companies were.
“With big brands, like Swarovski, you assume ‘ they probably don’t care about the people or environment’ but being able to see them and hear what they’re doing is not only amazing but inspiring.”