Sustainable fashion – at different stages …?
I meet many different people, through social medias, new customers, events, etc. where I experience a lot of different opinions and questions about what sustainable fashion is …? What does it cover? When can we call something for sustainable fashion…?
My opinion is that sustainable fashion is a complex size, with many different elements and it is certainly not just black and white.
The overall factors for me when talking sustainable fashion are quality and transparency. That a style is produced in a durable quality and thus is sustainable. That there exists transparency in the production chain, including that we try to produce with regard to all joints involved. That there are initiatives in the company to produce better ways for animals, people and the environment.
When I started Gammelholm Copenhagen I was considering to either bet 100% on my own brand or to also sell existing brands.
I chose both, however, starting with trading other brands and working on my own aside from that.
There were different considerations in this process. However, one of the things that weighed heavily was the fact, that I loved the idea of a sustainable marketplace, with different brands that had different approaches, at different levels. This because I believe that things can be done and achieved in many different ways, since every little human being on this earth is unique.
Another reason was that I love to discover, as well as follow innovation and development. Therefore, I would not limit myself to my own fire, when there are so many other wonderful initiatives out there.
The different stages of sustainable fashion…
The essence is, that sustainable fashion takes place at many different stages. Some brands originate from sustainable thinking and produce, for example, fairtrade, oekotex certified, recycled material or something else.
Other brands have been around for many years and work in line with demand, in order to change their production patterns, towards a more considerate and sustainable way of producing.
Alfa Omega in my world is the intention behind, as well as the mind behind. That we are actually caring and working for sustainable development. Quality that can last, produced under conditions that take into account all involved.
The reality is that sustainable fashion takes place at all of the above stages. Couldn’t then any initiative to produce with care be termed sustainable then? I mean any stage is positive…? It is an effort to make a difference – a positive difference …
So if we want sustainable development, it’s important to recognise and allow space for sustainable fashion, to take place in many different stages …
I have experienced a couple of times that some people question whether, for example, Soaked in Luxury can go under sustainable fashion…and yes, in my world they can, as they work to improve and exercise more sustainable production (read more here).
And most importantly…if we want to spread and widen sustainable fashion as much as possible, it is important to recognise that sustainable fashion takes place at different stages. Rome was not built in one day. Things take time. And durable things should have time to sow, grow and flourish. Just think of how ecology looked a few years back?
Bottom of it all
At Gammelhom Copenhagen, there is room for sustainable fashion to take place at different stages. It is a strategic choice that I have chosen to trade, for example, Soaked in Luxury. I personally wish to be part of showing their development. They are a good example of a brand that works for the better, and I have great respect for their initiative to change old production patterns into new, more sustainable. February 2018 launches their first raincoat in recycled polyester (its the one featured in the pics) – cant wait! 😉
Last but not least, remember that after all, it’s YOU as a consumer who controls the show. You decide what is being produced. And the more you demand sustainability, the more will come, because every producer wants to please his constumer.
XO
